London
Trafalgar Square has been the arena for celebrations of great military victories, assorted outpourings of national triumphalism and, for yesterday evening at least, the collective commiseration of a miserable capitulation at the feet of England’s great rivals (David Sanderson writes).
Within minutes of England’s Bloemfontein blues ending, it resounded to the sound of a medley of upbeat chants and the exuberant splashing of water in Lord Jellicoe’s fountain.
With bemused tourists watching, topless young men climbed the fountain, rediverted the jet of water to soak the crowds and sang I’m English till I die.
Others, with inflatable Spitfires, regaled the crowds with Two World Wars and One World Cup to the tune of Camptown Races.
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Police sought to get the more adventurous to desist from trying to reach the plinth and fountain heights, before retreating as Are you German in disguise? broke out.
John Rodger, 19, of Essex, said: “We are all disappointed. But the sun is shining and the best way to deal with a defeat is to have a laugh.”
Manchester
More than 13,500 fans gathered to watch the England match in a park in Manchester. Thousands left before the final whistle, realising that the dream was over after England conceded the fourth goal.
Thomas Jones, 28, a teacher from Preston, Lancashire, who left after 80 minutes, said the England players should “hang their heads in shame”, adding: “They think they are world-class players, but their performances don’t justify their massive salaries.”
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Luke Gallagher, 17, a student from Didsbury, who was wearing a tin hat reminiscent of the Second World War, instead blamed Fabio Capello’s tactics for the 4-1 drubbing. He said: “I blame [him] single-handedly. All tournament he has got it wrong.”
Small pockets of trouble flared at the event, organised by Manchester City Council, as fans took their troubles out on each other.
But Councillor Mike Amesbury, the council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said the majority of fans at the Hyundai Fan Park in Castlefield acted “impeccably”.
Glastonbury
The last World Cup England game to be shown at the Glastonbury Festival, in 1998, ended in victory against Colombia.
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At 1pm yesterday thousands of excited fans made their way with beer, deckchairs and reckless optimism to the renamed “Football Field”. Police officers were present and a medical tent had been installed but the mood was jubilant and the banter between the Brits and the few German fans was friendly.
But when England were denied what seemed a perfect goal, fans began chanting in anger at the screen. As news of the defeat rippled across the crowd, Ray Davies was singing Sunny Afternoon, a No 1 for the Kinks during England’s triumphant 1966 World Cup.
Berlin
For the millions of Germans who went wild with delight yesterday, one thought was uppermost: revenge is sweet.
As certainty hardened that a place in the final was now inevitable, thoughts also turned to the past and the supposed historical wrong of a certain disputed goal scored by the English against West Germany in the World Cup final of 1966. “Germany has been waiting 44 years for this moment,” said Die Welt.
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The Germans are the only nation on Earth still to believe the conspiracy story about the Soviet linesman who declared the ball to be in.
Asked on his deathbed what had made him so certain about the Wembley goal, he replied with one word: “Stalingrad.”
Afghanistan
They are allies in Afghanistan, but English and German troops did not hold back their emotions about the match.Some wore national team jerseys over their fatigues as they watched in separate bars at the main base for Nato’s International Security Assistance Force.
“It’s football — anything can happen,” said a German officer, as he sold non-alcoholic beer at a dimmed makeshift German pub to 50 or so soldiers watching on a big screen.
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At the Tora Bora bar, where 60 British Service members mingled with Macedonian and Swedish soldiers, there was anger. When a fourth goal sealed the result the crowd began to leave. At the German pub, the screen showed Mick Jagger in the stadium. “No satisfaction today,” a jubilant officer shouted.