It started with the Tartan Army, Scotland’s hooligans in the 1960s. Then it moved south to England, which got tired of the Scots taking over Wembley Stadium. Manchester United started the Red Army, a band of red-clad thugs who terrorized towns all over England. Well, Monday I traveled to the United States’ World Cup opener with the Stars ‘n’ Stripes Army. Thankfully, we picked up soccer from the British and not their hooliganism. The behavior by the U.S. and Czech fans, who were all elbow to elbow and nose to nose in crowded train stations, subways and buses, was exemplary. It started when I got dumped into the mass of bodies that was the Gelsenkirchen train station. Grown men dressed like stars ‘n’ stripes Elvises yelling “USA! USA!” walked with red-clad Czech fans screaming “Che-SHE! Che-SHE!” On the stadium-bound subway, a 100-degree sardine can on rails, Czechs and Americans got up close and personal with nary a raised voice. Some Czech fans on the platform good-naturedly chanted “AMMIES (Americans) GO HOME! AMMIES GO HOME!” That was about it. On the field, the Czechs drubbed the Americans 3-0. Off the field, the Czech and U.S. fans both won.
Auf wiedersehen,
John
