The roar of the fans, the gold, red and black flags make a rare appearance and even more drunk beers than usual… it’s time for the European Fussball (soccer / football) teams to battle it out at the Europameister !
UEFA European Championship 2016
Known in English as Euro 2016 and EM in German, the 15th tournament pits 24 European national teams against each other. This contest will take place in France in an epic month-long battle from June 10 to July 10, 2016. Although Germany took first place in the last World Cup, Spain is the defending champion here. The winning team earns the right to compete in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
This is the first time a 24-team field has been in play (expanded from the 16-team format used since 1996). There will be six groups of four teams, followed by a knockout stage that includes three rounds and the final. In total, there will be 51 games. The final will be held in Saint-Denis on July 10.
Germany games
June 12 (Sunday) at 9:00 a.m. in Lille: Deutschland – Ukraine
June 16 (Thursday) at 9:00 am in Paris: Deutschland – Pollen
June 21 (Tuesday) at 6:00 in Paris: Nordirland – Deutschland
Where to see Europameister in Germany
The short answer is: everywhere. Even non-soccer fans gather to watch their local teams compete as a matter of national pride. Longer answer below:
Bars
It will be difficult to find a bar that does not play Europameister, especially when Germany is playing. See our listings of the best bars around the country below, or just wander to your nearest watering hole. You may not even need to enter. Warmer weather draws street views with sidewalk seating.
If you don’t want to support the local team, look for expat bars. Irish pubs are some of the easiest to find, but there are plenty of foreign bars and restaurants that will showcase their country’s games.
Beer gardens
A popular alternative to the sweltering kneeling (pub) is to take the party outside in a traditional German beer garden. Used to attending televised sporting events, arrive early to find a good spot in front of the screen, and be aware that games during the day mean that the viewing portion could be affected. Sunlight is detrimental to giant screens. If you are serious about watching all the action, this might not be the right place for you. But if you want to enjoy the atmosphere, there is nothing better.
Public visits
Similar to Eurovision, the World Cup is an event that is best viewed with masses of people. Public tours are a popular, albeit outrageous, option. While some places offer seating, other places only have space to stand.
The Fan Mile in Berlin ( Fanmeile ) in Berlin is one of the largest in the country. Located on the iconic June 17th Street. Between Juni Gate and Siegessäule, multiple screens are placed on a mile-long stretch of road.
Please note that the street and sections of the Tiergarten are fenced, so you must pass through safe entry points. Although capacity is in the hundreds of thousands, it frequently hits the mark during popular games, so arrive early to guarantee entry. Glass bottles are not allowed, but drinks and snacks are sold within the fenced area. There are no seats, so be prepared to stand, carried away by the energy of the crowd.
Of course, this is not the only place where there will be performances in Berlin. Complete list of Europameister open visits in Berlin.
If you are not in Berlin, don’t be afraid to miss out on the excitement. Almost all German cities, towns or small Dorf ( towns ) will erect displays. An example of the projections:
- Munich public tours (including the Olympic Stadium)
- Lidl exhibitions in Hamburg
- Frankfurt public viewing
At home
For those of you who prefer to watch the game without thousands of your closest friends, ARD and ZDF will televise the games in Germany.
