[bild1]
As of today, 1 February 2012, it's exactly 126 days to go before the 2012 European Championships (EURO 2012) begins in Poland and Ukraine. The German national team will be there and so, it is hoped, will thousands of fans who have time until 29 February 2012 to file their ticket applications. In this interview, DFB.de's leading writer Steffen Lüdeke talks to Germany manager Oliver Bierhoff about the state of affairs ahead of the first senior teams' European Championship tournament to be staged in Eastern Europe.
DFB.de: Oliver, how great is the German supporters' interest in obtaining EURO 2012 tickets, despite all the stress and strain of getting there?
Oliver Bierhoff: We have been allocated 6,000 tickets for each of our three group matches (DFB.de: Germany are in Group B, together with Portugal, Denmark, and The Netherlands); if we proceed to the quarter-final and semi-final stages, the German contingent would be 5,000 tickets each, which number grows to 9,000 for each of the two teams that make it to the final. I must admit we were rather worried at first when the number of applications seemed to be stuck in the low hundreds, but this is changing fast. In fact, there will likely be more applicants than seats for the group matches, and the quarter-final provided, of course, we get there is massively over-booked even now. I am confident we won't have to return any tickets to UEFA, which shows that our fans really do identify with the team.
DFB.de: How important would you say are the national team's fans?
Bierhoff: I'd say they're absolutely vital, especially in a tournament environment. As a player at EURO 96, I saw first-hand what fan support can do, or look at EURO 2008 and the match against Turkey, the kind of evening with a special atmosphere that neither the fans nor the players will ever forget. Let me put it this way: once the spark of enthusiasm is ignited on the stands, the players on the pitch are on fire, and that's what you need if you really want to lift that trophy!
DFB.de: At the moment, demand for tickets from other national associations is much weaker than in Germany; would you put this down to a special team/fan relationship?
Bierhoff: Yes, I would. The national team means so much to fans and players alike, and thanks to the National Team Fan Club, ties have become even stronger, with some incredible fan choreographies and excellent vocal support, too. Huge numbers of German supporters travel abroad to away games, and the closer we get to the European Championships, the clearer you see that the "Mannschaft" is quite simply Germany's all-time favourite team. In other countries, fans support their respective clubs more than their country's national side. Fortunately for us, it's just the other way round here.
DFB.de: In how far, do you think, have the team's recent inspired performances played a role?
[bild2]
Bierhoff: Well, in Germany the level of expectancy has never been exactly low, has it? The good thing is that quality-wise, we have seen a continuous upward trend in the last few years we can say with some pride that the team have become outstanding ambassadors for Germany, not just because they're playing nice-to-watch football, but also because the players themselves are strong personalities fans love to identify with.
DFB.de: Somewhat contrary to initial expectations, all of our three group matches will take place in Ukraine, but there's been much talk lately about the situation there...
Bierhoff: It will come as no surprise to fans that they'll have to make do with slightly lower standards, but I'm confident that the DFB's travel partner, Euro Lloyd DFB Travel, is going to offer attractive packages for the various groups accompanying the national team. To me, it looks like the same old story there's plenty of host country-bashing at first, but then people realise that everything is fine once the tournament gets under way. I am optimistic that our Ukrainian hosts will go out of their way to ensure the best possible conditions. And if fans didn't feel that way, too, UEFA wouldn't be receiving so many ticket applications.
DFB.de: With demand for tickets exceeding supply, there'll be no other option but allocation by ballot. Is there any possibility of National Team Fan Club members receiving some kind of preferential treatment?
Bierhoff: As far as we're concerned, it goes without saying that those who've been loyal, if not exemplary, supporters for such a long time will somehow be rewarded, and that means we'll find a way to ensure that as many members as possible get a chance to go "all the way" with us and may that journey be long!
created by dfb
[bild1]
As of today, 1 February 2012, it's exactly 126 days to go before the 2012 European Championships (EURO 2012) begins in Poland and Ukraine. The German national team will be there and so, it is hoped, will thousands of fans who have time until 29 February 2012 to file their ticket applications. In this interview, DFB.de's leading writer Steffen Lüdeke talks to Germany manager Oliver Bierhoff about the state of affairs ahead of the first senior teams' European Championship tournament to be staged in Eastern Europe.
DFB.de: Oliver, how great is the German supporters' interest in obtaining EURO 2012 tickets, despite all the stress and strain of getting there?
Oliver Bierhoff: We have been allocated 6,000 tickets for each of our three group matches (DFB.de: Germany are in Group B, together with Portugal, Denmark, and The Netherlands); if we proceed to the quarter-final and semi-final stages, the German contingent would be 5,000 tickets each, which number grows to 9,000 for each of the two teams that make it to the final. I must admit we were rather worried at first when the number of applications seemed to be stuck in the low hundreds, but this is changing fast. In fact, there will likely be more applicants than seats for the group matches, and the quarter-final provided, of course, we get there is massively over-booked even now. I am confident we won't have to return any tickets to UEFA, which shows that our fans really do identify with the team.
DFB.de: How important would you say are the national team's fans?
Bierhoff: I'd say they're absolutely vital, especially in a tournament environment. As a player at EURO 96, I saw first-hand what fan support can do, or look at EURO 2008 and the match against Turkey, the kind of evening with a special atmosphere that neither the fans nor the players will ever forget. Let me put it this way: once the spark of enthusiasm is ignited on the stands, the players on the pitch are on fire, and that's what you need if you really want to lift that trophy!
DFB.de: At the moment, demand for tickets from other national associations is much weaker than in Germany; would you put this down to a special team/fan relationship?
Bierhoff: Yes, I would. The national team means so much to fans and players alike, and thanks to the National Team Fan Club, ties have become even stronger, with some incredible fan choreographies and excellent vocal support, too. Huge numbers of German supporters travel abroad to away games, and the closer we get to the European Championships, the clearer you see that the "Mannschaft" is quite simply Germany's all-time favourite team. In other countries, fans support their respective clubs more than their country's national side. Fortunately for us, it's just the other way round here.
DFB.de: In how far, do you think, have the team's recent inspired performances played a role?
[bild2]
Bierhoff: Well, in Germany the level of expectancy has never been exactly low, has it? The good thing is that quality-wise, we have seen a continuous upward trend in the last few years we can say with some pride that the team have become outstanding ambassadors for Germany, not just because they're playing nice-to-watch football, but also because the players themselves are strong personalities fans love to identify with.
DFB.de: Somewhat contrary to initial expectations, all of our three group matches will take place in Ukraine, but there's been much talk lately about the situation there...
Bierhoff: It will come as no surprise to fans that they'll have to make do with slightly lower standards, but I'm confident that the DFB's travel partner, Euro Lloyd DFB Travel, is going to offer attractive packages for the various groups accompanying the national team. To me, it looks like the same old story there's plenty of host country-bashing at first, but then people realise that everything is fine once the tournament gets under way. I am optimistic that our Ukrainian hosts will go out of their way to ensure the best possible conditions. And if fans didn't feel that way, too, UEFA wouldn't be receiving so many ticket applications.
DFB.de: With demand for tickets exceeding supply, there'll be no other option but allocation by ballot. Is there any possibility of National Team Fan Club members receiving some kind of preferential treatment?
Bierhoff: As far as we're concerned, it goes without saying that those who've been loyal, if not exemplary, supporters for such a long time will somehow be rewarded, and that means we'll find a way to ensure that as many members as possible get a chance to go "all the way" with us and may that journey be long!
