The Nordfraschljön women's team caused a stir right from the anthem. To the Frisian version of Die Toten Hosen's hit "An Tagen wie diesen", cheerleaders loosened up the line of players and waved their gold, red and blue glitter pom-poms.

They were used even more after the final whistle, when the numerous Frisian fans stormed the pitch and celebrated their team's 2:0 semi-final victory over the slightly favoured South Sydslesvig team. Stefanie Hansen happily embraced her daughter. "I just think it's fantastic that she's here now too," she said. Hansen herself was on the pitch 16 years ago at the very first EUROPEADA.

Like mother, like daughter – Stefanie Hansen from North Friesland

"The newspaper was looking for players for a women's team," says Hansen. "As I was still playing actively at the time, I signed up. Two of my cousins were also there." The fact that even ARD's Tagesthemen devoted a five-minute programme to the North Frisians' appearance in Graubünden was due to a special highlight: they were the only women's team among the seventeen participating teams. "We could also have fielded a men's team," says Ilwe Boysen, who was there at the time as the equipment manager. "The rules weren't clear at the time, so we sent a women's team to show that we Friesen were emancipated."

The match results were disastrous, but something else was more important anyway: "We were the winners of hearts," says Hansen. On and off the pitch, they had lots of fun and encounters. "They were all fascinated by us because we dared to do it. We had many, many fans there." Alongside Hansen and Boysen, Frank Nickelsen was also there in 2008. The current Managing Director of the Frisian Council organised this pilot tournament as Secretary General of FUEN. There has been a separate women's tournament at the Europeada since 2016.

Small minority, big heart – Moreno Nicolussi Paolaz from Lusérn

On Wednesday, at the Culture Day on Knivsberg, there was the opportunity to meet more EUROPEADA pioneers. Moreno Nicolussi Paolaz stood at the Cimbrian stand and cut cheese bites and salami slices for tasting. The smallest of the minorities represented here also brought along a delicious beer. She comes from the municipality of Lusérn, which has just 250 inhabitants, is located 40 kilometres south-east of Trento and is one of 17 German-speaking islands in northern Italy. The people there speak Cimbrian, originally a Bavarian-Tyrolean dialect.

"Being Cimbrian is in your heart," says Paolaz. "It's very important for us to continue this small language, this small minority." He has fond memories of the first EUROPEADA in 2008, as well as those that followed. "Every Europeada and every game you take part in has something special that makes it unforgettable." That's why it's difficult to single out a single moment from the sixteen years. "The Europeada gives us the opportunity to share our own culture with the other minorities, but also to learn something from the other minorities. So sharing food and drink and getting something back in return."

The points only ever went in one direction in the Cimbri's games – to their opponents. But the ambition of Poalaz, who is now also the team president, is undiminished. "We've never had so many young players with us, which gives us hope of building a good and strong team."

Wearing the eagle with pride and joy – Martin Ritsch from South Tyrol

While the Cimbri have to assemble their team from a total of 250 people, their near-neighbours in South Tyrol have thousands of footballers. One of them is Martin Ritsch, captain of the South Tyrolean men's team, which has always been victorious so far.

"The first time I was one of the youngest at the age of 20, but now I'm almost the oldest," he says. "Every Europeada has its own story." However, he particularly remembers the 2016 Europeada in South Tyrol. "Our women's team also won the title there and we had a lot of spectators who supported us." From the last tournament in Carinthia, he particularly remembers the encounters with the other teams around Lake Klopein. This year, the distances between the venues and accommodation are sometimes very long, so there are fewer spontaneous encounters with other teams. But all the more so with the locals in North Friesland.

"The people here are all very friendly and open and made us feel very welcome. Even in the restaurant where we eat, everyone was immediately enthusiastic. Everyone knows South Tyrol by name and now they also get to know us as people." This is the first time that Ritsch has been unable to lead the South Tyrolean heraldic animal, the eagle, into the Europeada final. The serial winners were surprisingly eliminated in the quarter-finals against Team Koroska.

In the beginning it was a coincidence, now it's a family – Tim Meyer from South Schleswig

After four away tournaments, Tim Meyer from the South Schleswig selection is playing in a home tournament this year. He also has a special memory of the EUROPEADA 2022 with the Carinthian Slovenes. "I played my 50th game for Sydslesvig there," he says. His first participation in 2008 was more down to chance. "I wasn't really on the radar, but then one of the strikers got injured and I was asked at short notice if I'd like to come along." It turned out to be a great enrichment for life. "What you've experienced here and the friends you've made – it's simply incredible, you can't even describe it. It feels like you're one big family."

Compared to the first tournaments, everything has become a little more professional and the level of football has risen, but the spirit has not changed. "The minorities support each other and there are no arguments between them. Everyone is happy to be here and to have this experience."

Incidentally, one of Meyer's fellow players in the 2008 Südschleswiger team played a key role in the success of the tournament: Europeada project manager Ruwen Möller was a player in Switzerland at the time.

Text: Ralf Lorenzen