One Geneva spectator summed up the multinational gathering.
Born in Portugal, 22-year-old Malte Frank from Heidelberg in Germany is a student at the University of Geneva. He was supporting the country of his birth on Saturday and his home country for the remainder of the tournament.
“It is nicer to watch the game here with all the people than in a bar or at home,” Frank said. “It was a good party in the fan zones at the World Cup in Germany two years ago and I hope it’s the same atmosphere today.”
Following their team’s defeat, Swiss supporters slunk home in silence, their signature cowbells slung over their shoulders, but making no sound.
They were replaced for the evening shift by a jubilant mass of Portugal supporters from an expatriate community of more than 70,000 living in the Lake Geneva region, celebrating their home country’s 2-0 victory over Turkey.
“We are very happy tonight and I think we’re going to win the tournament now,” said Angela Costa, who moved to Geneva seven years ago from Porto and works in a laundry. “It is home here for us now, but I will be at the stadium with my husband supporting Portugal at the game on Wednesday.”
Streets around the Geneva fan zone were ringing to the sound of car horns as midnight approached, perhaps explaining why neighboring residents seemed to have voted with their feet.
Dozens of apartments have balconies overlooking the big screen broadcasts, but all but a handful were dark and empty during the evening festivities.
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