BRAZIL: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Germany fans in Fortaleza get ready to celebrate 'die Mannschaft'

Record ID: 335631

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Germany fans in Fortaleza get ready to celebrate 'die Mannschaft'
  • Date: 19th June 2014
  • Summary: FORTALEZA, BRAZIL (JUNE 19, 2014) (REUTERS) BANNER READING: "BRAZILIAN GERMAN FESTIVAL" EXTERIOR OF "O ALEMAO" RESTAURANT BANNERS OUTSIDE "O ALEMAO" SHOWING GERMAN MAN HOLDING BEER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DECORATING STREET "O ALEMAO" OWNER MANFRED ALEXANDER VINTLE PREPARING STREET PARTY (SOUNDBITE) (German) "O ALEMAO" OWNER MANFRED ALEXANDER VINTLE, SAYING: "It is not a normal
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABKRZGL05M9LGZ49VDHNNL6W4C
  • Story Text: In the middle of the concrete jungle that forms the heart of the northern Brazilian city of Fortaleza lies "O Alemao" (The German), a restaurant that offers traditional German delights and is preparing to role out the red carpet when the German team comes to town to play Ghana on Saturday (June 21).
    The restaurant's owner, Manfred Alexander Vintle, arrived in Fortaleza only six years ago, and while he has taken Brazil as his home, his heart still beats for Germany.
    A former supplier for medical products, he used to live in Barcelona but decided to move to the Brazilian city in 2008 as the economic crisis hit Spain, and now he offers a true German experience to locals and foreigners.
    But this weekend will be special.
    He has been preparing since January to celebrate Germany's Group G clash against Ghana as the team is in town, and hopes his neighbours and visitors from all over the world will join him cheering his national team.
    "It is not a normal situation. German soccer is very big in Brazil. German soccer is well known and valued. When Brazil is not playing, Brazilians support Germany," he told Reuters while making the last arrangements for the party.
    The party he is preparing will include traditional children's games during the day, local handmade arts and crafts, and German traditional music later on. But above all it will include football, a german celebration of football.
    Germany started the tournament with a ruthless 4-0 mauling Portugal in their World Cup opener on Monday, hammering home their credentials as serious title contenders in Brazil, and hopes that they will move on to the second round with triumph over Ghana on Saturday are high.
    While traditional fare such as Bratwurst sausages, Frikadelle meatballs and Spanferkel (roast suckling pig) are served at "O Alemao", regular Brazil fans can't wait for Saturday's feast - and the football festival.
    "We love Germany and we want to have a German experience here in Fortaleza, and this bar is pretty cool. We enjoy the food, we enjoy the drinks," Alexandre, a 38 year old regular said.
    "People that come here they love soccer just the way we do so we feel like supporting Germany. We enjoy German football, also the beer and the colours," his friend Adriano Costa added while drinking German-style beer.
    Despite loving Brazil and its culture and supporting "la canarinha" when they play, Manfred admits that when it comes to soccer, his heart belongs to Germany.
    "I love Brazil, my friends live here, I live here. But when it comes to football, my heart is German. I want Germany to win the World Cup, even if they play Brazil!," he said.
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