Tag: SC Freiburg

Week 22: Back but Brutal

Week 22: Back but Brutal

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Scores

(M) Eintracht Frankfurt 3- SC Freiburg 3

More games against the bottom sides in the Bundesliga = more trouble for Freiburg.

Everything seemed handled. Vincent Grifo’s lucky first goal benefited from a deflection. Nils Petersen knocked in a ripping header after some chippy Frankfurt play and a Lucas Holer breakaway seemed to put it beyond all doubt. (Sure there was a botched clearance that gifted an ugly goal to Frankfurt, but c’mon those happen.)

Then, in about 5 minutes, it all went wrong. Daichi Kamada capitalized on Robin Koch’s ill advised dribble back towards goal. Then American Timmy Chandler capitalized on a solid cross to level the score again.

https://youtu.be/j4P9EWP0tFo

(M) SC Freiburg 0 – Bayer Leverkusen 1

Again Freiburg managed to play well against a strong team, but came away from the game with nothing.

Lucas Holer had a golden chance on another break away, only to break hearts instead when he missed wide. It proved costly as Leverkusen took over the opportunities and capitalized when Lukas Kubler and Nicholas Hofler turned off their defensive brains and Dominique Heintz couldn’t save the day.

It was ugly, and uglier still when some late chances were similarly lacking, but sometimes that happens.

https://youtu.be/reagzxwc7ho

(W) SC Freiburg 3 – Turbine Potsdam 2

This was a thriller, which makes sense since even though both Freiburg and Potsdam are far off the pace for the Champions League, they’ve had their last two matches decided in the final 5 minutes of time. So, of course it happened again Sunday.

After an opening goal was disallowed, the lady Griffins let in a pair from Potsdam within a half an hour. Then they came roaring back with three in the second half, including Klara “Killing Em Softly” Buhl’s tenth goal and Naomi Megroz’s opportunistic winner just before the final whistle.

This is what we’ve been missing.

Macva Sabac 0 – FK Vozdovac 1

The Red Dragons won a game! The Red Dragons won a game! Great day in the morning the Red Dragons won a game!!

Granted, they were playing the bottom team on the table in Serbia, but even after Milos Stojcev was shown a red card for a high elbow and the team was reduced to ten men, there was hope. In the 85th minute Ivan Milosavljevic made the magic happen with a blistering half-volley and finally Vozdovac found a ray of hope in 2020.

News & Notes

Rosenborg Back Klub

After months of training, extensive not training, and then retraining, Rosenborg is gearing up for the return of the Eliteserien in 2 weeks. Their first tune up against Bodø/Glimt was a valuable run out, letting teams shake off the rust. New man Kristoffer Zachariassen, who joined from Sarpsborg, netted the only goal early on.

I like Jadon Sancho now…

That’s it, that’s the news.

YUP
I know he’s approximately 9000% more expensive than we can afford, but c’mon MNUFC, make it happen.

Ross County Cut Costs

The Staggies are facing a hard situation.

There are no more matches, which means no more gate receipts, which means little to no more income.

There are players on the payroll they need to keep happy, lest they lose some of the skill they need to survive next season against the Scottish top flight.

But players cost money. Money that county doesn’t have. So…the teams said goodbye to 14 players.

10 Reservists heading out the door meant pretty much an entire back up squad was sliced out of the budget. The bigger names are the four senior players: Richard Foster, Sean Kelly, Lewis Spence, and Declan McManus. It’s hardest to say goodbye to Foster who has played for the team twice, returning from England to help see the team to the top level of Scottish football again.

Lest we think that Ross County are cheap (and confirmation of an old…if true…Scottish stereotype) they could have done what other struggling clubs did and take government money to pay workers in need of a new contract. Instead they said they’d be honest and work it out on their own.

Honesty is a small solace for Foster and others, but such is the lousy nature of the world we live in these days.

