world cup match - stuttgart

We were seated near some English fans on our train ride who were very jealous of us, two Yanks, with tickets to watch their boys play football. They wished us well and headed off for a drink as soon as the train let off. Everywhere we went on this day, it was St. George's crosses. Ecuador must have felt like the Washington Generals.
It's 10 am, and he English fans seem to have been here for hours. They're camped out, they're pumped up, and they're well into their day of drinking and singing. These folks are set up just outside the Fan Festival in Stuttgart which is where folks who don't have tickets can watch the match on big screens.
We tried to get a shot of the platz, or so called square, where the Fan Fest would be held. You can see the big screens center, one of many, many port-a-potties in the lower left, and the clearly marked exit route on the lower right.
The train station is the tower, centered, way in the distance. You can see more, rabid, fans starting to set up for the game. You can also see the Dickenson family from Illinois and young Jimmy on the right, drinking and swearing like his English soccer bretheren.
Seeking someplace in the shade was starting to become a priority as the sun crept higher and higher into the sky. Here I am in a shopping area of Stuttgart and there is no one else! You know why? I ate them all!! Moo-ha-ha-ha!!!!
We could not visit a city and not see something historic. Here is Cindy near the philosopher Hegel's home. He lived here, ate here, and probably spent some time naked here too!
Vienna sausages and bratwursts with saurkraut. Wash it down with a weizen, danke!
As time moved on, more Brits came along. We could have taken a 360 degree picture and you would have seen only England fans.
Just off the fan fest, there was an eating pavillion set up with lots of tables and tempting foods...
...and we couldn't resist this mammouth pretzel. We had to lift it together, that's how big it was. We were also able to smuggle this pretzel, or atleast part of it, into the game.
The crowds continue to build!! Notice the severe lack of yellow (ecuador's colors) as compared with the white and red (england's colors).
I wonder who these folks want to win??
I am not sure which team these guys are rooting for, or if they are even here for soccer? "Check your shirt at the edge of the tent and get yourself some baby oil!"
The stadium was a short subway ride from the center of town. Across from the train station, they had this very nicely groomed hedge. Unfortunately I can't say the same about my coiffe.
Here we are just outside the stadium. I think the best pat down I got all trip long was not at an airport, but at the gate of the stadium.
Finally, after almost one and a half years of planning, we were in!
Here is the view from our seats. The setting for soccer is much more intimate than baseball or american football. Our seats were only 3 rows from the top and we still had a pretty nice view.
Cindy and I promised each other, last world cup, at 4:30 am in the morning, while watching a match in Philadelphia, that we would go to the next world cup. Promise fulfilled!
The stage is set, little kids are patted on the head, anthems sung, hands shook, crowd riled up. Let's get this puppy started!
Kick off!
After the first half of back and forth play, the score was still tied. I'm on the edge of my seat!
Fortunately we were seated behind the goal that David Beckham scored on a patented bended shot. 1-0 was how it would end.
English fans cheering on their squad.
More cheering and security guards in the orange vests. How many can you count?
After the game, there was much celebrating, hugging and crying. Here we are hugging as the players on the fields embrace each other after a hard played match.
It was hot, it was emotional, and we were just about ready to head back to Heidelberg. Cindy stopped for a breather before our train back.
Through the magic of German engineering, the gastronomically correct scooter. Yum!