Now it just can’t “rain pitchforks,” as they say in Saarland. The explosive derby against 1. FC Kaiserslautern is already “a game of the century” for 1. FC Saarbrücken. In view of the heavy rain again at Easter, it is not yet 100 percent certain whether the DFB Cup semi-final will be able to kick off as planned on Tuesday evening (8.45 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the DFB Cup, on ARD and on Sky). . “We doubt the weather gods,” said Saarbrücken’s press spokesman Peter Müller. “It’s the cup and it’s raining in Saarbrücken.”
What seems like a bad April Fool’s joke is pure seriousness for the third division club. Because in the days before the semi-finals, the focus was less on the unique Berlin opportunity for two outsiders or the special derby challenge for the police, but mainly on Ludwigspark and its notorious pitfalls.
After the short-notice cancellation of the quarter-final against Gladbach and the replay of the game in sometimes questionable conditions, they fear another embarrassment on a big stage in Saarland. If referee Marco Fritz decides on Tuesday that the pitch is not playable, the FCS would also lose home rights for a catch-up game. To play or not to play? The lawn in Saarbrücken will look like a roulette game in the casino in spring 2024.
“Playable lawn” desired
The third division club tried everything to get the pitch going in a timely manner. The league game against Rot-Weiss Essen had been postponed. 4,000 holes have also been punched into the lawn and filled with fine sand so that the moisture is absorbed. The club has had problems with its playing surface for months – and at a bad time. A huge tarpaulin over the lawn was supposed to help over Easter.
Head coach Rüdiger Ziehl is confident and is not concerned with other scenarios. “If things don’t get extreme, the pitch has a playable grass area. Then it will work that we can play. I was surprised that the place was in good condition,” said Ziehl on Easter Monday. He had previously taken a look at the square for himself on Holy Saturday.
In particular, the critical points of the Gladbach game now looked good, as the coach noted. The guests from the Palatinate are also optimistic that it will be possible to play. “A few days off, a tarp over the pitch. Maybe they’ll put a UV light on it too,” said Marlon Ritter. The Lauter professionals know: Completely different clubs have stumbled on this pitch this season: champions FC Bayern, cup finalists Eintracht Frankfurt and Gladbach.
Not only the greenkeepers, but also the police officers will be massively challenged on Tuesday. The fan groups of the two clubs are considered enemies, and additional police forces from Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria have been announced. The aim is to strictly separate the two fan groups. The FCS also announced stricter entry controls than usual.
“I’m completely serious”
And the sport? Almost faded into the background in view of the other topics. Saarbrücken can become the first third division club in 23 years to reach the cup final, which will take place in Berlin on May 25th. “This thing that we can go to Berlin is already in our heads. “You build up a feeling like that and you don’t want to let it go,” said goalkeeper Tim Schreiber. Ziehl said: “It’s extremely special for us.”
The FCK with experienced coach Friedhelm Funkel, who will not use the recently injured striker Ragnar Ache, could reach the final in Berlin for the first time since 2003. “We are really looking forward to Tuesday and will try to surprise there, because we are going to Saarbrücken as underdogs. I’m completely serious,” said the 70-year-old Funkel, justifying this with the Saarlanders’ recent cup successes.
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Saarbrücken’s coach Ziehl dismissed Funkel’s comments as a tactic. “If I had heard this for the first time today, I would have thought it was an April Fool’s joke. You can’t buy anything for the victories over Bayern, Frankfurt and Gladbach. “That has no relevance for tomorrow’s game,” said Ziehl. The opponent in the final on May 25th is the winner of the game between Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen and Fortuna Düsseldorf. The second semi-final will take place on Wednesday (8.45 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the DFB Cup, on ZDF and on Sky).
