Center City toasts, mourns World Cup

Sörean Craig-Müller, 26, a medical student at the University of Scranton, celebrates his birth country’s World Cup victory along with hundreds more at Fado Irish Pub’s outdoor viewing party. Credit: Charles Mostoller

Sörean Craig-Müller won’t be going to work happy today.

The 26-year-old University of Scranton medical student, who was born in Germany but moved to the United States when he was younger, wore a black, yellow and red hat along with his white jersey while cheering for Germany at the outside screening of the World Cup at Misconduct Tavern in Center City.

After his birth country solidified its fourth World Cup championship, Craig-Müller was cautious about celebrating too hard, but admitted some pain was inevitable.

“I’m doing a rotation at University of Pennsylvania,” Craig-Müller said. “I’ll have to make it, but whether or not I’ll be in good spirits, we’ll see.”

Fans of both Germany and Argentina congregated at the Irish Pub Sunday afternoon as once again, the bar rolled out the large projection screen on a closed Locust Street for the final game of the worldwide soccer tournament.

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The street was packed with solemn fans in blue and white shirts when Germany scored in extra time to nail down its 1-0 win over the South American country.

Nicole Martinoli, who was born in Argentina but now lives in Center City, was truly sad for one player in particular.

“I’m bummed because I don’t want (Lionel) Messi to have that stigma on him. I just wanted him to do fantastic,” said Martinoli, 24. “He had so much pressure. I just wanted him to have it all.

“Four Player of the Year (awards) in a row and then to have a FIFA World Cup it would have been, like, game over.”

Supporters speak

Avery Augustine. Credit: Charles Mostoller

Avery Augustine, 21, of North Philadelphia, is half-German.

“I’m in a work pool and I put Germany coming in second because I though Netherlands was going to get this far, but I’m German, so morally I wanted the Germans to win. But I would have been happy either way.”

Nicolas Ametlla

Nicolas Ametlla, 29, of Argentina, has been visiting the United States for the past two weeks.

“It’s very emotional. There has been a lot of suffering through the tournament, but I’m just happy to make it to the final match.”

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