Euro vs. Copa: A Tale of the Tape
Y'all Weekly attends major international soccer matches in Germany and Charlotte
Two international men’s soccer tournaments - the UEFA European Championship and the South American Copa América - conclude this Sunday after weeks of some of the most intense national team competition outside of the World Cup. Y’all Weekly and Soccer Sheet made it to matches and watch parties in both Germany and the United States to find the best soccer experience.
Editor’s Note: The Footys are back! Nominations for the 2024 Midseason Footy Awards are open until midnight on Thursday, so cast your ballot today!
From Munich …
Together with my wife Kristin and Soccer Sheet contributor Adrian Singerman, we worked our way down the Autobahn from Frankfurt to Zellingen to Munich.
We visited my family's bucolic town in the Franken wine region and attended a local watch party for the Euro round of sixteen knockout match between Germany and Denmark. The passion of the host country’s fans was both intense and contagious, and they wildly celebrated their 2-0 win. Soon after, I discovered the celebration would last much later into the night to which I kindly obliged, ignoring Kristin’s rolling eyes.
By chance we were in Munich during knockout game between Romania and the Netherlands. It was no easy feat, but we secured tickets and witnessed an excellent match won 3-0 by the Dutch favorites.
As a FC Bayern Munich supporter and member, I didn’t think anything could top the experience of being at Allianz watching the Euros with my wife and good friend … until I spent Wednesday night at Bank of America Stadium with over 70,000 fútbol fans.
… to Mecklenburg
The Copa América semifinal between Colombia and Uruguay was as joyful, hectic, and enthralling as anything I experienced in the country that gave our city and county its name.
Some of the commentary about the outcome and aftermath of Colombia's win - which included a fight between Colombia fans and Uruguay players - left me with a bad taste in my mouth, especially when they came from pundits with a minimal understanding of global football.
Of course, you never want to see altercations on the pitch or in the stands, especially those involving opposing players with fans. I was thankful for the presence of the CMPD officers and MCSO deputies in Section 228 to snuff out some of the same side fan altercations in the late second half as alcohol got the better of some attendees. My wife, most of the lower deck, and myself were joyfully soaked with beer while celebrating of a massive 1-0 victory to extend Colombia's unbeaten streak to twenty-eight games. The sea of colombiano yellow made it feel like a home match with the Charlotte FC supporter section after a win.
As our sister publication Soccer Sheet reported, Copa organizer CONMEBOL’s decision to seat player families outside of controlled areas made the fight possible. Additionally, there was a smaller security presence than at many high-profile events, which was another choice that falls on the organizer.
Far from a “black eye,” the Copa match was an amazing showcase for the City of Charlotte.
Euros vs. Copa, For all the Marbles …
Having been fortunate enough to attend two separate major global soccer knockout matches in the last eight days, I feel ready to assess my anecdotal evidence and pass judgement. We’ll break down the two matches (Romania v Netherlands & Colombia v Uruguay) over five rounds like a boxing or UFC title fight to see which tournament reigns supreme. Our categories are: Pregame, Facilities, Ambiance, Fans, and Gameplay. Let’s see who comes out on top from the world’s two largest summer football tournaments.
Round 1: Pregame Festivities
While securing tickets was easier with the Ticketmaster presale of the Copa match, the prices were absolutely outrageous after the fees were applied for two tickets (over $700). Even though we used the secondhand market for our Euro tickets - paying two and a half times their face value of €85 - they were still much cheaper than Copa.
Also, the Euro tickets gave us a thirty-six hour free public transportation pass throughout Munich. Advantage Euros.
The “Fan Zone” at the Euro match was fun with several types of delicious Bavarian food and cheap beer options available. Watching the Romanian ultras as they basked in their underdog role (while crushing beers and chanting) was amusing. The Orange Legion of the Netherlands was dressed to the nines and confident as they made their way to the gates.
The Euros, however, could not compete with the organized chaos of Mint Street two hours prior to kickoff.
A sprinkling of Uruguay and other Latin American fans (mostly Argentina) were surrounded by a sea of Colombian yellow. Chants, flares, music, along with cheap empanadas and beer made for quite the sight in front of The Bank. Singing and horns echoed as we made way into the stadium. Top notch energy, excitement, and an overall positive tone by both sides set the table for a great night of soccer.
This was one of the closest categories, but alas I enjoy a happy mess. ROUND 1: COPA.
Round 2: Facilities
Bank of America Stadium is slated for a $650 million renovation to update its aging, aesthetically boring concrete box for the 21st century. Make no mistake about it, I love being a season ticket holder and attending Charlotte FC matches at The Bank.
That said, this round is a complete blowout. In terms of European football we don’t hold a candle to their sport-specific stadiums. Visiting Allianz Arena, the home of FC Bayern Munich, was like walking into a sacred cathedral.
A fifteen-minute train ride and short walk had us through the front gates with minimal wait. The semi-closed dome was excellent at holding off the elements while giving the pitch a natural outdoor look. We were in the nosebleed seats with the Romanian fans, but it felt like we were still on top of the playing field.
Many more restrooms and food options were available inside compared to BOA as we walked the long concourses of the historic setting. I consumed many brats and $7 pilsner beers at the cashless stadium of the Bavarian rekordmeister. ROUND 2: EUROS.
