The German Football Association (DFB) have confirmed the extention to the contract of National Team boss Joachim Low. Low's contract will now run until the end of Euro 2012 to be played in Poland/Ukraine. The deal ensures doubt's over Low's position are settled long before South Africa 2010, so he and the rest of the team can concentrate on the job at hand, which includes their Durban date with the Socceroos on June 13.
Elsewhere, the Bundesliga is about to head into hibernation for the traditional mid season break. Tonight (Saturday morning AET), Shalke take on Mainz 05 where Kevin Kuranyi will be keen to continue his strong form and push his claims for a return to the National Team set up.
Other interesting games before the winter spell include FC Bayern v bottom club Hertha Berlin on Saturday, while the biggest clash of the weekend is HSV Hamburg against Werder Bremen on Sunday. There will be no shortage of National Team players on display in these fixtures and it will be interesting to see who out of Bayer Leverkusen, Shalke 04 and FC Bayern finish on top at the half-way point of the season.
In Australia the Hyundai A-League continues this weekend with the match of the round Melbourne Victory against Sydney FC from Etihad Stadium, Docklands. While it's 1 v 2 in this fixture, this may also be interesting to German's because some of the leading contenders from players playing inside Australia hoping to make the World Cup squad will be on show. Some of these include Mark Bridge, Archie Thompson, John Aloisi, Alex Brosque and Clint Bolton. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this big city battle, and which players can handle the pressure.
Also, Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic has publicly declared his ambition to be one of the back ups to Mark Schwarzer in South Africa. His team take on Wellington Phoenix tonight and for interested German readers, it is probably he and Central Coast Mariners 'keeper Danny Vukovic who lead the charge for one of the remaining goalkeeping spots behind Schwarzer. This is, of course, if Pim Verbeek decides to go for an A-League custodian. In Europe, stoppers such as Michael Petkovic, Adam Federici, Brad Jones and Ante Covic all have claims for a seat on the plane.
Lastly, Newcastle Jets take on North Queensland Fury at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday looking to win their fifth games from six matches. Ex Borussia Monchengladbach player Chris Tadrosse should start for Fury, while Jets midfielder Ben Kantarovski - who trialled with Bayern Munich earlier this year - is suspended for the home side. Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler will take the field for the visitors.
December 18, 2009
December 17, 2009
New Content
G'day readers,
With my work for the Newcastle Jets and 442 Australia I have recently preapred three new articles.
For the Jets - www.newcastlejets.com.au - you'll find articles I wrote after interviewing midfielder Jobe Wheelhouse and striker Sasho Petrovski. As a Jets fan I used to dislike Petrovski when he played at Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners, but having met the man and him now putting in his all for the Jets I can say he is a really nice guy and great man! Best wishes for your 100th A-League game this weekend, Sasho.
At au.fourfourtwo.com, a piece I wrote about A-League crowds can also be viewed in the Newcastle Jets clubs section. It has an innovative idea which may help bolster numbers in the stands, so leave me your thoughts...
Just a reminder: the December issue of Half Time Heroes is now available to be viewed at www.halftimeheroes.com.au. It's a great read with lots of content to keep you interested. Con Stamocostas has once again done a great job and all the writers have come together to produce a great piece of independent publishing.
Til next time...Tchus!
With my work for the Newcastle Jets and 442 Australia I have recently preapred three new articles.
For the Jets - www.newcastlejets.com.au - you'll find articles I wrote after interviewing midfielder Jobe Wheelhouse and striker Sasho Petrovski. As a Jets fan I used to dislike Petrovski when he played at Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners, but having met the man and him now putting in his all for the Jets I can say he is a really nice guy and great man! Best wishes for your 100th A-League game this weekend, Sasho.
At au.fourfourtwo.com, a piece I wrote about A-League crowds can also be viewed in the Newcastle Jets clubs section. It has an innovative idea which may help bolster numbers in the stands, so leave me your thoughts...
Just a reminder: the December issue of Half Time Heroes is now available to be viewed at www.halftimeheroes.com.au. It's a great read with lots of content to keep you interested. Con Stamocostas has once again done a great job and all the writers have come together to produce a great piece of independent publishing.
Til next time...Tchus!
December 14, 2009
Let's go Deutsch, as well as Dutch
During the Socceroos verse Netherlands clash at the SFS back in October, Simon Hill commented that it was a case of ‘Master verse Apprentice’.
While the Dutch system has quite obviously been adopted by Football Federation Australia, and now a forthcoming A-League franchise off their own bat, I’m of the opinion there are even better mentors we should be seeking to learn from.
And, it’s the Oranje’s most fervent foes, the Deutsch, who I believe may prove a good source of influence.
As three time World Cup Champions and runners up, and with the exact same achievements in European Championships, “Die Mannschaft’s” record speaks for itself.
What’s more, Germany’s league – the Bundesliga – is one of the most underrated in Europe.
We often hear of the big three in reference to the Premier League, La Liga and Seria A, but it is Germany who attracts the biggest average season crowds over this lot.
How do they do it? They make tickets cheap as buggery.
I was fortunate enough to attend a Bundesliga match in late 2007 between BVB Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich – a massive clash.
