MEN
In the first match of the day, Sydslesvig (Danes in Germany), one of the co-favorites, faced Armânamea (Aromanians), who had also started the tournament with a big win the day before.
One observer reported a dream in red and white at the DGF Flensburg grounds, especially with more than 1000 enthusiastic pupils who had taken a short school trip to the game with their teachers.
The hard-fought match in Flensburg was tied 2-2 at the break and remained intense in the second half: five Armânamea players received yellow cards, mainly for unsportsmanlike conduct, and three of them received yellow/red cards for further unsportsmanlike conduct. The match threatened to escalate at times, but was brought to a close after a ten-minute interruption.
Südtirol (South Tyrol) began their mission to defend the title with a clear 7:0 win against Team Nordschleswig – Æ Mannschaft (Germans in Denmark), who were also unable to score a goal in their second and final group match.
FC DFK Oberschlesien (Germans in Upper Silesia) consolidated their claims for the time being with a 13-0 win over the Roma minority from Romania, as did Occitania from the south of France with a 7-0 win over FC Lusérn (Cimbrians).
The highest win of the day happened in Krusau/Kruså for the Slovaks in Hungary with a 28-0 win over FC Pomak, who have now conceded 52 goals in two games and failed to score a goal themselves.
WOMEN
Südtirol’s 10:0 victory over FC DFK Oberschlesien was completely unchallenged. After a somewhat cautious start, the title contenders were already leading 8:0 after the first half. In the second half, they slowed things down, however they were often thwarted by the Upper Silesian goalkeeper, the best player on their team.
Team Koroška/Kärnten (Slovenians in Austria) celebrated their tournament debut with a 5:0 win against Las Rumantschas. Serbske Mustwo, the Lusatian Sorbians, recorded their first victory with a 2:1 win against Les Ladines.
OUTLOOK
In the women's tournament, there is a real final match in Group A at 3 p.m. in Risum-Lindholm between Nordfraschlönj/Nordfriesland (Northern Frisians) and Koroška for a place in the semi-finals. Südtirol have already qualified impressively with 16-1 goals from two games. Sydslesvig is expected to take the group win against Les Ladines (Ladinians). Countless schoolchildren will attend the match at 10.45 a.m. in Schleswig.
On the last match day of the preliminary round on July 2nd, there will be decisive matches in only a few of the 7 men's groups.
Group A: the winner from Occitania – Nordfraschlönj/Nordfriesland advances to the quarter-finals
Group B: the same applies to the match between Serbske Mustwo and FC DFK Oberschlesien
Group C: Sydslesvig will only need a draw against I Ladins
Group D: there is a lot of excitement because three teams can still qualify for the quarter-finals
Group E: Südtirol will progress with a draw
Group F: Koroška/Kärnten already qualified for the quarter finals with two wins
Group G: the winner of the Serbs in Croatia against the Slovaks in Hungary advances to the next round
The final rounds will be drawn on Tuesday evening at 8.30 pm in Flensburg, to be seen live on EUROPEADA.EU.
PRESS
The international response was remarkable even before the first match day on June 30th. Several media outlets, not only from the respective minorities, have been reporting constantly on EUROPEADA 2024 for days.
Special attention has so far been paid to the many minorities, some of them small in number, who have found their way to the border region in the north under difficult conditions, particularly due to financial struggles.
In addition to the sporting aspects, the idealistic value of EUROPEADA is emphasized, which is more than just sport thanks to the cultural exchange between the minorities.
It is also worth mentioning that nine women's teams are now taking part in the tournament.
In general, media interest in the 2024 edition in the German-Danish border region is particularly high, not least due to the number of accredited TV stations.
CULTURAL OFFERINGS ON JULY 2nd
09.00 - 13.00 Workshop: Borders Shaping Perception of European Society
Martin Klatt SDU/ECMI
Danish Central Library, Flensburg
14.00 - 15.00 Lecture: Antiziganism (in German)
Rolf Schlotter
Flensborghus
Norderstrasße 76
24939 Flensburg
(See also)
18.00 EUROPEADA Café
Drinks, snacks, hygge
Public viewing of the European Championship round of 16
Haderslevvej484
6230 Rødekro, Denmark
PHOTO OF THE DAY (Slovenci v Italiji - Ungarndeutsche in Schleswig. FOTO: EUROPEADA/Frank Molter):