Sony Screens 'Amazing Spider-Man' for German Soccer Team

COLOGNE, Germany - Sony Pictures in Germany has decided if they can't beat soccer, they might as well join the fan frenzy surrounding the Euro 2012 soccer championships.

Ahead of Germany's Euro 2012 semifinal match against Italy Thursday, Sony staged a private 3D screening of The Amazing Spider-Man for the German national soccer team at the team hotel in Gdansk, Poland. Several members of the German squad, including stars Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira as well as team manager Oliver Bierhoff, took part in the publicity stunt.

The show of solidarity is unlikely to last. The Amazing Spider-Man bows Thursday in Germany, putting it head-to-head with Euro 2012 soccer.

Andrew Garfield's webslinger isn't likely to win. Euro 2012 has bashed the German box office, with weekend returns slipping some 50 percent as audiences tune in to watch the games instead of going out to the movies.

The German television audience for Thursday's semifinal match is expected to be close to 30 million and at least that many will tune in to Sunday's Euro 2012 final should the home team beat Italy and advance. Sony's best hope for The Amazing Spider-Man is the two-day soccer-free window on Friday and Saturday.