“It’s a shame, Germany, it’s all over”: The world laughs about the early departure of the DFB-Elf in a similar way. Scenes of malice and shaking of heads are taking place in Qatar. Many experience an arrogant, overbearing German team here. Only the DFB still lives in the world of overconfidence.
The small flags on the cafés and restaurants in Doha, they are still waving in the wind like they were last weekend. Stable, as if nothing had happened at all. But something has changed in the people of Qatar since the German national team left. From bewilderment to a hidden grin to open malice, everything is there.
A waiter from an Arabic restaurant. He himself is from India. The young man still can’t believe that Germany is out. He shakes his head. “You have good players, a good team.” In terms of popularity in his home country, the national team comes “right after Argentina with Messi, Brazil with Neymar and Portugal with Ronaldo”.
It is different with a security guard at the stadium. “What happened?” asks the man, who goes by the name Mohammed. But even before the answer he starts to grin. His eyes say: That’s right, that’s what happens to the DFB team.
Germany’s criticism of Qatar has left its mark on the Arab world. Many feel taught, treated from above. Some even insulted and treated racist. After the national team’s “hand over their mouth” protest against Japan against Spain and Costa Rica, a few fans in traditional Arabic robes unpack old posters showing Mesut Özil and demonstratively cover their mouths with their hands. The DFB does not react to the allegations of double standards. “We have taken note of the events, but do not want to comment further,” said the press team when asked by ntv.de.
This type of communication also leads to many in Qatar and the Arab world accusing the German national team of arrogance. And are all the happier when the end in the preliminary round really becomes a reality. Because this is the Arab World Cup, the imaginary, unpopular troublemaker is no longer there.
On the night of the elimination, Arab fans in many different jerseys laughed at their friend in the Germany jersey. In the subway station, he is the only one who has to take the escalator on the right, while his friends chant abuse at him from the left. Luckily he’s laughing too.
Then there are two DFB fans from Germany on their way to Friday night’s Portugal vs. South Korea game. They wear jerseys from the 2006 World Cup, relics from better times. She the white, he the red. Both look shattered. Many look around, despite the anticipation of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Quite a few grin.
Is the muezzin singing even more fervently this weekend? No, that’s probably imaginary and due to the lack of sleep. But still: the world is laughing at Germany. This is not only due to the perceived arrogance shown by the DFB. Also in the hubris of the national team.
As in 2018, the national team grossly overestimated their own abilities at this tournament. Although the results of recent history do not provide any reasons for this. It’s pure self-deception. A life far removed from reality in a completely idealized past that has been eating away at the German Football Association for some time.
For the DFB, the German national team is still a title candidate until the start of this World Cup – despite years of failure, which reveal the many inabilities in the association, in the youth system, in tactical and technical training and the lead of other football nations. “The team” is world-class only in terms of slogans and turning a blind eye.
Four stars on the chest. A glorious history. “We” are someone and belong to the top of the world. That’s not the reality: football Germany has been living in this world of fallacy, arrogance and hubris for a while. The overconfidence of still being a giant in the football sky has to end. The glory of old means nothing, the DFB team has been on a steep road to the valley of mediocrity for years.
This descent is symbolic of Germany’s standing in the Arab world. The national team and the Federal Republic are viewed more negatively and sometimes smiled at. Because they often do not meet their own requirements. Football and politics blur as never before at this tournament in Qatar.
Football commentators from Qatari broadcaster Alkass Sports taunted the German team after elimination by mimicking the players’ protest against human rights. The group covers their mouths with one hand and waves at the camera with the other. Goodbye, Germany. Nice that you were here. We’re glad you’re gone.
“Thank God today all Arab and Muslim nations are praying for Japan to qualify with any team, but the most important thing is Germany’s elimination,” former Kuwaiti Jamal Mubarak previously told Qatari sports broadcaster.
On Saturday evening, Saudi Arabian TV is still talking and laughing about the German team’s early return home. Pictures show all German Bayern players who are already back in Germany and the French Bayern stars who are in the round of 16. Japanese fans also showed up with the mouth-to-mouth gesture in front of the stadiums and in the streets of Doha, waving and grinning happily.
Of course, Germany’s football rival England, where the German word Schadenfreude even exists, still laughs heartily. Forward legend Alan Shearer led the rush by tweeting a video of him freaking out alongside fellow icons Micah Richards and Gary Lineker. And football fans from all over the world joined online.
When it comes to arrogance and self-satisfaction instead of self-criticism, national coach Hansi Flick and manager Oliver Bierhoff are in the best, brazen politician manner. Where there is no simple “keep it up”, they remain rooted to their chair. Better the well-trodden paths than new paths, Angela Merkel’s stoicism in its purest form.
While France, Spain or England produce and promote talent after talent, the Klüngel-DFB, the largest sports association in the world, has had a sports director in Bierhoff for 18 years, and hardly anyone knows what he really does apart from marketing. After the elimination against Costa Rica, the foreign press in the catacombs of the Al-Bayt Stadium wants nothing to do with Bierhoff, except for an Italian and an English colleague. One or the other even looks as if he doesn’t even know who the man in the fine suit is.
Doctors are being given here after the end of the World Cup, there are calls for DFB personnel changes – and everyone swears by the new beginning in order to “get back to where we belong”. But therein lies the fallacy, the arrogance. No more overconfidence: Germany is now playing second fiddle in football. The laughing rest of the world already knows.