Yesterday was Austria’s chance to beat the Germans in soccer. Unfortunately they didn’t make it, although they did play a great game.

As expected, the two public viewing areas in Graz were crowded. What I didn’t expect was, that they wouldn’t let people in anymore, more than an hour before the game started. Since the Public viewing areas in Graz are commercial events, organized by newspapers and sponsors, they have blinds on the fences, which make it nearly impossible to view the game from the outside.

A few stood on trashcans and some even climed onto trees to get a clear view. The mood was great however. Too great to go watch the game at home with some friends, so I joined some hundred people, Austrians as well as Germans, sitting in front of a single TV, not far from the videowall we couldn’t see, but close enought to hear the outcry of thousands of people, when Michael Ballack shot the goal.

After a little over 90 minutes, the game ended, with lots of disappointed austrians heading into the city or back home. On the other hand, there were also some laughing germans, that celebrated the victory of their team.