(semi) Final match: Deutschland Vs Italy

Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.  

-Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, 1860

It was a thunder storming in Berlin today as predicted by the weather men. I was feeling the rain and of course, the thunder! standing alone in the rain listening a Bollywood song in background. I know each raindrop was the tear of the Germans which they dropped in the previous day. These droplets evaporated and precipitated again to their hearts! I spotted my tearlets from the millions of drops and those were falling down through my barren breast! I noticed every German had the same feeling, everyone could recognize their own went-away-tears.

Dear reader! If you are still baffled, I will explicate what had actually happened here in the previous day. Yesterday was a fine and sunny day. For Germans it was a feting day. The Deutschland team was going to face up Italy in Euro cup. Everybody was sure about the outcome of the match and from every nook corner of the country the far-famed slogan was coming out  Wir für Deutschland! Wir für Deutschland! The team had not lost any game since they played in the last sixteen matches and it would never lose its seventeenth match against Italy that was everybody’s anticipation. The entire town was adorned with German flags and signs. Everywhere people were putting up big screen to watch the match. I was slightly bemused to decide which place I must go. Each corner pulled me into them to pep up with them. We made up our mind at last to go to Potsdam University ground where the  university students put up a very large screen. We were four, Sujith sir, Vivek Sigh, Aparna and me. When we reached there, we knew that the jubilation had already started. Students were carrying out different physical performance. It was so impressing that two guys were dancing in the air according to the background music. They jumped in the air and convoluted their body in different direction and somersaulted sometime in the air only to come down in their normal position! It was about 8.45 and it was the time the play about to start. I was standing in the left side of the screen but the big screen was partly seen there and every inch of the ground was occupied by the ebullient German fans. I was sure, if I was standing there like that I would never be able to watch the match. I suddenly thought back the match I was watching at Kavanur  mini stadium and the way I usually get into the ground! 

 Those days it was easygoing to me to enter the ground even without the ticket. If you love something passionately the way to get in will be easier. Then I remember the old proverb, even in the mackerel packed town an elephant finds out its own way. I am not an elephant, so why don’t I try my way, was I thinking that time. Vivek might have thought the same proverb. So I intruded the already packed ground and easily got a place. I was observing the students around me. They were in a dreamy state. The queue before the nearby beer shop was fattening in each moment. Suddenly a girl with her Italian dress stood up and waved an Italian flag. Everybody noticed her and I was so scared and I thought I must go for her protection! She was very brave to express her solidarity to her team even in such a tense situation. But Germans were very disciplined fans and they had much sportsman spirit to allow her to express the team spirit. Everybody was decorating their faces with beautiful colours; some wore black-yellow-red hats and dress. Some were waving the German flag. When I noticed some were busy with tingeing their faces with colours of German flags, we asked them the colouring marker. Very gently they gave it us. Seriously yaar I have never painted my face with the colours of flags of any country, but now the spectators gathered there silently asked us to conjoin with them. We also decorated our faces with the colours of German flag. The pattern of German flag is Black on the top, red in between and gold at the bottom. 

 The German Flag designates the overall background is Red, black and gold. The description of the German Flag is as follows: Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold. According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colours. The colours on the German flag represent the following:

Yellow - a symbol of generosity

Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour

Black - Determination

They are derived from the similar colours of the Imperial coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire.

Black (determination) should come first. I did a mistake, the flag was pasted upside down, and I did not notice it. The girl behind me pointed out that fault and immediately she collected a NIVIA facial cream and a serviette from somewhere, so I redrew the flag. People respect their cultural symbols and national identities. After painting German flag, I suddenly felt the all anxiety of each and every German around me. It was the time of national anthem, for respecting it, the whole crowd stood up and bowed down their heads.

Match started! It was the time when the German soccer style began to rain there. The spectacular movements composed a beautiful poem on the ground. People were dancing with the steps of German players. Drums were beaten up obstreperously, the sound of band reached above the cheers of the students. Everywhere the endless summer just started. But all of a sudden the all the mood of festivity paused when Mario Balotelli’s header pierced through a vulnerable German defence. 

 But the men in white were not tired yet, they were attacking to break the Italian goal net. Another shot of Mario Balotelli again perforated to the German goal post and he took off his shirt and stood on the ground in Gejini style. Then every noise was suddenly stopped. There was a pin drop silence everywhere. Suddenly I realized a teardrop had just fallen down from my eyes along with the millions of German fans. I stood up and just went away from the crowd. I looked at the sky, the sun was about to leave from the sight and the clouds were coming from afar. And at the same time a message came to my mobile informing the weather forecast that there would be a thunderstorm in all over the Deutschland within 24 hours!