DAS BOOT! – Champions League Final – A Match Made in Germany Football Heaven

The dream is now a reality. Bayern are through. Dortmund are through. That which we have been saying for so many years, dear readers, has become a reality. The Germans have taken the football world by storm and proven their dominance with an all-German Derby date in London on May 25th, 2013 where Bavarian giants FC Bayern Munich take on the pride of the football hotbed that is the Rühr district, Borussia Dortmund. The pundits say, dismissively so, that “The football purists will enjoy this fixture.” Why must you be a “football purist” to enjoy a derby between two of the best clubs in Europe, and two teams who have earned the right to identify themselves as such, is beyond me.

These are two footballing giants of Europe. Their place in this Champions League final, hosted in the heart of London, England, the self-proclaimed Holy Land of Football, is symbollic of the state of the game today. The beloved EPL, plagued by financial woes, tabloid media hounds dogging their players, allegations of racism, adultery and slander running rife while everyone fears the advent of Finacial Fair Play Rules, is enough to make one wonder if this is a sports league or a day-time serial. Will there be characters who die, then come back from the dead to spite their once-spurned lovers as well? “Damn that Laslo!”

And now, in the marquee event of the Football Calendar this year, in the Grand Stage that is London England’s best football stadium, we will be watching a match between… two German Giants. You know, Germany. The land where attendance figures are at 96% of greater capacity year after year. The land where no club is allowed to have a majority owner, by law, due to the 50% +1 rule. The land where teams are not allowed to run up massive deficits in order to compete. The land where full stadiums, cheap tickets and great football are the norm. The land where they groom their own talent in their extensive youth academy system as well as purchasing stellar young players the world over to ply their trade in Germany’s top flight.

This is the same league which was one used it as a stepping stone to the EPL or La Liga. A proving ground, if you will, for players like Vincent Kompany or Rafael van der Vaart to show the world what they had to offer while their agents salivated at the huge contracts and transfer fees being tossed at their respective clubs for the services of their clients. This does still happen, dear readers, but more and more star players, like Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben and Manuel Neuer of Bayern to name a few, are saying more frequently “No, I think I’ll stay in Germany thank you.”

Longtime readers of Your Humble Narrator and “DAS BOOT!” are well aware that we have been singing the same refrain, of praise and adulation for the Bundesliga and it’s governance, which leads to record profits, record attendance, and record performances, for almost five years now, dear readers. And even I, Your Humble Narrator, jumped on the Bandwagon late, as the league was really starting to pick up steam. As much as it may grate the gears of staunch Serie A, EPL and La Liga supporters to stop believing your own hype, to stop and take a moment to admire German football and the way they do business in the Bundesliga and to start taking notes.

For those of you who have not been taking notes, allow Your Humble Narrator to set the stage for what will be the most entertaining and spirited Champions League encounters we have seen in recent memory. Dortmund and Bayern have been rivals for years. It is the age-old German rivalry. North vs. South. East vs. West. Black and Yellow vs Red and White. The rich and successful Golden Child that is FC Bayern, spending liberally and lauded the world around, FC Hollywood faces off against the hard-working and passionate fan base of the Rühr district’s Schwarzgelben, born in the industrial heart-land of Germany’s robust economy.

Though Munich now boast one of the most modern and desirable of stadiums by way of the Allianz Arena, it wasn’t that long ago that Bayern played in Munich’s Olympic Stadium, which was large, drafty, and nowhere near as intimate an environment at the new Allianz Arena is today, with an olympic sized running track separating the fans from the action on the pitch. Dortmund, on the other hand, have had the same stadium for decades with only the name having changed. The beloved Westfalenstadion, named for their geographic region of Westphalia, may be the Signal Iduna Park in title, but in the hearts of BVB fans, it will always be Westfalenstadion, the home of the Yellow Wall; a wooden grandstand that holds 22,000 of the most die-hard football fans you will ever see.

The competition between the clubs is fierce. Bayern have more money. Dortmund has a better reputation in Germany, while Bayern far more popular outside of it. Dortmund has the biggest stadium. Bayern has more trophies. Dortmund have great young talent. Bayern BUY Dortmund’s great young talent. The one talent they couldn’t buy last season was bought by Dortmund; Marco Reus. In retaliation, Bayern have successfully courted Mario Götze away from Dortmund, with Robert Lewandowski and possibly Mats Hummels not that far behind him on their way down south to the Säbener Straße. Dortmund have better fan choreography, but Bayern have the loudest fans. Both teams enjoy phenomenal fan support, at home and on the road, and have a strong tradition of passionate, educated and loyal fans who bleed either red and white or black and gold respectively.

