Talking Fussball

We're still inside, and we're still reading. This week we have the author of one of Germany's most hotly anticipated football books, Der Schlüssel zum Spiel (The Key to the Game).

Yes, in this episode Nik got old pal Tobias Escher of spielverlagerung.com on the line to talk over a few of the issues raised in his book, as well as plenty of fascinating further issues in the tactics-sphere from one of the big brains in the space. A real treat.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we ease into our second month of isolation, what's better than spending time with a good book?

Nik Wildhagen's been spending time with one written by his guest this week, Nils Henrik Smith. He's a novelist and football writer, and his latest book 11 meter - straffesparkets historie is all about the penalty kick.

So put your earbuds in, tune out whatever pressure you're feeling, and just kick it as hard as you can into the corner.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How are you holding up? We just want to check in, send a small signal that we're still here and hear how everyone is doing.

Nik Wildhagen rounds up Terry Duffelen for a chat about Bundesliga finances, the morality of opening up sports in a crisis, and a bit of history - the Chemie Halle fire.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With society in a public health crisis, groups with deep commitments to their communities can make a big difference. Lucky for Germany, its unique football fan culture means there are a LOT of those.

Nik rounds up our pal Felix Tamsut for another chat - this time it's about how Ultras and other fan groups are banding together to do good in this difficult time we're all in. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Bundesliga season on ice, How much trouble is German football (and other kinds of football) in? And what can be done about it?

Nik Wildhagen runs the show this week, recruiting his old TF Extra pals Matt and Terry on to talk about the big four of FC Bayern München, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen reaching out to help smaller clubs, some ominous recent words of Gianni Infantino, innovative fund drives in the lower divisions, and more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the new normal - a world without football for the foreseeable future...plus a looming life-and-death threat hanging over us all. What's not to like?

Matt gets on the line with Nik Wildhagen to talk these strange times over in a fairly strange episode. They talk a lot about the implications of the Bundesliga's sudden break...and somehow get sidetracked before the end. Hope you enjoy, and be well!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Strange times. One week after we zoom in on the DFB's battle with the Bundesliga's most hardcore fans, we learn the league might have to do without all of their fans for a while.

Yes, COVID-19 will come up in this podcast - but so will a Dortmund win guest Marie Schulte-Bockum calls meisterlich, a couple of great goals from USMNT stars, and the idea that German football (and other footballs, for that matter) needs to get a lot more feminine.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The last thing they wanted was to miss another episode, so our the busy guys in our fantastic duo decided to jump the gun, record a podcast earlier than usual and do it just about off the dome.

JT and Flo have recommendations on potential Cologne player picks for Friday night, how wary you need to be of RB Leipzig's squad rotation ahead of a big date in Europe, and much more....

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two teams of highly-paid pros participate in a joint kick-about for the final 15 minutes of Hoffenheim vs Bayern. Several other games disrupted after officials deem chants and banners from ultra fan groups to have crossed the line. Is this all really just about Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp?

On a weekend where results were overshadowed by events off the pitch, Matt speaks with Felix Tamsut, who makes it his business to report on fan culture and sports politics for DW. Wide-ranging discussion ensues.

FT also happens to be a massive 1. FC Köln fan, so there's a lot of effzeh talk, as well as a run through title race and relegation battle implications.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FC Bayern München's usually indestructible Robert Lewandowski has gone and done his knee - who are you going to play up front for the next month (...or more)?

Luckily JT and Flo's Karneval bacchanal has come to a close and they are back to answer that question - and many more!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices