They've already dubbed him the derby of the spread. It is the eurozone's spin: rich and virtuous Germany against the country going through the worst period of its glorious history, Greece, whose differential with German government bonds is dramatically the highest in the whole continent, with over 2.500 basis points.
Berlin against Athens, Merkel against Samaras, Aristotle against Nietzsche, Schweinsteiger against Karagounis. When football and the economy intersect, unloading all the tensions of recent months in the 90 minutes scheduled tonight in Gdansk, Poland, in the match that is worth access to the semifinals of the European championships.
Powerful Germany, as well as commanding the palaces of politics, is also super-favorite on the green rectangle, but tonight he will have support from half of Europe against him. It is not well understood whether out of intolerance towards the rigid Chancellor or out of a healthy sympathy towards a people cornered by the crisis and which can find a coveted revenge in sport, the fact is that European fans really seem to like the idea that May the working class finally go to heaven tonight.
This is certainly the case in Italy, where solidarity with the Greeks is strengthened by a not exaggeratedly better situation, even if the eventual (and predicted) elimination of Fernando Santos' men would open the door to the Azzurri, if in turn victorious against the tricky England , the doors of an equally suggestive "revenge". Yeah, why in this European, Germany is menacingly surrounded by the Pigs: in the semi-final they could indeed find Italy while on the other side of the scoreboard Spain and Portugal arrive like trains, also thirsty for revenge against Berlin.
To testify the importance - perhaps not only symbolic - of the event there is also the announced presence in the gallery of Angela Merkel. The Chancellor least loved by the Europeans has even asked and obtained to anticipate the Rome summit with Monti, Hollande and Rajoy to fly to Gdansk in time, where she will probably meet the newly elected Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras for the first time, also expected at the stadium .
Skyrocketing tension, therefore, at least until the end of the match, the epilogue of which will in any case cause discussion: if Germany wins, it will be yet another demonstration of strength in football too, while if the blue-and-whites succeed, they will leave for this event against the odds and with many other problems on his mind, it will be proof, perhaps ephemeral but nevertheless credible, that the value of sport can go beyond the results of the field. It can give hope and optimism, it can restore joy and pride to a broken people, as well as make half the continent "shignaze" waiting for the Teutonic tumble. "It's just a day dedicated to sport," the German government spokesman saidin an attempt to defuse the tension. But is he really that sure?
