EM 2021 England – Germany: appeal and threat should discipline fans

When England plays football against Germany, it’s usually not just on the pitch. The rivalry with the former enemy has traditionally provoked a number of questionable tackles in the British press and among many Three Lions fans. The tabloids “Mirror”, “Daily Mail” and “Sun” used to depict German footballers as “Krauts” with steel helmets and spiked bonnets. And the “Mirror” announced in 1996 the EM semifinals in their own country against the DFB-Elf with the line “Attention! Surrender (surrender)”.

“We have to leave it all behind now”

Walter Nixon thinks nothing of such war rhetoric at all. The 98-year-old, football-loving Brit fought the Nazis himself in World War II and asked the English fans and media to keep the ball flat before the round of 16 against Germany on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Wembley Stadium.

He said he was really disappointed in people when they alluded to wartime. “That was about 80 years ago and time marches on and we have to leave it all behind us now.”

Nixon signed up for military service in 1941 at the age of 19, first fighting in North Africa and then helping to liberate Italy from German troops. But nothing remains of the hostility of that time. “I don’t feel any hostility towards the Germans. You can’t look back like that,” he said. It annoys him that some people still indulged in war nostalgia in the name of sport. “I feel sorry for these people. I am sure they did not take part in the war […] We have left it all behind and live in the here and now. ”

However, it is far from certain that Nixon’s appeal will meet with open ears among the fans. Even before the England’s first Euro 2020 game against Croatia, the supporters of coach Gareth Southgate’s team had sung the song “Ten German Bombers”. It deals with the losses of German aircraft in World War II. The song has often been shared on social media in recent days – as a preparation for the game against Germany.

The English football association FA therefore felt compelled to warn domestic fans in advance to refrain from discriminating chants against Germany and even announced that they would throw those who do not adhere to it from the stadium.

“We will strongly condemn any discriminatory or disrespectful behavior at Wembley and will take steps to ensure that all games in England are safe and enjoyable,” the FA wrote in a pre-game announcement.

Tabloids are peaceful

In the British press, however, the days of belligerent headlines seem to be over. Even before the 2010 World Cup round of 16 against Germany, the tabloids largely avoided this kind of roar. “Mr. we go again”, for example, wrote the “Sun” in thick bars at the time. The play on words with the German term “Herr” instead of “Here” means something like: “It’s that time again”. And the “Mirror” headlined peacefully: “Jermainia!”, A cheer that merged Germania and the first name of the goal scorer Jermain Defoe.

And even now the newspapers are rather tame: “Come on England, knock Germany away tonight”, demanded the “Daily Mail” on Tuesday and delivered the heartiest headline with regard to the Germans. The “Sun” decided to play on words with the recently resigned Minister of Health Matt Hancock. He had kissed an employee and thus broken the corona rules. “Let’s go Harry – even Hancock made you in,” said the front page to star striker Harry Kane.

The “Mirror” also did not make any reference to Germany. “A night for heroes” predicted the paper and showed large-format pictures of England coach Gareth Southgate and the national games Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling.

And if the appeal by Walter Nixon and the threat from the FA are not enough motivation for the British fans to follow the press on their peaceful path, the memory of the success of the war howl of 1996 may help: Germany defeated England on penalties with 6 : 5 and became European champion. Incidentally, the decisive 911 awarded at the time: Gareth Southgate.