In June of 1970 my family and I were visiting relatives in Bristol, UK; that month the 1970 FIFA World Cup was being held in Mexico. On the 14th of June, England matched with West Germany as part of the quarter-finals round and I watched this contest on television, live and in colour, with my British cousins. (This was just the year after the Beeb switched to colour broadcasting).
All is fine in my admissions thus far.
The problems start now: I was rooting for West Germany. Needless to say, appreciating the Brits' pride for their national football team, I kept my cheers a private matter. Even at such a young age I was hyper-aware that in the interest of self preservation it would be prudent of me to keep any elation to myself: I was contained in a room with British supporters; off-side behaviour of any colour could be bloody dangerous!
West Germany went on to win the match by a score of 3-2 and I was a happy young man.
Shortly after returning to West Germany, a German might have asked me: "Schadenfreude?"
"Me? No. For a reason of which I am not aware, known only to the recesses of my still-developing brain, I chose to support the Germans."
"Du bist ein guter Deutscher."
Perhaps.
Knowing the English football fans' predilection for being unwilling or unable to let certain histories "go", and having more than a few British relatives of my own, I decided to withhold this sensitive bit from my past. Only now am I able to come to terms with my Yellow Card.
I doubt they'll ever stumble upon this posting....
The problems start now: I was rooting for West Germany. Needless to say, appreciating the Brits' pride for their national football team, I kept my cheers a private matter. Even at such a young age I was hyper-aware that in the interest of self preservation it would be prudent of me to keep any elation to myself: I was contained in a room with British supporters; off-side behaviour of any colour could be bloody dangerous!
West Germany went on to win the match by a score of 3-2 and I was a happy young man.
Shortly after returning to West Germany, a German might have asked me: "Schadenfreude?"
"Me? No. For a reason of which I am not aware, known only to the recesses of my still-developing brain, I chose to support the Germans."
"Du bist ein guter Deutscher."
Perhaps.
Knowing the English football fans' predilection for being unwilling or unable to let certain histories "go", and having more than a few British relatives of my own, I decided to withhold this sensitive bit from my past. Only now am I able to come to terms with my Yellow Card.
I doubt they'll ever stumble upon this posting....
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