Editing 2006 FIFA World Cup (section)

== Evaluation of Germany as host nation ==
[[File:Wm 2006 autokorso.jpg|thumb|220px|Fans in celebratory [[motorcade]]]]
[[File:Wm-oly-de-cr.jpg|thumb|220px|Celebrating fans in [[Olympiapark (Munich)|Olympiapark]] in Munich during the opening match between Germany and [[Costa Rica]]]]

FIFA president Sepp Blatter stated the organization of the tournament was the best in history and that Germany had a welcoming public.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130125051559/http://www.handelsblatt.com/sport/fussball/nachrichten/interview-mit-dem-fifa-praesidenten-blatter-spricht-von-bester-wm-aller-zeiten/2673774.html ''Blatter spricht von „bester WM aller Zeiten“''] [[Handelsblatt]] (Interview)</ref> Through the many fanfests and large-screen broadcasts the feeling of a four-week national festival developed, in which much of the population took part.

During the first weeks of the tournament, there was concerned discussion about the wide display of the [[Flag of Germany|German national flag]] and the [[National colours of Germany|German national colours]] on houses, vehicles and clothing.<ref>[http://www.zeit.de/online/2006/25/WM-Patriotismus-Kommentar ''Angst vor der Nation''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318174413/https://www.zeit.de/online/2006/25/WM-Patriotismus-Kommentar |date=18 March 2022 }} In: ''[[Die Zeit]] online'', 2006</ref> Numerous national and international observers from media, society and politics considered that this signified not only great support for the German football team, but even a "new [[patriotism]]".{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} This continued a development already observed during the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>[[Arnd Krüger]]: ''Sport and Identity in Germany since Reunification''. In Philip Dine & Seán Crosson (eds.): ''Sport, representation and evolving identities in Europe.'' Bern: P. Lang 2010, 289–316</ref> A study by the [[University of Marburg]] suggested a slight rise in [[national pride]].<ref>To the question "Are you proud to be German?“, 7 % more interviewees answered "Yes" as before the 2006 World Cup. [http://www.uni-marburg.de/aktuelles/news/2006/20061213studie/20061213studie uni-marburg.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108112352/https://www.uni-marburg.de/aktuelles/news/2006/20061213studie/20061213studie |date=8 November 2020 }} The Marburg researchers however interpreted this however as a rise in nationalism, not in national pride.</ref> However, sporadic attempts of far right organisations to use the tournament as a platform for their propaganda remained unsuccessful.<ref>Elmar Vieregge: ''Die Fußballweltmeisterschaft 2006 und der deutsche Rechtsextremismus''. In: Martin H. W. Möllers, Robert Chr. van Ooyen (eds.): ''Jahrbuch Öffentliche Sicherheit 2006/2007''. Frankfurt am Main 2007, pages 137–145</ref>

As the German national football team contributed to arousing this previously undeclared enthusiasm and euphoria in Germany over a period of weeks, the then [[President of Germany|German President]] [[Horst Köhler]] presented the national players on 14 August 2006 with the ''[[Silbernes Lorbeerblatt]]'' (Silver Laurel Leaf), the highest sports award in Germany. The team's trainer, [[Jürgen Klinsmann]], in February 2007 was furthermore awarded the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Bundesverdienstkreuz]], not least for his reformed methods of modern training and playing methods, in which he persevered despite harsh criticism. Nevertheless, Klinsmann announced after the tournament that he would not extend his contract as trainer of the national team, since he felt completely burned-out and wished to spend more time with his family in [[California]]. The [[German Football Association]] (DFB) on the same day named as Klinsmann's successor his assistant trainer [[Joachim Löw]], since in the opinion of the DFB leadership he would best continue Klinsmann's work and training methods.

According to a representative survey taken in [[Trier]] by the European Tourism Institute (ETI), 96% of the German population considered that Germany was a good host during the World Cup. Additionally 93% of those interviewed found the international football fans to be agreeable.<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707174813/http://www.mopo.de/news/tourismus-deutschland-war-ein-guter-wm-gastgeber,5066732,5722306.html |url=http://www.mopo.de/news/tourismus-deutschland-war-ein-guter-wm-gastgeber,5066732,5722306.html |author=<!--n/a--> |title=Deutschland war ein guter WM-Gastgeber |publisher=[[Hamburger Morgenpost]] |date=29 September 2006 |language=de |access-date=7 July 2012 |archive-date=7 July 2012}}</ref>