Woman of the Matches

Klara Buhl remains the decisive force in Freiburg, lifting the team to excellence when she’s on form. Her late equalizer was crucial to a needed win, and reminded us that, as the person responsible for 1/3 of her team’s goals, she will be much missed when she moves to Bayern Munich this summer.

Wunderbar, Klara! Also…please teach the guys to finish one-v-ones before you go

What’s Next

Wednesday, June 3

Thursday, June 4

Friendly–Stojordals Blink v. Rosenborg BK

Friday, June 5

1:30 PM SC Freiburg v. Borussia Muchen Gladbach (M)

Saturday, June 6

11:00 AM FK Vozdovac v. Napredak

Sunday, June 7

7:00 AM FF USV Jena v. SC Freiburg (W)

Monday, June 8

Week 21: Back in Business

Week 21: Back in Business

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Scores

SC Freiburg 0 – Werder Bremen 1

The griffins might well wonder if video referees are a little rusty too. One week after having a late dinner called off for being a couple of goosebumps offsides, Freiburg lost a late equalizer against Bremen.

Center back Manuel Gulde has reason to be particularly sore. Having both scampered back from being out of position to miss a block on Leonardo Bittencourt’s goal, he settled down for the rest of the match. He even struck a late rebound back in to tie the game. But he didn’t factor in a Nils Peterson shin bone that poked past the last defender and rendered his goal moot.

While it’s nice that Werder Bremen climbed up the ladder and got closer to safety, we’d have preferred if they did it against someone else.

https://youtu.be/YASy1zeL9XE

News & Notes

Vozdo-BACK

The red dragons of FK Vozdovac had a practice run out on Saturday against second division FK Kolubara. With both teams based in Belgrade there was less risk of traveling transmitters, and much bettter likelihood of a goodnight sleep for all involved.

I try not to recap training matches, but one special note: the 2-0 victory was Vozdovac’s first in 2020. (We only count competitive games in our standings but still: YAY DRAGONS!!)

Filip Stuparevic would have made it 3-0 but for a pesky crossbar.

Man of the Matches

There are plenty of people to thank for the chance to watch soccer. But I sometimes have to remember that part of why we and so many others were able to escape relatively lightly is because of Li Wenliang, who first alerted authorities to the disease in December of Last year. He was by all accounts a fried chicken and k-pop loving father of two. Thank you again Dr. Li for speaking up for the rest of us.

Dr. Li Wenliang (photo from Time Magazine)

What’s Next

Tuesday, May 26

1:30–Frankfurt v SC Freiburg (M)

Wednesday, May 27

Thursday, May 28

Friday, May 29

1:30–SC Freiburg – Bayern Leverkusen (M)

Saturday, May 30

6:00 PM – SC Freiburg v Turbine Potsdam (W)

Sunday, May 31

12:30–Macva Sabac v FK Vozdovac

Monday, June 1

21. Wabi-Sabi

21. Wabi-Sabi

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Dear Boys,

It’s pretty great to have soccer games back again.

And yet, there are plenty of people who scrunch up their faces and share frustrations too. The players aren’t at their sharpest. The bigger clubs can just exploit their size and depth, replacing any millionaire starlet who falls sick with another one. Matches in front of empty stands are an insult to fans who supported the side, and without whom there would be no club.

Something’s missing…oh right, thousands and thousands of fans
(Image from outlook India)

It’s really easy to undercut appreciation what a thing is with critiques about what it is not. So I hope when given the choice, you boys appreciate what a thing is, including its faults, rather than wish for what it isn’t.

Japanese art has a concept called Wabi-Sabi. Simply the idea that beauty lies in impermanence and imperfection. A totally perfect Bonsai tree is unattainable, but one with a scraggly branch is perfect in its own way.

La dimanche sur la grande jatte (Georges Seurat)

So it is with other art: The Princess Bride (which I finished reading aloud to you this week Owen) has some issues with how it shows women, but it’s also a perfect piece of fantasy adventure with romantic guts. The pointillist works of George’s Seurat seem smudgy in spots. Sections of Camille Saint-Saen’s Carnival of the Animals (your current favorite music Alex) seem to overlap and repeat rather than invent. Zootopia (the movie y’all cant stop watching) has some pretty big honking plot holes.

