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By Mail Foreign Service
The dream is over: Fans of the German national football team watch in horror as their team loses to Spain during the public viewing at the 'Fanmeile' (Fan Mile) in Berlin last nightThe World Cup party in Germany came to an abrupt end last night with the 1-0 semi-final defeat to Spain that left millions heartbroken.
The euphoria that had swept the country during Germany's emphatic 4-1 and 4-0 wins over England and Argentina was replaced by despair and heartache in Berlin and elsewhere where tens of thousands watched in open-air public viewing venues.
'Es ist aus!' (It's over!) wrote Germany's best-selling newspaper Bild in its online edition. 'Germany in mourning'.
The German team lost 1-0 against Spain in last night's semi-final, which saw the Spanish team through to Sunday's final against the NetherlandsGrown men and women were seen weeping at the fan mile in Berlin, where 350,000 people watched on giant screens in front of the Victory Column.
Many in another crowd of 50,000 watching in Munich at the Olympic stadium also shed tears.
'The Germans weren't as good as usual,' said Roland Fritsch, watching with the vast crowd in Berlin on a warm summer evening.
'Normally they play much better but they just couldn't get into it. They were too young. The Spanish were very much in charge.'
Utter dejection: German fans had been euphoric about their team's chances after decisive victories against Argentina - and, of course, England
I need a moment: Fans slump among the debris after a public viewing of the match in CologneGerman expectations had risen steadily in the last fortnight following the one-sided wins by the young German team over arch rivals England and then Argentina.
Many seemed confident of getting to the finals against another old foe, Netherlands.
'Just awful,' said another fan in Berlin, Patrick Denke. 'Spain were much better. It hurts me to say this but they just didn't run. They were too slow.'
The frustration was palpable as, for the second time in history, Germany reached the semi-finals only to be knocked out
Shared grief: The mood was sombre as the public viewing areas quickly emptied after the gameIt was the third consecutive World Cup that Germany had reached at least the semi-finals but the second consecutive time that the team tantalisingly fell one win short of the final.
Germans, who due to their past normally harbour reservations about patriotism, have wrapped themselves - and their cars - in black, red and gold colours for the last month.
Giant German flags were draped from houses and buildings as pride swelled over the accomplishments of the dynamic young team that - with 11 players from immigrant families - became a potent symbol of integration and a modern Germany.
Viva Espana! Spain fans tumble into the fountains in Puerto del Sol in Madrid last night after their team stormed through to the World Cup final
Madrid goes mad as Spain goes through - for its first ever World Cup finalThe mood in Munich's Olympia stadium was full of optimism - yesterday marked the 36th anniversary of the 1974 World Cup final when West Germany beat Netherlands.
It was thought to be a good omen. But the stadium quickly emptied after the match.
In Berlin, the fan mile also cleared but there were some scuffles among groups of disappointed fans and some people were detained by authorities, German TV network ARD reported.
The euphoria was so great and now the disappointment is even greater,' said one fan in tears
Skies ablaze: Spain fans set off flares after watching the match on a large screen outside the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid
We're the kings of the world (almost): Spanish supporters teeter on the fountains in front of a Nike football ad reading 'It's our year'
In Madrid, of course, the mood was one of pure joy.People blasted their car horns across Spain and set off firecrackers to celebrate reaching its first ever World Cup final.
An exhilarating roar of delight rose from the capital Madrid as the final whistle blew for the match in South Africa.
Thousands of people, many wearing the Spanish team jersey, gathered to watch the match on a giant outdoor screen beside Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium in the city centre.
They exploded in joy, jumping and screaming and hugging each other and before beginning to swarm down the city's main Paseo de la Castellana boulevard waving flags and interrupting traffic.
As the cacophonous celebration spread, people sprayed each other with beer, water and any drink they happened to have handy.
Chants of 'Ole, Ole, Ole' rang out everywhere as people appeared on their apartment balconies waving Spanish flags. Fireworks could be heard exploding across the city.
Dozens of cars honked their horns as they drove through the city's main streets.
Similar scenes were reported in cities such as northeastern Barcelona and southwestern Cadiz.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said he watched the game nervously with his daughters and their friends.'They played with intelligence, elegance, as a team and with passion,' he told Cadena SER radio. 'It's an immensely happy day.'
The celebrations brought back memories of when Spain defeated Germany to win the 2008 European Championship in Vienna, ending a 44-year drought between major titles.
But the team, long labelled the perennial underachiever, had never before reached the World Cup semifinals.
'It was incredible. This time it's going to be 'Yes,"' said Federico Toca, 19, adding it was about time Spain claimed the World Cup.
Marta Medina, 18, waving a Spanish flag, said '(Carles) Puyol is the greatest,' in reference to the defender who scored the goal from a header deep into the second half.
'It's time to go after them,' she added, referring to the Dutch side Spain meets in the final Sunday.
Groups of young people walked by singing 'I am Spanish,' a jingle that has been associated with the team this World Cup.
Others hung our of car windows screaming 'Let's get them,' and 'We can do it,' the national team's two war cries in recent years.
Nearly two hours after the match, Madrid's emblematic squares of Colon, Cibeles, Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Espana were jammed with cars and people waving the national red and yellow flag, some using it as a skirt, others as capes.
'After the (1939-78) dictatorship people were almost ashamed of the flag,' said 52-year-old Francisco Gimeno. 'It looks like we have got over that complex.'
source: dailymail [endtext]