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Berlin or Frankfurt for World Cup parade?

Felix Reimer
Felix Reimer - [email protected]
Berlin or Frankfurt for World Cup parade?
Klinsmann and Löw celebrate in Berlin in 2006 but Frankfurt's Römer square is also in the running. Photos: DPA

If they win the World Cup - and that "if" has become smaller after beating Brazil - Germany must choose between Berlin and Frankfurt for their victory celebration. The debate is already heating up. Which one should it be?

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Berlin was famously described as "poor but sexy" by its own mayor and Frankfurt's reputation is the opposite - wealthy but perhaps a little dull.

Both cities are now facing off over where Die Mannschaft should celebrate if they win Sunday's World Cup final.

The German team celebrated its last two World Cup trophies in Frankfurt's Römer square. The players were on the balcony of city hall while thousands of fans cheered them below.

But when Germany came third in the 2006 World Cup, the team went straight to Berlin to celebrate. They picked the same place to party after coming second in the Euro 2008 football championship.

Despite the final not taking place until Sunday, the debate has already started over where to host the World Cup parade.

A tongue-in-cheek article in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung argued Germany’s banking centre was the obvious choice.

Berlin has no jobs, it argued, before pointing out this could actually be an advantage for the capital as it would mean plenty of people would be free to attend the victory celebrations.

Frankfurt's claim is not only rooted in the history of 1974 and 1990. The women's national football team celebrated their last championships at the Römer.

And the historic square's timber-framed facades and Frankfurt's city would make for an idyllic setting, reminding the world Germany has more to offer than its capital.

But Berlin supporters point to their fan mile, which stretches west from the Brandenburg Gate, and has become the unofficial centre of German fan culture in the last few years.

After the semi-final victory, Twitter users said they had spontaneously booked tickets to Berlin to see the victory parade at the Brandenburg Gate.

So what do you think? Should the German team continue the tradition and celebrate in Frankfurt or go with the times and come to Berlin?

Or is this debate far too premature because the Germans will go down against Argentina? Have your say below.

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