Germany vs Austria, Euro 2008

**OneEnglishNorman** · Saturday, June 14th, 2008

On British TV, they were translating various German and Austrian newspapers. Basically a lot of light-hearted rivalry, "20 reasons why Austria sucks", "the German manager is an arrogant XYZ" and that sort of stuff. This is ahead of the football game.

Is all that kind of thing "PC"? Is it a media thing, to keep up some pretence that these are two very separate nations?

I seriously can't believe that Germans (especially southern Germans?) see Austrians as a people to be rival with, or that could appreciate a list of supposedly "weird" things about Austria.

German tabloid: http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/fussball/EM-2008/2008/06/14/30-gruende/warum-oesis-oft-auch-doesis-sind,geo=4841076.html

**Siebenbürgerin** · Saturday, June 14th, 2008

When it comes to football, even clubs from different cities from the same region insult each other.

It's just normal with this sport. Nothing I would take too seriously. In Germany, there are also the Ossi-Wessi jokes, but they don't invalidate the existence of the German nation.

Just like when Germany was split in two "Germany's" and they weren't true nations, only countries, the same happens with Austria. It's an artificial nation, because Austrians speak German language and their culture is German culture. Here for example, we Transylvanian Saxons are very influenced by Austrians (former Austrian Empire/Habsburg rule), and we recognize Austrians as Germans.

**Thrymheim** · Sunday, June 15th, 2008

Why shouldn't there be rivalry, look at the Scots and the English or Welsh. We've been having plenty of fun at work as we have an Austrian, and it's very entertainging to call her German, so long as you duck quick enough that is.

**Thusnelda** · Sunday, June 15th, 2008

There is a rivalry (especially regarding football ) between Germany and Austria. Austrians are the smaller brothers and sisters of the Germans and so they are maintaining a half-fun/half-serious minority complex regarding the bigger neighbour. *g* It´s like in a family: Teasings between the older daughter and the younger brother, for example.

Because of this "complex" they thirst to give the "Piefkes" (Austrian phrase for Germany

) a wipe whenever it´s possible.

Since they rarely ever beat the Germans (besides in sports like Alpine Skiing during winter) they celebrate a seldom victory over Germany just colossaly.

Around 30 years ago the Austrian soccer team has won 3:2 over Germany during the World Championships, kicking Germany out of the cup. It´s called the "Wonder of Cordoba" and Austrians recall it very often. Now they strive for a new "Cordoba" on Monday evening when the Austrian soccer team has the opportunity to kick Germany out of the cup again.
(The current coach of the Austrians, Hickersberger, was a player back in this "Wonder of Cordoba" match 30 years ago).

It´s clear that "Germany 1" is playing against "Germany 2" on monday, but it´s just very much heat in this game.

(Since I´m Bavarian/South German I´ve more common with Austrians than with Northern Germans. So I´m quite indifferent about who may win the match. It´s important that at least one German team will be staying in the championship!

So I can just lean back and enjoy the inner-German match

)

**Boche** · Monday, June 16th, 2008

I don't think there is a real Rivalry. Austrians are for me not different to Germans. Just like Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, Hessen etc are Germans, just with a little different Mentality, Dialect and small cultural Differences.

The newspaper stuff is not too serious either, everyone laughs about it.

Anyway, this Evening we will win.

Gruß,
Boche