Football-divided couple prepare for relationship stress test
English-German couple Adam and Janina Cox will be watching the England v Germany Euro 2020 game at home in Bournemouth
Last updated 29th Jun 2021
A German-English couple face a relationship test on Tuesday night as the two nations reignite their footballing rivalry in the last 16 of Euro 2020.
Adam Cox lives in Bournemouth with his 37-year-old wife Janina Cox, a council officer from Brackenheim in southern Germany.
"I think we're both expecting our side to lose - this is likely defence from the other one gloating if their team win,'' the 38-year-old doctor told PA.
"Neither of us are particularly good winners when it's England vs Germany - definitely schadenfreude describes how it sits between us both''
The couple have two girls aged one and four, who Dr Cox expects to have split allegiances.
"The girls, we've always said, get to support Germany for football and England for rugby - felt it was more likely to see their team win,'' he added.
Dr Cox said he and his wife's footballing rivalry is a hot topic on their family and friends' WhatsApp groups.
"We almost get more excitement from those around us asking how we're finding the build-up than from between ourselves,'' he added.