SCHLAAAAAAND!

Some things don't translate very well. Or perhaps they were just totally misunderstood in the first place. Take, for example, the German word for a mobile telephone - das Handy. It's obviously been taken from the English but no English speaker would call it a Handy. It is handy, as in convenient but there is no such thing as a Handy.

Similarly here you can see people waiting to participate in the "Public Viewing". Something, as far as I'm aware, that applies only to bodies lying in state before a funeral. Here though it means to watch things on a big screen.

This was taken just before 4 this afternoon and Germany's first game kicks off at 6. There was music pounding, Bratwurst grilling, beer chilling and more police in attendance than I've seen since the German President visited (someone egged him and he lost his job shortly after these things were not related).

All through the city people are wearing German Trikots (football tops) and carrying flags. People are really interested and enthusiastic. There's even a Public Viewing at my company tonight. Big screen in the Canteen and Bier & stuff to eat for anyone who wants to go along.

Not a dead body in sight.

And the title? It's a very casual pronunciation of DeutSCHLAND. Perhaps analagous to ENG-ER-LAND. Maybe it loses something in translation?