Round 3: Ambiance (vibe)
This was tricky as the Euro match was truly a split crowd while Copa was virtually a home game with a massive fanbase coming out in support.
Conservatively, 80% of the fans at Wednesday’s match were Colombian. It felt more communal and energized to will the team to victory as yellow kits and flags blanketed the seats. From the pregame chants, to the national anthem, and finishing with a wild celebration at the end of the final whistle, we could have just as easily been in Bogotá instead of Charlotte. This was a familiar feeling as a Charlotte FC supporter since our fans constantly show up loud and proud each home match.
There was a certain level of pageantry to the match leading into the opening kickoff that brought a weight to the contest. You can’t argue that the top teams of both tournaments are on equal footing, but the Euros are treated as the golden child compared to the Copa on the worldwide stage, and UEFA knows how to put on a show.
As seen above, the stadium was evenly split with a slight advantage to the Romanian fans. They traded barbs and chants back and forth throughout the match while the Romanian faithful tried to will their underdog side to a victory. Pounding drums, flares, and nail biting tension ensued until the Dutch put the final nail in the coffin with an 83’ strike. I love the intensity of a true neutral setting over a lopsided fan affair. ROUND 3: EUROS.
Round 4: Fans
The pregame Fan Zone at Allianz Arena was a feast for people watchers, in large part thanks to the supporters from the Netherlands. The orange invasion of blazers, tailored suits, and ridiculous accessories were second to none. I saw a gaggle of seventy-something women dressed like a cross between the Kentucky Derby and Lady Bird Johnson in full orange regalia downing helles brews.
While the recent events at Bank of America may seem to tell a story of aggression, hubris, and unsportsmanlike conduct, it wasn’t all roses in Munich either.
A tour guide earlier in the week said that his clients felt intimidated and worried for their safety as they walked through large groups partying in the city center at the Marienplatz in preparation for the match. We wore neutral colors and walked in with a group of Romanian ultras banging drums and pumping themselves up. One supporter heard our English and said he now lives in Cleveland and asked us where we were sitting. When he figured out we would be on the Romania side, he asked us whom we were rooting for in a more serious tone. We said we just wanted to catch a great match to which he replied it would be in our best interest to root for Romania. He was joking but also wasn’t as we shouted “Go Romania!” to appease our new rulers as we entered the gates.
The Colombian fans were electric and extremely kind all night. I chatted with our neighbors about the Copa, the Euros, and several players throughout the match. Everyone around us had a real love and investment in their team. They never seemed to waver or showcase any nervous emotions as they felt this game was theirs to win.
Even after a first half red card and the kitchen sink thrown at their squad over the next forty-five minutes, they cheered with the confidence of a team who hasn’t lost a match in their last twenty-seven chances.
I refuse to let the nonsense and shithousery of a small group of Colombian fans after the match paint the fan base with a purely negative light. They have been the best team of the tournament so far and I hope they take it home Sunday night in Miami. ROUND 4: COPA.
Round 5: Gameplay
If you look at the stats from either game you’ll see similar possession numbers. The Netherlands had crisp passing and controlled a majority of the match while Uruguay enjoyed a larger portion of possession due to a red card at the end of the first half. Besides a very controversial high kick that would have surely led to a breakaway opportunity for Romania, the Netherlands played the role of favorite, icing the game in the final minutes. With an incredibly stout defense led by the world class Virgil van Dijk and a deep bench of weapons, Romania simply didn’t have the arsenal to compete.
Uruguay features some serious top level talent with the likes of Darwin Núñez, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Federico Valverde fresh off his Champions League victory for Real Madrid. On the Colombian side star Luis Díaz and a resurgent James Rodríguez led the charge.
This back and forth match saw Crystal Palace’s Jefferson Lerma secure the winner with a back post header at the thirty-ninth minute. This would be the only goal of the night despite multiple shots hitting the post and Colombia having two point blank opportunities to net a second goal.
I immediately noticed the amount of physicality and small altercations in the Copa match. So many jersey tugs, aggressive tackling, and hands-on plays that would have resulted in multiple yellow cards in the Euro matches. The refs allowed plenty of chatter, postering between benches, and allowed teams to play advantage, creating a beautiful brutality. It was down and dirty while showcasing intensity, skill, and incredible pace.
When two high quality South American teams meet up, fireworks happen. The night was explosive and you couldn’t take your eyes off it for a second. ROUND 5: COPA.
Final Results
With a three to two advantage, the Copa América has taken my arbitrary and made-up award as the greatest summer football tournament of 2024!
As we prepare for the two final contests on Sunday, featuring Spain vs. England at 3 P.M. EDT in Berlin and Argentina vs. Colombia at 8 P.M. EDT in Miami, I couldn’t be more excited to be a soccer fan in the city of Charlotte. While Charlotte FC takes a road trip to Ohio, the third place match between Canada and Uruguay takes place tonight at 8 P.M. EDT at Bank of America Stadium.
Football is life at the moment in the Queen City, and we should embrace being on the world’s stage. Thanks again for reading, and I’ll be back soon with more movie reviews.
Auf Wiedersehen!