None of that means they’re ugly, worthless, or garbage. Smudges tell a story, repetition reminds us of unity, even plot holes help support the broader themes of the movie.

I can critique this, but it’ll never
not be perfect for Alex

Of course you can critique things. You can offer opinions and suggestions any time anywhere. I just hope that your criticism doesn’t come at the expense of appreciating what is done well.

To be sure, there are bones to pick with an outclassed Freiburg defense. There is an argument to be made that the ref deserves glasses when he final goal was disallowed for uncertain millimeters of an elbow. There’s even a challenge to management to prove they know that fans can’t be replaced by amplified generic crowd effects.

All of that can be discussed, but in the moment of soccer’s much needed return, let’s appreciate the way things are. The teams are back, playing with pride, playing with passion, playing their best. I don’t care if they’re not at their best possible level: I’m grateful to watch them cut, run, pass, tackle, shoot, and save.

Week 20: Is it true…is it really, true?

Week 20: Is it true…is it really, true?

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Scores

Soccer 1 – Boredom 0

Huzzah!! Soccer is back (for the time being). We’ve got games to watch and goals to cheer (until a spike in cases ends this little effort). Quickly! To the televised sporting events: there isn’t a moment to lose (because it could all end literally at any moment).

RB Leipzig 1- SC Frieburg 1

The first game back for our teams featured the Griffins of SC Freiburg visiting those well-heeled heels of the Bundesliga: RB Leipzig.

Despite the disparity between the teams’ bank accounts and international profiles, Freiburg managed to frustrate Leipzig in front of their home…uh…seat backs. Okay, it was weird hearing echoes of player reactions rather than the roar of the crowd, and there was clearly a lot of rust shaking loose from the players’ runs, positioning, and defending, but still, it was soccer, it was live, and it made a difference to the race for the title (keeping Leipzig behind the top two) and the Europa League (allowing Freiburg to keep in shouting distance).

Yousuf Poulson got the goal, but not the glory.

While the Red Bulls had the better run of play, peppering goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow repeatedly, Freiburg capitalized on the chances they had. A lucky deflection opened the scoring, and Schwolow’s sterling keeping kept them ahead well into the second period. Finally Leipzig got a well earned goal back (from Danish star Yousuf Poulsen…a man I’d love to steal for Minnesota United, but that’s beside the point).

A draw could have been satisfying, but midfielder Robin Koch nearly did Freiburg one better, slashing home a late winner.

Except…not…

Because he received the pass from an offside teammate so it was all bang and no bucks as the match ended 1-1.

https://youtu.be/zKlpLRIXeLs

News & Notes

Changes are Brewing

Business has begun to pick up around the world, and things are starting to settle into something like a plan.

Ecuador has joined Mexico in cancelling the spring season, preparing to kick off again for the fall campaign.

Scotland joined France and India in cancelling the rest of their season. The league won’t add any more teams so Ross County won’t suffer any short fall from two fewer visits from radical road fans from Rangers or Celtic.

The Site of the proposed MLS tournament. Not pictured: Mickey Mouse breaking a rookie’s heart by not signing an autograph.

Arguably the biggest changes will come right here at home. The Big Sky Conference announced that women’s soccer will not have a tournament to cap the season: it’s all about the table to get the invite to the big dance. Meanwhile, Major League Soccer is plotting to have something like a mini-tournament in June and July in Orlando, because if there’s one place you want to engage in grueling physical activity it’s the middle of Florida in the middle of the summer. Minnesota United might end up in a mini group playing about 10 games in the hopes of making a conclusive tournament. It’s nothing close to the 25th anniversary hullabaloo the league might have wanted, but it might well keep the tv money flowing and that’s nice to have too.

Following Up on Punjab FC

Last week I threw up the idea that Punjab FC might be on the verge of a major move up to India’s top league.

