German team feted like champs

Updated: Monday July 01, 2002 01:47 p.m. ET

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- The German soccer team arrived home to a heroes' welcome Monday despite losing the World Cup final, celebrated by thousands of screaming, flag-waving fans who turned central Frankfurt into a sea of black, red and gold national colors.

Hundreds lined the streets from Frankfurt airport to the city center as the team buses rolled by enroute to the official reception at city hall. More than 10,000 fans packed the Roemer square outside, overflowing into surrounding streets.

"We were winners just by reaching the final -- who would have expected it? Losing to Brazil is no shame," said Alex Maier, 22, dancing in the street wrapped in a German flag.

Fans sang "We are the champions" as players standing on the city hall's balcony threw flowers and waved to the crowd, with both sides applauding each other for the team's unexpectedly successful World Cup run.

Germans embraced the team as heroes despite the 2-0 loss to Brazil Sunday because the young players restored the country's role as a soccer superpower after a decade of poor performances -- and stoked optimism that they can win the title when the next World Cup is played in Germany in 2006.

Even team captain and goalkeeper Oliver Kahn's blunder that allowed the first of two goals by Brazil's Ronaldo seemed forgotten.

"We're back among the world's best," Kahn yelled, drawing a huge roar from the Frankfurt crowd. "Maybe we'll see you in four years again -- this time as world champions. I'm just overwhelmed by your enthusiasm."

Hannes Pflugner, 22, waved a cardboard placard that had the German flag on one side and "No. 1" on the other.

"For us, they're No. 1 -- they lost but for me they'll still the best and in 2006 we'll be world champions," he said.

The German players were obviously surprised at the rousing welcome they received.

Many in the square wore the German national colors, waving flags and placards scrawled with slogans like "The real winners" and "Too bad we lost-but you were terrific," and "Rud-ii, we love you" -- a reference to team coach Rudi Voeller.

The team was clearly surprised by the rousing reception.

"I'm asking myself what it would be like if we had won," Voeller said.

Politicians who hoped the team's success would rub off on them included Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who faces a tough re-election battle this year.

"It's a fabulous success for this young team," he declared Monday in Berlin.

Earlier, Kahn was first off the plane after it touched down at Frankfurt airport, prompting huge cheers and flag-waving from the Roemer crowd watching live TV on a large screen.

"It's not about me, it's about what this team has achieved _ we've brought a lot of joy to the Germans," he said.

At the airport, a music group performed their version of the old Pete Seeger hit "La Guantanamera," rewritten for the World Cup team and currently No. 17 on the German charts.

"Rud-ii Voeller, there's no one like Rud-ii Voeller," they sang to the refrain of the Cuban folk song. (rk-tc)