My ticket, standing with ‘The Unity’ in the Signal Iduna Park “Südkurve”, was a meagre 15 Euros (about AUD$25). This is relatively the same price as entry to an A-League game, but compare watching the likes of Frank Ribery, Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni to players of A-League quality (no disrespect intended), and there’s no argument which represents the greater value.
Don’t ask me how they do it, but the German system is also one that keeps class players coming off the production line, while their scouting structure is also sound with excellent, previously unknown foreigners from Africa, South America and Eastern Europe frequently making names for themselves in the league.
And, with a culture that supports the concept of integrating football into people’s daily lives via classic matches on free TV on weeknights, don’t we at least owe it to ourselves to explore how other nations beside the Dutch have made the game prosper on all levels?
While the Dutch system has quite obviously been adopted by Football Federation Australia, and now a forthcoming A-League franchise off their own bat, I’m of the opinion there are even better mentors we should be seeking to learn from.
And, it’s the Oranje’s most fervent foes, the Deutsch, who I believe may prove a good source of influence.
As three time World Cup Champions and runners up, and with the exact same achievements in European Championships, “Die Mannschaft’s” record speaks for itself.
What’s more, Germany’s league – the Bundesliga – is one of the most underrated in Europe.
We often hear of the big three in reference to the Premier League, La Liga and Seria A, but it is Germany who attracts the biggest average season crowds over this lot.
How do they do it? They make tickets cheap as buggery.
I was fortunate enough to attend a Bundesliga match in late 2007 between BVB Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich – a massive clash.
My ticket, standing with ‘The Unity’ in the Signal Iduna Park “Südkurve”, was a meagre 15 Euros (about AUD$25). This is relatively the same price as entry to an A-League game, but compare watching the likes of Frank Ribery, Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni to players of A-League quality (no disrespect intended), and there’s no argument which represents the greater value.
Don’t ask me how they do it, but the German system is also one that keeps class players coming off the production line, while their scouting structure is also sound with excellent, previously unknown foreigners from Africa, South America and Eastern Europe frequently making names for themselves in the league.
And, with a culture that supports the concept of integrating football into people’s daily lives via classic matches on free TV on weeknights, don’t we at least owe it to ourselves to explore how other nations beside the Dutch have made the game prosper on all levels?
Between the sticks
KING Kahn. Jens Lehmann.
Australian football fans would be well aware of these two great goalkeeping names from previous World Cups.
But with Kahn fully retired and Lehmann having hung up his national team gloves, are devotees of the Socceroos even aware of who’ll stand in the last line between them, and Group D glory when our Durban date against the Deutsche rolls round on June 13?
Sadly, I’d suggest many wouldn’t be able to give a reasonable answer to this question. A-League and EPL-minded folk will learn it, then spruik it, in the days leading up to the Socceroos opener, thanks to paper’s finally giving coverage of our group stage rivals when they really should be informing the masses now.
So, for those of you who want to get ahead of the curve, here are the top four contenders for the German number 1 jersey in South Africa*. Unlike Pim Verbeek, Deutsche boss Joachim Löw still has a decision to make on his starting stopper…and he’s certainly not short on quality.
1. René Adler (Bayer Leverkusen)
Adler will be 25 by next June and is well positioned to have a seriously long tenure as Germany ‘keeper. He won the mantle for best stopper in the Bundesliga in 2008 and sat on the bench behind Lehmann and Robert Enke as Germany finished runner up at Euro 2008. Solid form in the New Year will help this young custodians cause.
2. Manuel Neuer (Shalke 04)
At just 23, Manuel Neuer has already made over 100 appearances for his beloved Shalke 04. While his German national team appearances are more modest at two, in November he was the only German ‘keeper in a list of five to be nominated for UEFA team of the year. Alongside Adler, Neuer is a hot chance.
3. Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)
At 27, Wiese is a veteran compared to Adler and Neuer. But, having been involved in the most recent squad – a friendly against Ivory Coast – will consider himself unlucky if he doesn’t at least make the plane to Johannesburg. Champions League followers may well remember his serious gaffe against Juventus three years ago – he spilled a routine save to allow Emerson to score and the Old Lady to move through to the quarter finals at the expense of his side. He’s a volatile character too, so Löw would be chancing his arm if he went with Wiese.
4. Timo Hilderbrand (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride - this is the story of 30-year-old Timo Hilderbrand. Having sat on the bench behind Kahn and Lehmann at Euro 2004, Confederations Cup 2005, and World Cup 2006, Hilderbrand’s torrid time at Valencia in 2007/08 means he hasn’t featured for Germany since. But, a move back to the Bundesliga a year ago has reignited the custodian, and there have been calls inside Germany recently that he deserves another chance.
*Until his recent, tragic suicide, Robert Enke, formerly of Hannover 96, was favoured to claim the first-choice ‘keepers spot in South Africa.
Australian football fans would be well aware of these two great goalkeeping names from previous World Cups.
But with Kahn fully retired and Lehmann having hung up his national team gloves, are devotees of the Socceroos even aware of who’ll stand in the last line between them, and Group D glory when our Durban date against the Deutsche rolls round on June 13?
