Tears in Germany
Tears broke in the last 2 minutes of the overtime of the semifinal between Italy and Germany. That is how long it took for Italy to score twice and send Germany to the match for 3 and 4 spots in the tournament they still host, for 2 more matches.
And then came the moment they had all dreaded, as Italy took a leaf out of Germany’s book by scoring in the dying minutes. The ‘sound’ of one million people falling silent at exactly the same time has to be heard to be believed, and although that silence was momentarily broken as Odonkor went off on one last run, it soon descended again for good as Del Piero hammered the second and final nail in the coffin.
By the time the final whistle had blown the tears had already begun to flow. Groups of boys who had gathered in expectation consoled each other as they wept. Others saluted their fallen heroes, while many more stared disbelievingly at the screen as a poignant and richly deserved tribute flashed up before them: “You are the champions in our hearts”.