Relling

Are you going to this world class chess tournament in Düsseldorf, Tommy? WR Chess Masters / 15-26 Feb / Dusseldorf (wr-chess.com)

I agree. Not convinced thus far. They have to improve.

Gladbach 2-1 Hertha BSC Dortmund 2-0 Bremen Leverkusen 3-1 Hoffenheim Wolfsburg 2-1 Schalke Augsburg 0-1 Mainz Stuttgart 1-2 Freiburg Union 1-1 Leipzig Frankfurt 3-2 Köln Bochum 0-2 Bayern

Freiburg 1-1 Dortmund Leverkusen 2-0 Augsburg Leipzig 1-1 Köln Hoffenheim 2-1 Bochum Hertha BSC 1-3 Frankfurt Bremen 2-1 Stuttgart Schalke 3-2 Gladbach Mainz 1-2 Union Bayern 5-0 Wolfsburg

Marian Sarr did well in a champions league game for Dortmund as an 18 year old. In his second Bundesliga game, he made a howler that really got to him just before half time. He was subbed off at the interval, and has since struggled to get playing time even in the lower leagues. (He is 27 now) I wonder if his story could have been different, had he not caused that goal at home against Hertha. I also wonder if it is only the lack of substance that generally causes these disappointments. Getting the wrong coach at the wrong time, injuries or personal matters all can be pretty detrimental. Yesil, for instance, had a lot of injury problems at a young age, although there was excessive hype there as well. Scoring many goals in youth football does not say that much, and to me Weiser and Can seemed the better prospects of that u17 national team. Yesil was a smart striker at that level, but smartness in professional football is a different beast.

Frankfurt - Bayern 3-2 Union - Hertha BSC 2-0 Gladbach - Hoffenheim 3-1 Wolfsburg - Bremen 2-1 Bochum - Mainz 1-1 Augsburg - Freiburg 1-2 Dortmund - Leverkusen 3-2 Stuttgart - Leipzig 0-1 Köln - Schalke 2-1

Top 4 teams: ( 3 points, if you name a team and their correct position; 1 point, if you got the team right but on the wrong position) 1) FC Bayern 2) BVB 3) Leipzig 4) Leverkusen Bottom 3 teams: (3 points, if you get the team and their position right; 1 point, if you get the team right but on the wrong position) 16) Bochum 17) Augsburg 18) Schalke DFB-Pokal winner: (5 points ,if your teams is the eventual winner; 3 points, if your team will be runners-up; 1 point, if your team reaches the semifinals) Eintracht Frankfurt Top scorer: (5 points) Thomas Mueller.

Glimt beat Roma in the home game of the quarter finals as well (2-1). Lost the return leg in Roma 0-4 though.

I seem to remember that Hiddink did something similar with South Korea before the 2002 world cup where they did well. But maybe it was a bit different?

Do people feel enthusiastic about the coming season? I must admit I have lost much of my passion for the game in the last years. Covid did not help. I will try to follow Bundesliga and European football a bit more again though, and see if I can muster some interest.

I think it is quite nice that he chooses not to play when the fun is gone. These matches must take so much from the players. But still, sad for chess. I will be rooting for Ding. Refreshing with such a humble soft spoken man.

Happy birthday, captain my captain.

Gongrats to the Germans! I am surprised by how well the team performed. 3 great games in the knock outs. Especially Dorsch was immense tonight,

Thank you very much! I apologize for having as defect knowledge on your nationality as our revered and beloved captain. It warms my heart to hear such words from an Englishman, coming from a marginal football culture myself.

Thank you very much for this review of your team I used to follow of Dynamo Kyiv and your national team a bit a few years ago. You have made me want to see your games this summer. If you where to name 3 players to watch out for, who would that be? You should not underestimate Macedonia. They impressed me when they beat Germany in Duisburg in the WM-qualification.