During the European Championship match between Germany and Denmark, a violent storm breaks out. 

DORTMUND  29.06.2024

Federico Gambarini
Photo editor and photographer,
Düsseldorf regional office

It’s the 35th minute of the European Championship match between Germany and Denmark. It’s not just raining at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, it’s pouring. Referee Michael Oliver interrupts the game and sends both teams to the dressing rooms. He will not resume play for another 25 minutes. For us photographers, a break in play does not mean we can take a break – it also has to be documented. First, we protect our cameras from the rain. One colleague’s equipment is standing in a puddle. We have to rescue that too. Quickly, we snap a few pictures of the rain on the pitch. Workers surround me with brooms and try to push the water into the stadium drains. I capture this scene too. Now I’m completely soaked. Behind me, water pours down from the stadium roof like Niagara Falls. Two Danish fans take advantage of this to take a shower and celebrate the moment. With so much joie de vivre, I just have to take some photos.