The match against the Netherlands in Hanover was meant to be a return to normality, a chance for the players to feel grass under their feet, a chance to play football. The match was called off, and football was not given the opportunity to make a stand. Hans-Dieter Hermann, the sport psychologist of the DFB team, experienced first hand the reaction of the players in Paris and Hannover. He sits down with Steffen Lüdeke to discuss the consequences of these tragic events.
DFB.de: Mr. Hermann, how were the players last night?
Hans-Dieter Hermann: Everyone thought that match was going to take place. For this reason, the disappointment was palpable when they found out shortly before kickoff that it had been called off. Despite the initial concerns of our team, the match was meant to be an opportunity for the players to make a stand. The boys wanted a piece of sporting normality, but also to show solidarity with France and the victims. The players were, as far as I could tell, concerned, but not incapacitated. When the bus suddenly changed route, and we were told it had been called off, the atmosphere was noticeably tense. That started to improve after a couple of hours when we had made it back to Barsinghausen.
DFB.de: How did Hanover compare to Paris?
Hermann: In Paris, we were a lot more affected simply by virtue of the fact that we heard the detonations, the sounds. You can’t compare that to our experience in Hanover. The team had not arrived in the stadium yet, we were quite a long way out. The threat was much more real in Paris, and in Hanover it was more abstract. The danger was, however, still very real because of our previous experiences.
DFB.de: The players did a lot right following the night in Paris, including talking to each other, and with their friends and family at home. Is this what’s required following last night?
Hermann: We can’t really equate the two experiences. Like I said, there was a concrete threat in Paris, and it was all around us. The stress was therefore much higher. For that reason, there was no real shock from the events last night, just a resurfacing of the emotions felt in Paris. In light of what happened in France, hearing that the game has been called off under suspicious circumstances only leads to an increased sense of insecurity.
DFB.de: You just described how the players dealt with the situation in a calm manner. Does that mean they have processed the night in the Stade de France well?
The match against the Netherlands in Hanover was meant to be a return to normality, a chance for the players to feel grass under their feet, a chance to play football. The match was called off, and football was not given the opportunity to make a stand. Hans-Dieter Hermann, the sport psychologist of the DFB team, experienced first hand the reaction of the players in Paris and Hannover. He sits down with Steffen Lüdeke to discuss the consequences of these tragic events.
DFB.de: Mr. Hermann, how were the players last night?
Hans-Dieter Hermann: Everyone thought that match was going to take place. For this reason, the disappointment was palpable when they found out shortly before kickoff that it had been called off. Despite the initial concerns of our team, the match was meant to be an opportunity for the players to make a stand. The boys wanted a piece of sporting normality, but also to show solidarity with France and the victims. The players were, as far as I could tell, concerned, but not incapacitated. When the bus suddenly changed route, and we were told it had been called off, the atmosphere was noticeably tense. That started to improve after a couple of hours when we had made it back to Barsinghausen.
DFB.de: How did Hanover compare to Paris?
Hermann: In Paris, we were a lot more affected simply by virtue of the fact that we heard the detonations, the sounds. You can’t compare that to our experience in Hanover. The team had not arrived in the stadium yet, we were quite a long way out. The threat was much more real in Paris, and in Hanover it was more abstract. The danger was, however, still very real because of our previous experiences.
DFB.de: The players did a lot right following the night in Paris, including talking to each other, and with their friends and family at home. Is this what’s required following last night?
Hermann: We can’t really equate the two experiences. Like I said, there was a concrete threat in Paris, and it was all around us. The stress was therefore much higher. For that reason, there was no real shock from the events last night, just a resurfacing of the emotions felt in Paris. In light of what happened in France, hearing that the game has been called off under suspicious circumstances only leads to an increased sense of insecurity.
DFB.de: You just described how the players dealt with the situation in a calm manner. Does that mean they have processed the night in the Stade de France well?
Hermann: I can’t talk for the whole team here. Stress and dangerous situations affect people in different ways. These are things that you can’t notice immediately by looking at someone. It’s worth bearing in mind that worries and fears sometimes take a few days to surface for some people. The fact that the game in Hanover did not provide any footballing normality, in the form of a normal 90 minute football match, does not help in the processing of recent events. Returning to day to day routines at clubs and talking to families will though help. The players all know that they can ask for help.
DFB.de: You said after Paris that it would do the players good to play football again. This wasn’t an option. Will this have any negative consequences?
Hermann: Like I said, it is not good that they didn’t play yesterday. The game would have been good both as a statement and for the players psychologically - for everyone.
DFB.de: Do you think the outcome of the investigation in Hanover will make a difference? Will it affect the players differently if there really were explosives found near the stadium?
Hermann: I would like to emphasise here, that the players were not just worried about their own safety, but also concerned for the safety of the spectators. The way in which the authorities acted will certainly help the players. There is a lot of trust in those who made the decision to call off the game, which is valuable in the processing of these events, and will help the next time they return to a stadium.