This week I did the responsible thing and followed up with the excellent blog The Away End where I first found the details about East Bengal’s power play. I asked author Nehal what they made of the warriors odds of joining the top flight. He didn’t quite douse the flame of hope, but it’s a lot more damp now than it was before.

 Punjab FC have held talks with the ISL folks, but I doubt it’s going to happen in the upcoming season. There isn’t much buzz around it and their lack of activity in the market is telling. All things said, I really hope they pull it off sooner rather than later. The more the merrier!

Nehal (The Away End, 5/13/2020)

Man of the Matches

With the pressure and skill of RB Leipzig in full flow, we have to tip our cap to the man who stood in their way: Alexander Schlowow. His eight saves more than doubled Freiburg’s total shots. Thank you, Alexander.

Schlowow’s sacrifice
(Photo Christian Schroedter POOL)

What’s Next

Wednesday, May 20

Thursday, May 21

Friday, May 22

Saturday, May 23

8:30 AM: SC Freiburg v Werder Bremen

Sunday, May 24

Monday, May 25

Week 19: I wanna play football with somebody…

Week 19: I wanna play football with somebody…

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Scores

Corona-virus 3.9 Million – Hope 1

As well as Corona-virus has done, this past week there were some signs of a momentum shift.

Even though we haven’t had any more matches, many leagues had athletes return to training, Serbia announced they would be back on May 30th and most relevantly of all: Germany announced that the Bundesliga would return next weekend (behind closed doors). Notably for us with SC Freiburg facing RB Leipzig on Saturday morning.

If that weren’t enough, I just found out that former World Player of the Year and current President of Liberia George Weah also released a song to educate his citizens about the virus. And, as a former World Music DJ, I gotta say: it’s a solid afropop bop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZm_beXeVzs

News & Notes

Punjab FC on the verge of Promotion?

I never fuss too much with soccer business news. But there are some transactions in India that warrant our attention.

First, India’s governing body decided, like several other shallow leagues around the world to cancel relegation and promotion for the next few years. (Note: shallow leagues is a totally made up term of mine for leagues that are relatively new and don’t have a deep well of teams, fans, or wealth leagues like India, Mexico, the US, Ghana, etc.) As fans of lower level underdogs, like Punjab and Alebrijes de Oaxaca, that stings. As fans of top tier teams who still just squeak by with minimal support, like Ross County and Minnesota United, it makes sense to protect the biggest clubs from a double financial body blow of Coronavirus and relegation.

Rajit Bajaj celebrating
(Times of India)

However you might feel about that decision, one clear consequence of that call was to make Punjab FC founder and co-owner Ranjit Bajaj sell his shares to co-owners “RoundGlass”. According to Bajaj, without the possibility of promotion or Asian continental competition, there was little point to staying in the professional game. He’s turning his attention to continuing the Minerva Academy, with the goal of developing World Cup champion calibre players in the next thirty years. Leaving RoundGlass to run the traditional club with an academy. (Sidenote: RoundGlass founder and CEO Gupreet “Sunny” Singh got his masters degrees in Bozeman, Montana!)

Meanwhile, the India Super League is seeking to grow to 12 teams next year. But as I-League Champions Mohun Bagan of Kolkata merge with ISL champion ATK, there’s no clear team to move up, let alone two. If you believe much of the online banter Mohun Bagan’s rival East Bengal will be joining the league soon.

The 12th team is unclear. To be a Super League team, you would need a major population center and a wealthy benefactor. The two sides that seem to best suit those goals would be the Delhi based Sudheva FC, but as a smaller and newer side, they might be better suited to the I-League. But Indian sports vloggers say that the 12th team could well be our own Punjab FC as it represents a new territory and has a growing set of resources.

Calvin Lobo in Punjabi camo.
(The Bridge)

To be clear: this is all conjecture at this point. The entire season may fall through. The ISL might prefer to stay at 10 teams. With East Bengal raiding rosters around the I-League including Punjab’s own Calvin Lobo, Girik Kholsa, and Dilliram Sanyasi, it’s unclear how Punjab would build up the roster to the super league calibre. So time will tell, but it’s something to look to.