Bayern, having thoroughly trounced Barcelona by an aggregate score of 7-0 can make a rightful claim to the title of the Best Club in European Football as of today, with a stellar array of victories, trophies, new records being set this season, and an endless list of records set historically in thir club’s books. The last team to win a Champions League title out of Germany, however, was Dortmund. Bayern can beat just about any team in the world on any given day, but one team who knows them better than any other and delights in the rivalry between the two clubs…. is Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund eliminated Bayern from the DFB Pokal (or the German Cup, for short) last season. Bayern eliminated Dortmund from the competition this season. Dortmund edged out Bayern in the league last season. Bayern put plenty of distance between the two squads this season. To call this a tale of David and Goliath would be a misnomer, for anyone who perceives Dortmund to be a “David” in the footballing world is showcasing their ignorance. This is a tale of Goliath and Goliath, two German Super powers, one more well-known and celebrated than the other, coming tete-a-tete to settle a score that has been simmering between the two teams for about 24 months now, ever since Dortmund put an end to Bayern’s impressive string of dominance to deny them a Bundesliga title not just once, but two years running.

This match is going to get ugly. There will be cards. Passions will be running VERY high. There will be loud, screaming fans, clad in their team’s colours, singing, dancing and cheering at the top of their impressive lungs, trying desperately to drown out the sound of their opposition. There will be beautiful football from two of the world’s best clubs, featuring the bright young stars from Germany, Poland, Turkey, France, the Netherlands, Brazil and the Ukraine. Germany’s best goalkeeper faces off against it’s most under-rated. The best coach in Europe faces off against the coolest coach in Europe.

There are so many storylines in this final, dear readers, that one simply cannot count them all. One thing is for certain. It will be a great match. It will be a great final. It will be one for the ages and one that any footy fan should thoroughly enjoy. As a loud and proud FC Bayern Munich man, this will be a special final for me, because I fully expect this will be the match where my long-standing suffering of lost finals and semi-finals comes to an end. After three losses in 4 seasons in Champions League Finals, The Bavarians all agree on one thing. This is our year.

RekordMeister
DeutscherMeister
EuropaMeister
Bayern, die Meisterschaft!

Then again, nothing is set in stone, dear readers. There are no guarantees in football, and you never know what can happen out there on the pitch between now and then. Win or lose, however, it will be one hell of a match to watch. Oh, and for those of you who were not already aware of all these things, just a simple reminder.

Bayern and Dortmund play each other in the league this Saturday, in case you want a taste of how much animosity and passion exists between these two teams. With all to play for in a few weeks time, and nothing for either of them to lose in the league, expect a hard-fought and highly physical affair in the Signal Iduna Park with a little blood on the cleats and some harsh words to be shared. If you weren’t a Bundesliga fan until now, dear readers, now is an excellent time to start.

Saturday afternoon. 15:25, local time. I will be watching, with an ice-cold Löwenbräu in hand. Will you?

Götze to Bayern. Bayern 4 – 0 Barcelona. Dortmund 4 – 1 Real – An Unbelievable Week in German Football

To be perfectly truthful, dear readers, when I read the first reports about Bayern acquiring Mario Götze from Borussia Dortmund, I thought they were just more rumours. Then I saw that Sky was reporting it. Then Bild was reporting it. Then the Counter-Attack Footy Blog reported it. And Fox Soccer reported it. I started to realize maybe this wasn’t just a bit of hot air being spouted about Bayern before a big match.

Mario Götze HAS AGREED to the deal. The release clause is as good as paid. This IS the “Young German Talent” that they have been alluding to all year that objective, rational and realistic football fans like Your Humble Narrator would never have believed because it was just too good to be true. Dortmund fans feared this move in the darkest part of their loyal hearts. Bayern fans wouldn’t even dream of it, because the sugar was just too sweet to tease yourself with.

It’s true. Mario Götze is coming to Bayern and was the number one acquisition that Pep Guardiola had on his “Short list” that he shared with Bayern’s brain trust back in the winter. Sure, there are bit pieces they want to add here and there. There was an “If not Götze, then…” list in case negotiations went south. But, much as Manuel Neuer was the long sought after piece acquired what seems so long ago, Dear Readers, Mario Götze becomes the latest in a long line of great talents that Bayern has lured into their stable with the promise of silverware, national team selections and championships galore.

