Euro 2024 with the fans: Games, goals and... 'Keepy-up Karaoke'?!

WATCH Austria take on the Netherlands in a tough encounter

‌With the group stages of Euro 2024 over and the knockout phase soon upon us, Germany has already been treated to some fantastic displays. Heart-on-the-sleeve showings of pride and passion, nations coming together and giving their all for the shirt. While there's also been some decent football by the professionals, I am, of course, talking about the fans.

‌Scotland's Tartan Army conquered the hearts and minds of the host nation. While their team may have crashed out at the first hurdle, the "no Scotland, no party" attitude has brightened what had been a quite wet and chilly German summer.‌

The Orange wave of Dutch fans has swept over the German cities their team have played in. While the Netherlands have stumbled through their group (qualifying as one of the best third-placed sides), their fans have bounced (literally) to a pulsating beat through the streets of Hamburg, Leipzig and Berlin.‌

Austria's fans have been vastly outnumbered both times their team came to the German capital, but the Olympiastadion in Berlin has been a happy hunting ground for them. Wins against Croatia and the Netherlands helped them top of Group D and gave the fans of 'Das Team' a noticeable swagger around the town.‌

WATCH Scotland take on their 'Auld Enemy'

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CGTN has been putting the fans to the test and giving them the chance to win a football by taking part in the game 'Keepy-up Karaoke.' The rules couldn't be more straightforward: There is no limit on the number of people on a team. One person is nominated to do the keepy-ups (juggle the football with feet, knees, and head), and the rest of the team must sing. Only keepy-ups done while the rest are singing count.‌

In a foreshadowing of what was to be the result in the match, Austria shocked the Netherlands on a baking hot afternoon in the Euro 2024 Berlin Fanzone. And when Scotland took on England in a repeat of the Euro 1996 and Euro 2020 matchups, the three Lions emerged victorious and took home CGTN's football.

‌Tournament organizer UEFA expects 3 million fans to travel to Germany to see their team through Euro 2024. It hasn't been brilliant for everyone; some have discovered that the notion of a highly efficient and organized German transport system is an incorrect stereotype.

Rail operator Deutsche Bahn was forced to issue an apology after fans were either left waiting hours for trains that they could get on, or were delayed while on trains arriving late.

‌"There were repeated disruptions on the main rail routes during the opening week of the European Championship," a statement said. "DB would like to thank all fans for their patience and caution."

‌However, most of the traveling fans that CGTN has spoken to have been enjoying their time in Germany, cheering on their team…. whether or not they were triumphant on the pitch or indeed at Keepy-up Karaoke.

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