King of Beers

One surprising note about the World Cup in Germany: Budweiser was, in most stadiums, the only beer you could buy. Of the five stadiums where I got my beer and brats on, only one served a German brew. It just goes to show that even arguably the best beer in the world has no chance against a deep sponsor budget.

...which brings me to my only gripe about this German World Cup: There was no personality, local or otherwise.

Germans are the masters of planning and organizing and it must be said that this World Cup ran smoother than any in the past. Although they get high marks in organization, they failed miserably in event entertainment and trying to create some semblance of German flair, if there indeed is such a thing. This World Cup could have been held on the island of Bore and you would have never known the difference.

I attended six matches in total and each followed the same sterile template. No entertainers for pre-game. No special guest appearances for halftime. Nothing. There was no reason to get to the match early or hurry back from concessions for halftime. All you got for pre-game was the same sequence of World Cup sponsored music videos and PSA's. Halftime was more of the same with a dash of first half highlights. And when the final whistle blew, the same exact song was blasted...every time.

I wasn't expecting a marching band or twirlers on the pitch, but give me at least something to write home about. Bring Pele out to midfield to say a little something. Bring out a freestyle soccer juggler. Fly in the kids from one of the FIFA-sponsored villages in Africa to play a quick 20 minute match during halftime.

I think the Germans were so concerned with the mechanics that they forgot the fun.