Germany’s fan mile packed despite loss

A huge flag-waving crowd gave Germany’s not quite all-conquering football team a heroes’ welcome in central Berlin despite their 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2008. “Even if you are vice-champions it is worth celebrating,” said Richard, a 24-year-old student, who drove for four hours from North-Rhine Westphalia to get to Berlin for Sunday’s match – “which was definitely worth it,” he said.

Coach Joachim Loew, appearing on stage to rock music by the White Stripes, used the occasion to pay tribute to Luis Aragones’s team but vowed to put Spain to the sword next time. “The Spanish were a very good team all through. We have to recognise their quality,” Loew said,adding: “Should the Spanish come up again we will beat them.”

The atmosphere in Germany on Sunday for the match had been electric with some 600,000 massing the “Fan Mile” at the Brandenburg Gate.

Berlin and other cities had been transformed into raucous seas of flags, wigs and Hawaiian-style necklaces Even the Daimlers, Volkswagens and Audis had shut down production.