Sadly, I’d suggest many wouldn’t be able to give a reasonable answer to this question. A-League and EPL-minded folk will learn it, then spruik it, in the days leading up to the Socceroos opener, thanks to paper’s finally giving coverage of our group stage rivals when they really should be informing the masses now.
So, for those of you who want to get ahead of the curve, here are the top four contenders for the German number 1 jersey in South Africa*. Unlike Pim Verbeek, Deutsche boss Joachim Löw still has a decision to make on his starting stopper…and he’s certainly not short on quality.
1. René Adler (Bayer Leverkusen)
Adler will be 25 by next June and is well positioned to have a seriously long tenure as Germany ‘keeper. He won the mantle for best stopper in the Bundesliga in 2008 and sat on the bench behind Lehmann and Robert Enke as Germany finished runner up at Euro 2008. Solid form in the New Year will help this young custodians cause.
2. Manuel Neuer (Shalke 04)
At just 23, Manuel Neuer has already made over 100 appearances for his beloved Shalke 04. While his German national team appearances are more modest at two, in November he was the only German ‘keeper in a list of five to be nominated for UEFA team of the year. Alongside Adler, Neuer is a hot chance.
3. Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)
At 27, Wiese is a veteran compared to Adler and Neuer. But, having been involved in the most recent squad – a friendly against Ivory Coast – will consider himself unlucky if he doesn’t at least make the plane to Johannesburg. Champions League followers may well remember his serious gaffe against Juventus three years ago – he spilled a routine save to allow Emerson to score and the Old Lady to move through to the quarter finals at the expense of his side. He’s a volatile character too, so Löw would be chancing his arm if he went with Wiese.
4. Timo Hilderbrand (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride - this is the story of 30-year-old Timo Hilderbrand. Having sat on the bench behind Kahn and Lehmann at Euro 2004, Confederations Cup 2005, and World Cup 2006, Hilderbrand’s torrid time at Valencia in 2007/08 means he hasn’t featured for Germany since. But, a move back to the Bundesliga a year ago has reignited the custodian, and there have been calls inside Germany recently that he deserves another chance.
*Until his recent, tragic suicide, Robert Enke, formerly of Hannover 96, was favoured to claim the first-choice ‘keepers spot in South Africa.
December 11, 2009
Welcome / Willkommen
HELLO and welcome to durban date.!
I guess the first thing I need to express is why I developed this site...
Having spent four months living in Germany in 2007/08, I grew to deeply appreciate the Deutsche game. Watching Bundesliga every weekend, learning about its history and marvelling at players past, present and future (more on future stars at a later date), German football certainly enriched my life. I can confirm I am a devotee until the day I die.
Nevertheless, I am an Australian football and Socceroo fan through and through. I follow the A-League avidly and as a media student who wants to make a career out of football, have taken up posts contributing to sites such as www.newcastlejets.com.au, au.fourfourtwo.com, and www.halftimeheroes.com.au.
When Australia and Germany were paired with one another in Group D for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, I thought - 'why not combine my two football loves in one site, in tandem with my ambition to make a career from the game?'. The culmination, I guess, will come as the two teams meet in Durban on June 13, 2010 - the durban date.
As such, what's evolved is an idea that intends to be frequently updated in the hope some readers will jump on board, contribute, share, think and react to the beauty of what both countries, football wise, are all about. It is my personal belief Australian football can learn much from German models, and hopefully some of you will come to realise this too.
While you should expect Australian, German and World Cup football themes to dominate, it's possible that at times I will introuce work from other areas. Thus, you could consider this a personal profile of what I'm up to as well.
I hope you enjoy what I produce over the next seven or so months, and who knows where this concept may lead?
Until next time... auf wiedersehen!
I guess the first thing I need to express is why I developed this site...
Having spent four months living in Germany in 2007/08, I grew to deeply appreciate the Deutsche game. Watching Bundesliga every weekend, learning about its history and marvelling at players past, present and future (more on future stars at a later date), German football certainly enriched my life. I can confirm I am a devotee until the day I die.
Nevertheless, I am an Australian football and Socceroo fan through and through. I follow the A-League avidly and as a media student who wants to make a career out of football, have taken up posts contributing to sites such as www.newcastlejets.com.au, au.fourfourtwo.com, and www.halftimeheroes.com.au.
When Australia and Germany were paired with one another in Group D for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, I thought - 'why not combine my two football loves in one site, in tandem with my ambition to make a career from the game?'. The culmination, I guess, will come as the two teams meet in Durban on June 13, 2010 - the durban date.
As such, what's evolved is an idea that intends to be frequently updated in the hope some readers will jump on board, contribute, share, think and react to the beauty of what both countries, football wise, are all about. It is my personal belief Australian football can learn much from German models, and hopefully some of you will come to realise this too.
While you should expect Australian, German and World Cup football themes to dominate, it's possible that at times I will introuce work from other areas. Thus, you could consider this a personal profile of what I'm up to as well.
I hope you enjoy what I produce over the next seven or so months, and who knows where this concept may lead?
Until next time... auf wiedersehen!
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