Opinion | Fifa World Cup shock: Lothar Matthaus warned us it would end in tears, say German fans in Hong Kong
Fans turn up in droves at ‘Germany House’ in Hong Kong to watch games, but the prediction from former captain and World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus rings true
“Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”
The words of former England international forward Gary Lineker, a man who lost to West Germany in the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, had rung true after the Sweden game on match day two, and surely would again over bottom side South Korea.
Everyone inside the Intercontinental Academy Rooms of the Intercontinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong was aware of what needed to happen, as this was the home of the Germany House.
The Deutsches WM Haus, to give it its full name, was arranged by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Hong Kong so fans could watch Die Mannschaft in action in Russia.
“We talked about where to watch the World Cup with fellow Germans and Hong Kong friends,” Julian Kauke, vice-consul for culture and press affairs, said.
“It turned out that apart from a few groups scattered across various bars, there was not ‘the place to be’ for German supporters. So we decided to organise our own public screening. “