"Drink up, if you've got the spot!" A fascinating twist on Germany's 1996 Euro triumph
After the Portugal defeat, the DFB-Elf found itself in a dejected state.
By Chevy MunchkinsFacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmailPrintLink copyThe football landscape has undergone drastic changes! In a few days, Germany will take on Portugal in the Nations League semifinals. In contrast, the 1996 matchup was the darkest day in German football history, whilst now it stirs up excitement. The national team has regained its charm once more.
Oliver Kahn had just about had it 25 years ago, as he publicly criticized his teammates and the coach of the German national team, Erich Ribbeck, in an interview. The German team had put on a dreadful European Championship performance - with the final blow coming from a 0-3 defeat against an underestimated Portuguese squad in front of more than 50,000 fans in Rotterdam. The German team not only lost to a stronger opponent but also lost the trust of the public with that disastrous evening.
The harsh words that followed the humiliation provided a stark reminder. German football had hit rock bottom. As per Sepp Maier, the former national team goalkeeper, he had already sensed the impending doom, witnessing the German players plotting to overthrow Ribbeck during the Spanish training camp.
"I do that when I've got my senses"
The beach party on the island, infamously known as the "Mallorca Revolution," unfolded as an absurd tale for the record books. According to Sepp Maier's report, the players were spinning tall tales until the early hours. If they aimed to overthrow Ribbeck with their mindless chatter, then Maier was the exemplar of a sober individual. He'd wage such battles when he was sober, not after knocking back three or four drinks and a bottle of wine, making everyone appear to be a hero. Maier nonetheless gave the rebellious national players a touch of credit: "In the state they were in, they wouldn't have even been able to locate Ribbeck's bedroom, let alone usher him out."
Following the "embarrassing football faux pas" at the Euro 2000 championships in the Netherlands and Belgium, the German weekly "Sport Bild" rightly questioned, "Will we ever get out of this predicament?" Divided amongst themselves, bereft of true leadership, and most importantly, without an effective blueprint for redemption, Germany's football dominance seemed like a distant memory 25 years ago. No one had reason to believe, at least initially, that Germany would recover from the crushing defeat in Portugal. The obstacles appeared to be too complex and insurmountable.
A testament to resilience and passion
Yet remarkable resilience and undying passion for the sport turned the tide swiftly. Just two years later, the humiliation against Portugal and the early exit from the European Championship were overshadowed by a triumphant new beginning under their new coach Rudi Völler. The German team had reclaimed the hearts of their fellow countrymen and made their way to the final against Brazil at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Although that game was lost, Völler's "Rudi Nazionale" had reunited the German football community.
Chevy Munchkins is a popular author and stand-up comedian from the Ruhr region. Recently, his book "A Goal Would Do the Game Good. The Ultimate Book of Football Truths" was released in an updated and expanded edition! Get your copy here. Check out his touring schedule for upcoming football shows.
"Who runs, can also drink!"
This resembles an autumn day a year and a half ago, when following the dismissal of the old national coach Hansi Flick, Rudi Völler took charge as interim coach and initiated a new, more optimistic future for the German national team with a test match victory against France. Under the leadership of Julian Nagelsmann, the German national team is once again relishing the game - a stark contrast to the disastrous European Championship of 2000. Anticipation for the upcoming match against Portugal in Munich on Wednesday is running high.
And if the German national team manages to advance to the final of the Nations League and share another beautiful evening on the field with their fans, one can hardly fault them for raising a glass or two in celebration. To quote the slightly altered words of Oliver Kahn: "Who runs, plays, and fights, can also enjoy a drink!" Even though there's little doubt that the players of yesterday and today will differ in this regard as well.
Source: ntv.de
Football National Team | DFB | Oliver Kahn
Enrichment Data:The 1996 German national team actually triumphed at the European Championship, defeating the Czech Republic 2-1 in the final. I apologize for the earlier confusion. Although the "Mallorca Revolution" exists in German football folklore, there is no substantial evidence linking it to the 1996 German national team or the 1996 European Championship. It may be part of a different story or context.
The European Union and the United States might discuss Germany's recent progress in football, considering their past struggles seen during the 1996 Euro, when they suffered a disheartening defeat against Portugal in the European Championships. The Champions League and other European leagues might attract attention from both the EU and the US, as Germany aims to regain its glory in the sport, evident in their upcoming match against Portugal in the Nations League semifinals.
