Dhe ban on the “One Love” captain’s armband continues to be the dominant theme ahead of Germany’s opening game against Japan. In the opinion of the DFB director, the discussion burdens the preparation of the national team. The 54-year-old spoke of the timing of the Fifa diktat of a special pressure that would be exposed to the players who wanted to focus on their sporting tasks.
“Our players are concerned with the reactions in Germany. Of course you know what’s going on at home. You always get criticism,” said DFB director Oliver Bierhoff on ARD. When asked if there would be any action by the team, he replied meaningfully: “We’ll see.”
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has criticized the Qatari authorities for their handling of rainbow badges at the World Cup in Qatar. “I’m very disappointed,” said the SPD politician about the case of a German fan who had an armband and a rainbow-colored sweatband removed. “That’s not my understanding of the security guarantees that the interior minister gave me.” Prime Minister and Interior Minister Chalid bin Chalifa Al-Thani assured Faeser in Qatar at the beginning of November that everyone was welcome to the World Cup.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf
What: REUTERS
During the conversation at the DFB’s mobile fan embassy, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf reported that he was in contact with other European associations. “We’ve had word from different teams that rainbow ties have been taken down,” he said, echoing the words of Fifa President Gianni Infantino, who also said “everyone” is welcome in Qatar. “This is not a sign of welcome for us,” said Neuendorf.
11:52 a.m .: Meunier on his time at Paris St. Germain: “I was aware of everything that was happening here”
Before Thomas Meunier joined Borussia Dortmund, the Belgian played for Paris St. Germain. In the French newspaper L’Equipe, the defender takes a critical look at his time at the French club: “I can’t say now: the Qataris are assholes. I played for PSG for four years. I was aware of everything that is happening here. You could also say I supported that by agreeing to play for a Qatari state club.”
11.20 a.m .: Premiere on ARD at the Croatia – Morocco game
From soccer player to TV commentator – and now onto the World Cup stage: Christina Graf is the first woman to commentate on a game at a men’s World Cup for ARD in Qatar.
10:07 a.m .: Lars Klingbeil: “Fifa is destroying our football right now”
Lars Klingbeil sharply criticized FIFA in the debate about banning the “One Love” captain’s armband at the World Cup in Qatar. “Fifa is destroying our football and that must have consequences,” said the co-chairman of the SPD on RTL. At the same time, he welcomed the fact that the DFB was considering a complaint before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Klingbeil protected the players of the German national team. “The fact that many sports officials have done a lot wrong in the last twelve years cannot be blamed on the players,” he said.
9:33 a.m .: Hernandez diagnosis shocks France and Bavaria
In terms of sport, the start of the World Cup against Australia was successful. But the French threaten to run out of players. Now Bayern’s Lucas Hernandez has the worst possible diagnosis. It is the fourth failure of a top performer.
8:44 a.m.: These four games are due today
- Morocco – Croatia (11 a.m. / ARD and MagentaTV)
- Germany – Japan (2 p.m./ARD and MagentaTV)
- Spain – Costa Rica (5 p.m. / ARD and MagentaTV)
- Belgium – Canada (8 p.m./ARD and MagentaTV)
8:02 a.m.: England’s worries about Harry Kane
According to English media reports, England captain Harry Kane will undergo an examination of his right ankle before the next World Cup game. The top scorer was hit on the ankle in the second half of Monday’s opening win against Iran (6-2).
The investigation should determine the extent of the problem before the game against the USA on Friday (8 p.m. / ARD and MagentaTV), the BBC reported, among other things. Kane was substituted against Iran in the 75th minute.
7:39 a.m .: The legal side of the “One Love” scandal
Fifa has ordered: No “One Love” bandage at the World Cup, otherwise there will be a penalty. But which set of rules does the world association refer to? And what legal options does the DFB have? Martin Nolte is a professor of sports law and knows the answers.
7:07 a.m .: Only one German in Matthäus’ perfect World Cup eleven
If Lothar Matthäus were the coach of a selection of the best World Cup players, only Joshua Kimmich would get a place in his starting XI from the German team. “I really had a hard time tinkering, I had to decide against one or the other world-class player. I think I’ve found a good mix of young and more experienced players,” wrote the record German international in SPORT BILD.
In goal, Matthäus chose Belgian Thibaut Courtois, his offensive three-man line consists of Brazilian Vinícius Júnior, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappé from France. Behind him, Matthäus chose the combination of Kimmich with Belgian Kevin De Bruyne and Lionel Messi from Argentina. His preferred back four consists of Canadian Alphonso Davies, Dutchman Virgil van Dijk, Argentina’s Cristian Romero and Moroccan Achraf Hakimi.
6:59 a.m.: Buckled? Thomas Müller takes a very clear position
In the dispute over the “One Love” captain’s armband, Thomas Müller defended his teammates. “Anyone who expects us footballers to completely leave our path as athletes and give up our sporting dreams, for which we have worked all our football life, in order to position ourselves even more politically, will be disappointed,” Müller wrote on Instagram the World Cup opener against Japan on Wednesday (2 p.m. / ARD and MagentaTV).
At the same time, the professional from Bayern Munich expressed a lack of understanding for the approach of the world association: “The position of Fifa as well as the way of communicating about the ban on pads is in no way understandable for us.”
“The unrest surrounding the events leading up to the World Cup tournament in Qatar, the ban on the One Love bandage and other strange actions and statements by Fifa are of concern to us players and the entire team,” said Müller. The team and the German Football Association (DFB) are socially committed, the 33-year-old wrote: “With our team foundation, we have launched various initiatives not only in connection with the tournament in Qatar, but also throughout Germany. “
6:41 a.m .: Low TV ratings on ZDF
The World Cup tournament in Qatar continues to attract comparatively few viewers in front of the TV sets. ZDF is the main one to suffer from this. Even in the opening game, the market share was rather small.
