World Cup Diary: Week Two

" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.portlandmercury.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2282510309.jpg?fit=780%2C551&ssl=1" /> Two decades ago, when their nation hosted the World Cup, Germans enjoyed what they still call the sommermärchen: the summer fairytale, when the country fell back in love with its national soccer team as it embarked on a stirring run to the World Cup semifinal. The sommermärchen felt relevant last Friday in Seattle, when, on a picture-perfect