Man of the Matches

With training coming back soon. It’s nice to just appreciate the fact that players missed the games as much as we did.

Translation: “#Sometimes football is finally back”

We don’t know which player that is precisely, but we know that we feel the same. So thanks FK Vozdovac social media. You know us even when we don’t know you.

What’s Next

Wednesday, May 13

Thursday, May 14

Friday, May 15

Saturday, May 16

9:30–RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg

YES REALLY!!! A REAL ACTUAL MATCH!!!

Sunday, May 17

Monday, May 18

Week 18: Light in the tunnel

Week 18: Light in the tunnel

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Scores

None…yet…

Jeonbuk Motors Revving up…

While Corona-Virus continues to run roughshod over the rest of the world and established institutions, there may be some reason to hope. Several countries have flattened the curve. Several more are carefully studying ways to return to something like normalcy. And most importantly, for our purposes and only our purposes, South Korea will start their season next weekend.

This is great news, especially after Mexico and France fully abandoned their seasons. While we don’t have a Korean side to root for, we may just be in the market for one as it would allow us to watch soccer without the bitter aftertaste of tolerating totalitarianism in Belarus and Nicaragua.

News & Notes

Making Ends Meet

We’ve seen record breaking unemployment claims in America and jaw dropping economic contractions around the world. Many people are in dire financial straights, and, so too are soccer teams.

The most notable case of this comes from Ross County, who has established “The Staggies Army” to create stabilized funds for the club when there’s no guarantee that they can even sell season tickets for the next campaign.

Love you too…Klara Buhl

This system neatly mirrors another beloved institution in our home: National Public Radio. But in lieu of a tote bag, this comes with a welcome letter and club shop discounts. (Seriously, anyone reading this who is interested, please contact me to go in on a membership)

Meanwhile, SC Freiburg found another way to make ends meet: sell off your star player. Klara Buhl, the wunderkind who bombed goals in for both Baden and the national team is off to Bayern Munich’s women’s team. Good luck Karla, thanks for the memories.

Women of the Non-Matches

As a teacher, I love National Signing Day, the day in the spring when high school seniors announce where they intend to continue their education (and often times, athletic pursuits). I love seeing my students find their future, and it is in that spirit that we award this week’s honor to the six future Grizzlies who will for sure have some classes next fall (and hopefully some matches under the big blue Montana skies).

Shout outs to you Elizabeth Basile, Reese Elliot, Alejandra Melendez, Meredith Udovich, Josie Windauer, and Camellia Xu. Equal shout outs to the parents, teachers, coaches, family and friends who backed you up throughout the journey.

What’s Next

Wednesday, May 6

Thursday, May 7

Friday, May 8

Saturday, May 9

SC Freiburg v. Bayern Munich. (Okay , probably not, but we’re not giving up hope until Angela Merkel shakes a disapproving finger at the guys before sending them back home)

Sunday May 10

Monday May 11

Week 17: Don’t drink bleach

Week 17: Don’t drink bleach

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Scores

Logic 0 – Craziness 1

One of the long standing mantras of this who Coronavirus crisis is “stay safe, stay sane.” Much as I feel like the weekend isn’t the weekend without a soccer match somewhere in the world, I wouldn’t say I’m going crazy.

Would that the same could be said for our leadership who this week suggested, maybe “injecting disinfectant” could be researched because “it kills the disease immediately” (on tables…not your lungs). While he attempted to use video review to claim it was sarcasm, it’s pretty clear that word doesn’t mean what he thinks it means.

News & Notes

We’re In the Endgame Now…hopefully

A few more leagues have sorted out what they hope to do to work out the snafus in their league schedules.

Scotland has all the drama of a board meeting on Succession with slightly less profanity and more, as the BBC put it, “bunfighting” . It sounds like the four divisions of Scottish soccer may be condensed to three leagues of 14 teams each. This would save some of the teams on the cusp of relegation (Ross County this year), award teams who would have been promoted (Ross County last year), and only irk the big teams (not Ross County).

