Note:  This is my final piece for espn.com regarding the German team.  If football's your bag, I hope you enjoyed reading.  :)

Three, Two, One?
I've pondered, for days, what to write in this, my final piece for Euro '08. I'm terribly sorry that it's so long overdue--- travel and mixed emotions have conspired to make me, as late, a not-so-prolific writer.

Without taking anything away from the Spanish side, Germany fielded possibly the worst second place team I've ever seen. I've tried, rather unsuccessfully, not to be too critical throughout this wonderful tournament... ...but there it is.

So what does that say about Germany? Rather a lot of good things, I would think. What they lacked in talent was made up with a bullish, determined mind-set to win. It wasn't pretty to watch. It was exasperating, frustrating and even mind-boggling, at times.

I was very fortunate to spend three weeks in Basel, Vienna, Munich and all over the Bavarian country-side. To feel the love and pride that the German people have for "die Mannschaft" makes the hairs stand up on my arms in a mixture of awe and wonder. This game, football, is a truly beautiful thing.

My favorite moments? Meeting a group of fans on the train to Basel that I'd hugged in Vienna after the Germany - Austria match. The last minute goal against Turkey that sent the Markplatz, in Basel, in to throes of unadulterated chanting and whooping. Seeing the starting line-up for the match against Portugal; smiling and thinking, "You know? This might actually work!". And finally, sitting with a couple hundred Germans in a biergarten in Vienna, surrounded by Austrian fans imploring us to sing "Das Deutschlandlied". We stood together and sang. And I cried. (I'm such a girl!)

Of course, changes will have to be made. (Jens Lehmann, anyone?) But Germany is blessed with a wonderful youth system and the fabulous, entertaining Bundesliga. And if you look at our past two tournaments, we're only moving up.

World Cup 2006: Third place.
Euro 2008: Second place.
World Cup 2010: Dare I even say it?!

Postscript. As I sat in Munich, after the final match, a bit dejected but pragmatic, a friend turned to me and asked, "Susie, what are you doing tomorrow--- your last day in Germany?" I told him I'd thought about taking a tour of Berchtesgaden. As a World War II buff, it's a place I've always wanted to visit. He smiled and said, "You know, it's FC Bayern's first practice tomorrow. Jurgen Klinsmann's first practice. And it's open to the public."

I smiled broadly. And got excited about football all over again...