14.06.2024

The European Football Championship kicks off in Germany today. While there was not much euphoria about the upcoming home tournament in the spring, the mood in Germany has now changed somewhat. This is probably primarily due to the recent convincing performances of the DFB team and the German clubs on the international stage. In addition, the association's marketing campaigns may also have had a positive effect on fans' anticipation. 

For a long time, German supporters' enthusiasm for the upcoming EURO was rather limited: The results of the last major events were too disappointing, the performances since the 2014 World Cup title, the last major success of a German selection, too weak. However, as the continental championship in their own country draws closer, more and more fans seem to be slowly but surely developing a certain expectation again, as a representative study by the voting platform FanQ, in which over 3,000 people were surveyed, shows. 

Around two months ago, only 26.9 % of all survey participants answered the question about their anticipation of the European Championship at home with four or five out of five stars, but shortly before the start of the tournament this figure had risen to 59.9 %. In addition, more than half of all supporters are now convinced that Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Co. will reach at least the semi-finals at EURO 2024. 

"In reorganising the national team ahead of the test matches against France and the Netherlands, Julian Nagelsmann has shown the courage that fans have been missing from the DFB for years. The abandonment of established names and the trust in hopeful newcomers fits in with the times," says Prof Dr Harald Lange from the Institute of Sports Science at the University of Würzburg, who was involved in conducting the study, explaining the results. 

The association has also tried to get football fans excited about the tournament through various campaigns. He doubts to what extent these measures will ultimately be successful. "The marketing campaigns tend to put off the die-hard fans. Event fans, on the other hand, are attracted by this hype," says the scientist. Furthermore, he does not rule out an atmosphere in the coming weeks similar to that during the 2006 World Cup, for example, but links this to a not insignificant condition in sport and at the same time criticises the DFB: "Success and the prospect of good weather are the two main reasons that are suitable for getting event fans on board in a good mood. Unfortunately, it's now too late for anything else after so many years of oversleeping."