Germany continues to make clear their intent to come back to the field in May, preferably May 9th. The only thing standing in their way? Angela Merkel’s government. Merkel is obviously tremendous off the ball and has a great tactical mind, but the real strength is that 11 players for the soccer teams versus thousands from the government offer no real contest. Maybe the league will be back in later May, if there isn’t a second spike in cases (fingers crossed).

Mexico has the worst of it. With promotion postponed for five years, there are significant questions about whether or not lower level teams can survive. That’s fine by the top division sides, some of whom also own lower league teams and could do with the excuse to cut the budget. It’s significantly harder on independent sides like Oaxaca who opted for a league payout and financial security over stubbornly demanding a shot at the top tier. Weirder still, some theorize that this is actually a ploy to unite the Mexican and American soccer leagues with big name teams in a top tier and other sides (like say, Oaxaca and little old Minnesota United) being pushed down the pecking order.

Man of the Matches

Last week we saw what Germany is doing to tie players to gamers in a modified competition. This week we tip our cap to a local competitor in the same vein: new Minnesota United goalie Tyler Miller who played for the black and blue against Sporting Kansas City

Even though Miller lost 4-0 he’s still the paws down pick for Man of the Matches

What’s Next

Wednesday, April 29

Thursday, April 30

Celebrate Grandma Bekka’s Birthday with a hearty round of “Shalalalalala–Oh Rosenborg”

Friday, May 1

Saturday, May 2

Sunday May 3

Monday May 4

17. Curiosity Culture

17. Curiosity Culture

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It struck me that I ought to explain a little bit about why we cheer for the teams we do. Well, in part, it’s because I thought we ought to, and I’m the one of us most capable of complex thought and logic. But also, each team has a special something that captures part of what I love about life, and part of what makes you who you are.

So periodically (like during international breaks, long summer holidays, or say, global pandemics that completely alter everything we understand about our lives and ourselves), I want to introduce you to the teams we are tied to.

Our fourth team to meet: SC Freiburg from Freiburg, Germany. A team that offers a reminder that as we move, we grow.

Dear Boys,

Wherefore Freiburg?

This is the last of the family heritage clubs in our collection. From your mom comes Vozdovak, from your dad comes Ross County, from the both of us come Rosenborg, and from goodness knows where comes Frieburg.

A few favorite Germans

I mean that quite literally. It’s not entirely clear who in the family was really from Germany, and who was descended from Germans who had stopped elsewhere first.

Your grandma Di can tie her family back to a region of Europe that straddles eastern France and south western Germany. That strand of your DNA ran off to a tiny farm village in the wilds of Russia, and then beyond, and beyond, and beyond until they got to Billings.

Other family members speak German as a tradition from someone we’ve all forgotten. We sing it, study it, read it. In short: we know we’re a little bit German, but not sure exactly how much or what that means.

Who is Freiburg?

In choosing a team to represent your German heritage I hoped to find a side with a bit of pride and a lot of curiosity: I found SC Frieburg.

SC Freiburg is by no means the most renowned club in the Bundesliga, for a long time they weren’t even the most renowned club in Freiburg. But they are undoubtedly, special.

They absolutely question habits, as you’d expect from a University town with liberal ideals and an intelligent culture. Freiburg’s manager often eschews tactics in meetings and interviews in favor of sharing views about world events and the prejudices that diminish our world. (A habit shared by the team’s fans)

Freiburg loves its surroundings, and welcomes others from around the world. There’s a love for the foreign flair of their club not the stubborn “Deutschland-Uber-Alles” attitude that makes some foreign born Germans a little leery of their homeland. Freiburg’s crew includes French, Italian, English, Australian and even Korean players. They’re most cherished nickname is “Breisgau-Brasilianer” because it suggests a blend of Brazilian style with their neck of the woods. (Even the club crest is about blending: why be lions or eagles, when you can be a griffin and be BOTH Lions AND Eagles!!)

