The Shape Of Things To Come

In England, there is just the one official curtain raiser to a new football season, the Community Shield. In Germany, they have managed to stretch theirs out to an entire tournament.

The Ligapokal consisted of the top four teams to finish in last season's Bundesliga (Stuttgart, Schalke, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich), the German Cup winners (Nurnberg) and the 2 Bundesliga champions (Karlsruhe). Basically, it's a knock-out tournament, the final of which took place at the Zentralstadion in Leipzig yesterday was between Bayern and Schalke with the Bavarians emerging victorious. And it was new striker Miroslav Klose who scored the winner and his first goal for Bayern since his transfer eariler in the month.

The victory marks the first of what could a great deal of silverware for the club that finished in fourth place last year. Coach Hitzfeld has signed a bevvy of top players to restore Bayern's wounded reputation and wipe the smile off everyone elses face. The absence of any Champions League football will come as an unwilling advantage and Munich supporters will be dissappointed not to win the league and cup double this year. The UEFA Cup should not come as too much of a mid-week distraction.

In case your interested the tournament scores are below and you can see the action here.


Preliminary Round

Saturday 21.07.07 15:30

Schalke 04 - Karlsruhe 1:0

Preliminary Round

Saturday 21.07.07 18:00

Werder - FC Bayern 1:4


Semi-final

Tuesday 24.07.07 20:30

Nürnberg - Schalke 2:4

Semi-final

Wednesday 25.07.07 20:30

Stuttgart - Bayern 0:2


Final

Saturday 28.07.07 18:00

Schalke 04 - FC Bayern 0:1

Luca Do'h-ni

Following a swift knack to the knee, new Bayern striker Luca Toni may miss the start of the season.

There are a many followers of the European game who are still sctraching their heads in confusion about the ex Fiorentina World Cup winner chosing to play for the Munich club over what should have been his pick of teams across Europe. Cynics will say he went for the money. And I would be one of them. Which then leads me to think how much Bayern gave paid for the mighty man's services? The Bundesliga is hardly awash with cash and while Bayern are by far the biggest club in Germany, there must have been other bigger clubs on the continent and in England who fancied him... maybe not.

Anyway, this set back, while far from an ideal start to the season should not prove to much of a trial for the Bavarians who are desperate to reclaim their title following last year's humiliation. After all, there is still Klose and Ribery, amongst others, in their considerable line-up.

A far greater threat to their prospects is the sight of Lothar Matthaus lumbering over the horizon. The former Bayern legend and recently sacked Salzburg coach (who Rudi Voeller once suggested should go and talk to the toilet) has been making come hither glances and provocative statements like "Bayern would be a dream" and "I can easily imagine being head coach." Uli Hoeness beware.

Ailton Is Back

The barrel chested Brazilian Ailton who scored a barrel load of goals for Werder Bremen and helped himself to a Bundesliga winners medal while he was there has returned to the Bundesliga.

After scoring 5468 goals for Werder in the 2003/04 season he buggered off to Schalke and did bugger all. After a brief spell in Switzerland and Turkey he's back in Germany after having signed a one year contract with Duisberg.

"We've caught a whopper" said Duisberg prez Walter Hellmich. Well I know he's a big fella but there's no need to be rude.

In other news, Bayern's goalkeeping leg-end has announced his intention to retire at the end of the season. "I'm 39 next year. It will then be time to put the shorts away. " he said. Well I'm not the tidiest of people but not even I would leave my shorts out for that long. Get a cleaner man!
"After that, I have one or two things planned in Asia." he continued. That doesn't sound really seedy does it?