This game called soccer

#142

People on my street in Berlin gather around a TV at a Späti watching Spain vs. Germany (2:1).

My Dear Friend of Democracy,

Teams representing their countries face each other on the pitch, fighting for victory, with thousands of people around that pitch cheering on their team and millions of people watching the game on screens; in the end, many are happy, and many are disappointed, and at the very end of a tournament, only one team cheers, all the others are somehow losers, eliminated during the tournament. And yet everyone is a winner because it is just a game, a fun game, a game that brings people together in peace since it is a game, not war, a performance competition according to civil rules that respect the other side; a game that unites more than it divides, because people treat each other respectfully, on the pitch as well as the people around coming together from so many different nations. At least the vast majority does.

In this respect, UEFAEURO2024 is a great blessing for my home country, Germany, and the continent. And to me, the tournament is more than a symbol that Europe can live in peace, joy and unity. It is real. Even if it is just a game.

See you in Europe,

Johannes

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