In all the club is welcoming, curious, and proud of their way of doing things. I’ll let them say it themselves:

“in Freiburg, football isn’t a way to release your frustrations – here it brings about a sense of joy. In this way, it is something for everyone in the region to enjoy, just like the wonderful landscape, delicious food and good wine also is.”

SC Freiburg Team Website

How are we Freiburg?

In short, Freiburg is at least close to your Germanic home land, but they also are the kind of open-minded, optimistic organization your family loves. SC Freiburg knows that a curious culture and a changing culture is the strongest.

Manager Christian Streich at the end of his commute

Whomever your German ancestors were, they weren’t tied to one way of doing things. Whatever their goals in leaving home, they were open to not just moving, but moving again, and again, and again. They passed on a love of family, but not a love of habit. They encouraged an attitude of engagement with others not isolation.

Yes, we have a family bond with Germany. We’re not sure what it is, why it’s there or what it means, but we’re curious and interested in finding out more.

SC Freiburg has a soccer team. They love it, but they know that doesn’t mean that it will triumph, or dominate. Frankly, that’s fine. They’re open to growing with each generation of players that comes along, each question that’s asked, each managerial lecture about everything but tactics, and each fan who feels the love of the game.

At a time when many people would rather wrap themselves up in familiarity than risk the unknown and possibly unpleasant, I hope you take the SC Freiburg mentality, and keep curiosity in your mind and change in your heart.

Week 16: Dancing, and dribbling, by myself

Week 16: Dancing, and dribbling, by myself

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Scores

None…still

The Corona-Virus remains unbeaten against athletic competitions around the world. Really, if they can beat the Olympics, what chance does Ecuador’s women’s league have

We’re getting so hungry for competition that several leagues have organized video game competitions between teams. I for one only hope someone writes a hot tale about how these games should count to the final table.

News & Notes

How does all this end?

Not the disease mind, but rather the various leagues going on a month of hiatus? Here’s a brief update on every league we follow.

In Europe, each country has their own plan. Germany wants to come back in just about 2 weeks to play at empty stadia, but with the government urging against gatherings of more than 2 people, that seems implausible. France’s similar strategy starting in six weeks may be more viable. Serbia and Norway are quietly waiting to see, and Scotland well…

Scotland has a right mess on its hands, with teams voting to continue or terminate their seasons under strange circumstances. Almost every team turned in a vote on that proposal over a week ago.

Every team except Dundee United who voted no, then said they weren’t sure and since no one had said “no take-backsies” they could change their mind. Naturally the teams on the verge of relegation were livid, those who won titles, far less so.

Elsewhere, Ecuador can afford to wait it out; however, Ghana is fretting about losing vital money for the newly restarted league; with the title decided, it only makes sense for India to wrap up now; Liga MX cancelled the Acenso spring season and ended promotion for five years…so Alebrijes is thoroughly hosed (and their fans are…not happy about it)

Here in the US, Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that the only way any sports would return this summer was without fans. That’s not an issue for the fall season Lady Griz, but could be a problem for the summer season MLS. Rather than mirror Germany and France, Minnesota United might be bound for a neutral site (say: LA) to live and train and play in front of empty stadiums so the athletes can be contained. How exactly television crews are allowed (or not) to cover the games has yet to be seen.

Man of the Matches

Another entry in the increasingly enjoyable world of e-sport substitution is the “Bundesliga At Home Challenge”

Each team is setting one regular team player and one e-sports player to battle against their league rivals. Sadly for Freiburg, they have no e-sports team and are instead sending two players out. Nico Schlotterbeck and Mark Flekken took care of business this weekend with wins against VfB Stuttgart’s players.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

What’s Next

Wednesday, April 22

Debate whether I can work and watch Sunderland Til I Die simultaneously. Continue until realizing mid-student phone call that watching a show that inspires me to adopt a Jordie accent probably isn’t good for instruction.

Thursday, April 23

Friday, April 24

Saturday, April 25

Sunday April 26

Monday April 27