In the build up to Euro 2016, ThatsMags.com will be profiling Euro 2016 Shanghai Fans from all 24 countries taking part in the tournament in France. Daniel Heinzler is a Die Mannschaft maniac. And the only cool German in Shanghai. Fact.
Germany, Group C
Opponents: Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Poland
Odds: 4/1
Greatest moment ever?
"Mach' ihn! Mach' ihn! Er macht ihn!" – Mario Götze scoring the 1-0 winning goal in minute 113 against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup Final in Brazil (below), earning us our 4th star on the badge.
Greatest Euros moment?
Has to be Bierhoffs Golden Goal in the ’96 Final against the Czech Republic at Wembley winning us our 3rd European Championship
Worst moment ever?
Since I wasn’t alive in ’66 it has to be losing against Italy in the 2006 semi-finals in Dortmund. Getting two goals in minutes 119 and 121. Just when a whole nation was preparing itself for a penalty shootout (and we all know how that would have turned out!)
Worst Euros moment?
Has to be against Italy again! The image of Mario Balotelli posing half naked after he scored the 2-1 winning goal against us in 2012 still haunts my nightmares. Then again, I can’t really be too mad at him because it caused some hilarious internet memes in the aftermath...
Where you and your countrymen (and women) will be watching it in Shanghai?
If you happen to be in The Camel during a German match and hear some guy yelling and cursing against referees, other teams, weather conditions, grass length etc. in a language you don’t understand (unless you speak German of course) chances are high you just witnessed me watching a football match. It’s either that, or screaming at a smaller screen at home or someone elses place.
Song(s) the fans sing?
Whatever stupid song some dude who hasn’t had a hit single in a while has come up with.
As long as it is not as bad as that godawful song by Die Toten Hosen in 2012 I am fine with that ('Tage wie diese' for the non-Germans). All Germans know exactly what I’m talking about. And don’t try to argue with me about that song. It is simply the worst piece of music ever written. Period. Makes me angry just thinking about it.
And now I can’t get it out of my head again. Thanks a lot…
Biggest rivals?
This has to be a tie between England and Italy.
England because, well I don’t really have to explain this I guess...
And Italy just because we tend to lose against them in every important game since the dawn of football.
Apart from these two there is of course France, and usually Holland (if they decide to compete in a major tournament from time to time). Oh and while we are at our neighboring countries, we should not forget about Austria and Switzerland.
Boy, we sure have a lot of rivalries.
Star Man?
Apart from the obvious choices (being the likes of Müller, Özil, Neuer etc.) for me it has to be Mario Gomez (above). I really hope he will play the best tournament of his career. Having scored 25 goals for Besiktas in the Turkish Süper Lig this season, I am pretty confident he will score twice in our 3-0 final victory against Italy in Paris on July 10th. Right after beating England in the Semi Finals 2-1 a few days earlier (1-0 Gomez, 1-1 Vardy, 2-1 Götze).
One to watch?
Since Joachim Löw hasn’t really named his squad yet we might be in for a few surprises here. I would really love to see some of these insanely talented young Bundesliga players making the team. If I would put my money on one of them it would be either Joshua Kimmich (21 year old defensive mid-fielder at Bayern), Leroy Sané (20 year old outside right at Schalke) or Julian Weigl (20 year old defensive mid-fielder at Dortmund). I would be more than happy to see at least one of these guys wearing the German jersey this summer. [Ed - all three have made the provisional 27-man squad]
Bad Boy?
Bad Boys? In our squad? Under Jogi Löw? Come on...
If one of these guys only sneezes without Löws prior approval he will get sacked faster than Kevin Großkreutz can throw a Döner Kebab into some guys face! I guess he was the last one that you could call a Bad Boy. And, guess what? Got thrown out of the team last year...
Bad boys, Jogi Löw is ALWAYS watching...
Boy Blunder?
Possibly Löw, in not doing what I am telling him to do by screaming at whatever screen I am watching a game on. And by not letting the squad that I have in my mind play! Because if we lose it is all his fault, and if we win he got lucky.
Heart Throb?
While Müller is definitely the dream of every mother-in-law in Germany, I would think that Mats Hummels has quite a reputation with the ladies. Unfortunately he is happily married. But I heard that Sami Khedira (below) recently split up with his longtime model girlfriend Lena Gercke. So he would be the one to go for I guess.
So what are your chances?
I think the proper German way would be saying, “The most important thing is, that everybody has a great time. Because isn’t that what football is all about, bringing people together yadda yadda yadda...”
But screw that! we’re gonna win this!
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