Deutschlandlabor – Folge 3: Fußball

How do Germans live and what are they really like Germany Lab Hello we are Mina and David from Germany Lab We answer questions about Germany and the Germans Today's topic is football How important is this sport to the Germans Do they also play football a lot themselves Football is the most popular sport in Germany There are over 6.5 million active footballers in 27 000 clubs Many Germans regularly play football with friends in their free time even without a club The Bundesliga games are attracting more and more spectators usually over 45 000 per match How important is football to you Yes it's already quite important Football is also quite important to me We don't watch football at all Not at all It definitely affects my mood quite a bit I'd say I'm definitely there for the World Cup and European Championship I really enjoy watching the Africa Cup I have also been playing myself for 15 years Every weekend for me is just Fridays on the field Saturdays on the field watching in the afternoon and Sundays again on the field Some people are not interested in soccer But for most people soccer is very important Many even play in a club They like to watch football with friends for example in the stadium or at the pub They especially like watching the FIFA World Cup or the European Championship Many children in Germany play soccer in a club Nina and David are training with a youth soccer team today When does it start here When do the guys get here How old are they Also if I look at our team now some of them started with three and a half Do more boys or girls play soccer in Germany It feels like I say more boys because I have almost 380 children in the club and only one girl Can you learn something for life from football A lot in my opinion yes What exactly Also definitely have the discipline and concentration when it's needed and the unity Many people support the clubs for example by coaching children's and youth teams Often they don't get any money for it In football clubs like these children who enjoy football are especially encouraged Football is a dream job for many children The coach Thomas Stäbel used to play in the Bundesliga When can talent be recognized So when does the talent search begin Nowadays it's the case that children are already being scouted as young as seven or eight years old What do you need to do if you want to become a professional footballer Unfortunately talent alone isn't enough Also becoming a pro is really a very long way Diligence ambition perseverance And I believe the children the teenagers who are willing to invest more than the others They have the possibility to knock on the door up there someday Does everyone in Germany really love soccer so much Hey do you want to come watch a soccer game with us Yes I'd love to Perfect he already has some football experience Hey hold on stop We need your help Do you want to play soccer with us Yes okay Two small goals a ball and some jerseys Let's go No A fair game And then finally a goal Football is a popular sport in Germany Many people not only watch football on television but also play it themselves For example in a club or just with friends on the lawn Yes and young talents are already supported from an early age I also enjoy playing soccer in my free time Soccer was really fun for me Do you feel like watching a game after work I'm sorry I want to watch the national team's game on TV with my friends But otherwise sure Typical