Citizenship, Sport and the sense of belonging to the European Union

The 20th World Cup 2014 is now over and how full of surprises it was! From the elimination of Spain, the title holder, in the pool phase, to the psychodrama for Brazil, which suffered a severe thrashing by the German team in the semi-final, and the consecration after extra-time of the Mannschaft's collective game in the legendary Maracanã Stadium. True to its reputation the World Cup captivated the world's attention for a month. Few events can boast the generation of collective emotion as intense as the World Football Cup. 'War minus the shooting' according to George Orwell, football is the only sport which for a 90 minute period manages to turn the focus of entire populations towards their national affiliations. Chauvinistic behaviour is normalised, supporters take on their flag's colours, the national hymn is sung hand on heart across the land. Conversely the European Union is not part of this emotional tsunami.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Football and its role in unifying the European public space http://www.europeansources.info/record/football-and-its-role-in-unifying-the-european-public-space/

ESO: Background information: Thieule: Sports policy can lead to a ‘European identity’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/thieule-sports-policy-can-lead-to-a-european-identity/

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