Joygasm.

To be perfectly honest with you, when this news broke I was completely blind-sided. I could not and would not believe it. There was a HUGE Champions League game the next day. Surely, this was some media ploy to throw Bayern off their game before the big match against Barca? To my colleague and staunch BVB Supporter Jon Eden, I commented that this must surely be some foul conspiracy by La Liga to throw a monkey wrench in the German quest for Champions League silver.

Apparently, I was mistaken. To Jon, and all the loyal BVB supporters, I extend my deepest sympathies. As a fan, there is nothing more crushing than to see your favorite player lured away to a rival. We shall still stand beside you and offer our support in the hopes of meeting you in the Champions League final. Even though you pose a bigger threat to us than Real do. there is only honour in defeating a worthy opponents, and Dortmund are one of the best and well-coached squads in the Bundesliga.

Now, Keep in mind, BVB fans, it could be worse. We haven’t stolen Reus, and we haven’t stolen Lewandowski YET. I’m sure we’ll try to steal Hummels back, but don’t think that we don’t remember that he is a Bayern Youth Product! We know who made Mats Hummels a great player. It’s up to him to decide when it’s time to come back to Munich and atone for his impatience, not us. We’re paying top dollar for the man we are buying, and though, yes, it makes us disgustingly good and yes, we don’t really need the player, there WAS a rumour that Toni Kroos would go back the other way to be the #10 for Dortmund. Give him a call!

Also, you’ve got to keep in mind that three years from now, when Pep Guardiola is gone, don’t think we won’t offer to make Jürgen Klopp the richest coach in the history of Club Football, but I think it would be best for all of us if Herr Klopp took a tour at the helm of the German National Squad before he “retired” to Bayern for a few seasons. Bayern are many great things, intelligent and patient being among them. They want the best coach in Germany, but since they know they can’t have him now, they have the most under-rated coach in Europe coaching the squad NOW and the best coach in Europe coaching the squad in July. It’s only a matter of time before Jürgen Klopp becomes the best coach in Europe, and that’s when we will make him ours.

And dn’t think, Dear readers, that after winning a treble, Jupp Heynckes won’t say “I’m not done yet” and go back to Leverkusen or perhaps even be convinced to join Schalke 04, the Royal Blues, because he still has some football left in him. Or, is Jupp Heynckes willing to go over to England to work for Roman Abramovich? Will another Bundesliga squad take him on? Werder Bremen could sure use him!

Or, does Jupp want to stay on with Bayern as a trainer and remain a Bayern man, as so many before him have? You could have no better, dear readers, on a sunny day drilling your prospects on the finer details of the game to ensure they have all the tools required to execute in the big game. Nor could you blame him for plying his trade elsewhere to keep sharp.

So, all that aside, when it finally sunk in that this wasn’t speculation and this was actually going to happen, I was terrified as to what this would do to the team’s chemistry. All week long and in truth, all Champions League campaign long, dear readers, alarmingly frequently, the most die-hard and the most staunch of Bayern fans have come to me in the privacy of FB messaging and brought to me their concerns and their fears regarding the team’s performance.

First, towards Juventus. Then, with regards to Barcelona. My answers have been the same. Have faith, brothers. BELIEVE! Bayern have us. And we have them. They have the best fans, and we have the best team. They will make it happen, and we will cheer. Just believe, brothers. Just believe. After hearing this news, I confess. I lost the faith.

I dreaded the truth of it all when, afraid to check the score as I commuted home. When I got home and turned my TV on, my PVR had gone into “Sleep mode”. I couldn’t see the score. The announcers sounded calm and resigned, but seemed to be speaking about class. The fans didn’t sound overly loud. I was confused, and feared the worst. As the picture on my small TV came into focus and I, without my spectacles nor my contact lenses to aid my myopic vision, thought I saw a 0 – 0 score.

The commentators, however, seemed to be speaking mournfully about Barcelona. Could it be? How much time is left? Is that a four? I put my glasses on. 85th minute.

Bayern 4 – 0 Barcelona.

The goal list came on the screen and I was suddenly uplifted. Thomas Müller scored one early, one late. Gomez and Robben had one each in between. Well imagine that! MAYBE, just MAYBE, this Götze news is the final piece to the German core that will be at the center of FC Bayern next year.

