Beckenbauer: If we qualify for the tournament I have been told that two of our group matches will be played in Munich. The other two games hosted in the city will be a great occasion for supporters – the atmosphere will be incredible. Munich will once again show that it is the perfect host for big events, like it did two years ago when Bayern faced Chelsea in the Champions League final.
DFB.de: What do you make of the tournament’s development?
Beckenbauer: It remains to be seen whether the tournament’s expansion will be a good thing. The way the tournament has developed incredibly. I was involved in the tournament as a player and a manager – but it was a totally different world, it was much smaller than today’s format. Other things have changed to, certain conditions and relationships.
DFB.de: How so?
Beckenbauer: In 1988, only eight teams qualified. 12 of the 15 games were sell-outs, even though many of the stadiums featured uncovered terraces. The political landscape was different then too. Germany was split and the EU existed, but not in the way it does today. As a result of this, I firmly believe that hosting the tournament across the continent is something to celebrate and will make for a good tournament.
Munich will host European Championship fixtures for the first time since 1988 in 2020. The Allianz-Arena will host three group matches and a quarter-final in the tournament, which will be hosted by various cities across Europe. DFB.de spoke with “The Kaiser” Franz Beckenbauer about Germany’s application, what the continent can expect from the games in the Allianz and his feelings about his home city hosting top level international football once more.
DFB.de: Munich will host a quarter-final and three group stage matches in 2020. What do you make of the news?
Franz Beckenbauer: I’d like to praise the DFB for the high quality of their bid and their negotiation skills. The decision shows once more that UEFA trust the DFB to host some of the biggest events in European football.
DFB.de: Your home city is Munich. What does a successful bid mean for the city?
Beckenbauer: Hosting previous big sporting events in the city has coincided with the city developing in every sense of the world. It’s helped the city’s infrastructure in both a regional and national sense; hosting events has helped our football hugely too. The 1972 Olympiastadion, which also hosted games in the 1974 World Cup, was a huge step forward for us.
DFB.de: The Olympiastadion is no longer used for football – the Allianz-Arena is the focal point for the sport in the city.
Beckenbauer: That’s true. But without the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the stadium wouldn’t exist. Don’t forget that a referendum was needed to determine whether a stadium could be built or not. Without our World Cup hosting commitments, I doubt there would have been a yes vote. The positive effects of the decision were seen during the World Cup and every weekend since then. By the time the tournament comes around in six years time, Munich will be perfectly equipped to host the four matches we have been awarded.
DFB.de: With Germany playing in the Allianz-Arena…
Beckenbauer: If we qualify for the tournament I have been told that two of our group matches will be played in Munich. The other two games hosted in the city will be a great occasion for supporters – the atmosphere will be incredible. Munich will once again show that it is the perfect host for big events, like it did two years ago when Bayern faced Chelsea in the Champions League final.
DFB.de: What do you make of the tournament’s development?
Beckenbauer: It remains to be seen whether the tournament’s expansion will be a good thing. The way the tournament has developed incredibly. I was involved in the tournament as a player and a manager – but it was a totally different world, it was much smaller than today’s format. Other things have changed to, certain conditions and relationships.
DFB.de: How so?
Beckenbauer: In 1988, only eight teams qualified. 12 of the 15 games were sell-outs, even though many of the stadiums featured uncovered terraces. The political landscape was different then too. Germany was split and the EU existed, but not in the way it does today. As a result of this, I firmly believe that hosting the tournament across the continent is something to celebrate and will make for a good tournament.
