Mayor Bartl's first European Championship
Created: 06/24/2022, 11:00 am
By: Markus Ostermaier
The German national mayor team at the quarter-finals of the Mayor's European Championship in Trnava, Slovakia (from left): Christoph Grimmer, Detlef Wellbrock, Helmuth Glanzner, Martin Aßmuth, Jonas Korell, Daniel Quade, Neuching's town hall chief Thomas Bartl and Steffen Bochinger.
When the German anthem is played, it's an impressive feeling that you can represent your own nation.
Thomas Bartl on the quarterfinals of the Mayor's European Championship.
© Private
The mayor of Neuching, Thomas Bartl, is part of the German mayor's national football team.
His first tournament, the European Championships in Slovakia, made a big impression on him.
Neuching/Trnava
– Representing your own country at football matches all over the world: Thomas Bartl has been honored with this honor since this year.
The Neuchinger Rathauschef is a member of the German national football team of mayors (DFNB).
The 32-year-old's first major assignment abroad is now complete – the European Championships in Slovakia.
The German team achieved fourth place there.
Bartl, who is a member of the second team at SpVgg Neuching, applied and took part in a DFNB training camp in autumn 2021 (we reported).
He convinced.
“Of course I was really happy.
It's a lot of fun, and in addition to the good cause, that should also be in the foreground," says Neuching's head of town hall.
In theory, the 32-year-old can now be a member of the national team for as long as he is in office as mayor.
As in the Neuchinger football team, Bartl has taken over the position of left-back at the DFNB.
He is also the second youngest player and the only Upper Bavarian.
In April, the 20-strong squad had more training sessions in Crailsheim (Baden-Württemberg) as official preparation for the European Championships.
As this year's highlight, this recently took place as the "Tournament of Peace" in Trnava in western Slovakia.
Eleven mayor teams from nine nations had registered: Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, Romania, Croatia, Moldova, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
All football matches took place at the First League training ground in Trnava.
Usually only a few spectators were present, reports Bartl with jersey number 2.
In the first game, the German mayors won 6-2 against the Croatians, but then lost 4-0 to the Romanians.
As group runners-up, Germany made it through and defeated Team Czech Republic 2 4-2 in the quarter-finals.
According to Bartl, the semifinals were “the nicest and best game of the tournament.
It was really a lot of fun.” However, his team lost 1-0 to eventual European champions, hosts Slovakia.
In the game for third place, the DFNB met the Czech Republic, second. "But we ran out of breath a bit," says Bartl about the result of the game 0:4.
For the German mayors, it was only enough for fourth place.
Nevertheless, on the last evening after an award ceremony, there was a proper celebration with all nations.
Bartl reports afterwards that the hosts were very hard working and that they were well organised.
For the Neuchinger, the Mayor's European Championship with the many international encounters was a very special experience.
"When the German anthem is played during the game, that's an impressive feeling.
That's when you really understand that you're allowed to represent your own nation - even if only for the mayor," reports the 32-year-old.
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Bartl will meet South Tyrol, Slovenia and Italy again in September/October at the Mayor Alpine Cup.
Normally, the DFNB often has visits and friendlies in the host countries during World Cups.
However, this year's host country Qatar is being boycotted for political reasons, which Bartl also thinks is good.
The next big game of the mayors will be in 2024 - analogous to the UEFA European Championship in Germany.
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