Only without the passion. It’s a new, I dunno, twist or something.
Germany beat the Czech Republic 1-0 in a friendly on Wednesday but the average domestic TV ratings came in below “Cash for Rarities,” a show about selling antiques. The average audience of 5.42 million was the lowest for a prime-time men’s national team game this century.
That’s unsettling for a country which prides itself on its passionate fan culture. The joy from winning the World Cup in 2014 turned to despair during Germany’s group-stage exit in 2018. Now apathy reigns amid a mediocre Nations League campaign.
Coronavirus: German team socially distances by fielding seven players, beaten 37-0 – German lower-league side SG Ripdorf/Molzen II suffered a 37-0 defeat on Sunday after only fielding seven players in a bid to maintain social distancing against their opponents as they feared contracting the coronavirus.
“Ghost games” are sporting matches, in this case football (soccer) matches, without spectators in the stadium. Games behind closed doors, in other words.
The German Bundesliga will pick up its season this weekend after a two-month break. No matter what happens now, the league is determined to finish.
The plan to put German soccer back on the field this weekend hinged on more moving parts than a Volkswagen. Clubs had to conduct more than 2,000 coronavirus tests. Chancellor Angela Merkel needed to give her blessing. The Bundesliga drew up a protocol to disinfect balls mid-game.
Although eight out of ten Germans feel that it’s time for Germany’s national trainer Joachim Low to go (his recent failures have been breathtaking), an all-time low for Low, Low won’t go.
But, then again, why should he? He’s in good company. The numbers are very similar with regard to Chancellor Angela Merkel and nobody can get her to leave, either. She, like Low, refuse to face the consequences of their actions (or lack of action) while depicting themselves as being alternativlos (without alternative). There always is an alternative, however, as we all know, and the clock is ticking for both of them.
The coach could change things but he isn’t doing so. The team needs new blood.
Germany was picked to host the 2024 European soccer championship and everybody is thrilled as can be. Not.
Berliners will probably even start organizing protests about holding any of the matches in the nation’s capital. They recently did their best to sabotoge Germany’s bid for the Olympics, too. They’re just Neinsager kind of folks, folks.
I feel sorry for the Turks. They have been turned down to host the EM 2008, 2012 and 2016 already. They would have been enthusiastic about hosting the event in their country but hey, it’s just sports. Curb your enthusiasm already.
Die Türkei scheiterte damit wie zuletzt bei den vergeblichen Anläufen für die EM 2008, 2012 und 2016.
Stayin’ alive is stayin’ alive. And it was quite a thing to see live.
Germany’s World Cup hopes were hanging by a thread as they stood level at 1-1 with Sweden, knowing a draw would make it very hard for them to advance out of Group F. Then Toni Kroos stepped up in the game’s dying minutes…
“We will draw out lessons from this defeat and will do it better next time,” the German manager said following the defeat. “We will certainly not throw our plans overboard. It is an unusual situation for us but one we must accept.”
Anybody can take a stand by kneeling these days, I guess. That’s easy.
Berlin’s beloved soccer team Hertha BSC is doing this kneeling stuff now, too. Wow. Who would have thought that Germans play the American national anthem over here before game time? I had no idea.
Anyway, Hertha’s doing pretty well so far this season so one fan is suggesting that they should go whole hog and try playing in kneeling position throughout the entire game and/or season. The rules are simple: You’re allowed to switch knees only three times during a game. The Star Spangled Banner must be playing at all times, of course. Just a thought.
Der amerikanische Sportler-Protest gegen Diskriminierung erreicht nun auch Deutschland. Vor der Bundesliga-Partie in Berlin setzen die Spieler der Hertha ein bemerkenswertes Zeichen.
Neymar scored the deciding spot kick in a riveting penalty shootout to give Brazil its first Olympic championship in men’s soccer at the Rio Games on Saturday. The host nation won the shootout 5-4 after goalkeeper Weverton blocked Nils Petersen’s fifth-round penalty to keep it at 4-4.