Let’s face it. This team is a who’s who of German Talent with some of the best internationals in the world on the side. Götze, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Müller, Gomez, Kroos, Boateng, Neuer. You have the young and now the “Prime of their career” aged players of the national squad, even with Götze’s name on the list. You have Holger Badstuber injured, not that it even matters the way Dante has played.

You have international lynch pins for their respective countries like Ribéry, Robben, Shaqiri, Pizarro, Javi Martinez, Dante and Luiz Gustavo. All are stand-out talents in their respective national squads. Not only can these players start and make a difference for the squad, but more importantly, they have come to embrace the rotational system and have the dedication to stay focused and fit even when they don’t start on the pitch.

I have seen it at work, dear readers. I know. If you have never had a chance to see Jupp Heynckes in action then you don’t know what a real coach is. Sixty-six years old or so at the time, in the blazing heat of a beautiful Munich day. Diego Contento, David Alaba (then still a sub for FC Bayern), Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Max Riedmüller, Emre Can and some youth team players that I could not recognize.

The drill they were conducting was simple. The starting eleven had long since left the pitch, but the substitutes who wanted time stayed, and there was Meister Jupp, in a white T Shirt with his hands behind his back, eyes narrowed with the sun at his back watching the motions and calling the plays.

“scheiss, Scheiss. SCHEISS! DAS IST SCHEISSE PASSE!” he exclaimed, speaking to the shadows of the constantly churning drill. The drill was a simple, triangle of cones of players making a run and first touch pass to the next in the cycle, passing the ball in a “triangle” of ever churning prospective starters. Alaba and Tymoshchuk both have 100% to every pass they approached.

The efficiency of the passing improved, as Meister Jupp’s disapproval instigated an immediate increase in attention to the execution of the drill rather than trying to impress the coach or the fans. He didn’t speak, he just nodded, before saying “Gut. Gut. Gut.”

This is what makes Jupp Heynckes the most under-rated coach in Europe. This is why Bayer Leverkusen were one of the most dangerous teams in the Bundesliga until he came to FC Bayern. This is why Bayern are the beast they are now. The devil is in the details. And Jupp Heynckes is a man who makes sure his players pay attention to the details. The ones who don’t don’t play. The players are accountable for their execution of the fundamentals of the game.

And if you look empirically at the CHANGES in the style of play of all the players on FC Bayern, you will notice FUNDAMENTAL improvements on known flaws of various players that show a masterful ability by Heynckes to convince nefariously difficult and stubborn players to adapt to an unselfish system of play that leads to success.

In NO PLAYER is this more evident than in Arjen Robben. Rewind to about a year or so ago, Dear Readers. Bayern and Dortmund are duking it out in the DFB Pokal. Arjen Robben is set to take an all important penalty. He kicks, predictably, low and to the keeper’s left. Weidenfeller saves. Bayern lose. Robben holds his head dejected.

Fast forward. Arjen Robben, rather than asking for a ball in the area, makes an incising run and finds a ball at his feet from the numerous providers on the team. Robben, using his astonishing acceleration, charges forward and creates a margin of space. He lines up his foot. Arjen Robben, PASSES THE BALL square, across the face of goal.

Say what?

Arjen Robben PASSES THE BALL, places a ball square into the box and Bayern score.

As a die-hard Bayern fan with the utmost respect for Arjen Robben, this would not happen as frequently as it does now 12 months ago.

Somewhere along the line, Jupp Heynckes has managed to convince Arjen Robben that unselfish, team play in the only way to find success and be at his best when he plays. The difference in Robben’s performances have been huge as a result. You do not need to read this in headlines, dear readers. Watch the game. Robben has absorbed more of the Franck Ribéry / Mirsolav Klose approach to attacking football.

From a tactical level, it’s quite simple dear readers. If the opposition KNOWS you are going to shoot, or KNOWS you are going to pass, then they can make an educated guess as to your movements and in guessing right negate your attack.

Football is chess on grass. If you are predictable, you will lose to the best.

You must be fit, but you must be sharp, but most importantly, you must be sharp. Bayern have accumulated some VERY crafty players. Heynckes is a crafty coach. He’s no fool, and he makes sure his players have the tools necessary to execute against any approach, any style of play.

When Arjen Robben, a known sniper, passes the ball, he turns a possible goal for himself into an almost guaranteed goal for his teammate. When he masters this craft, he creates an indefensible weapon out of himself. With his speed and his acceleration, if he can deliver cutting balls across the face of goal, he can be one of the best chance-creators in world football, and along with many of his colleagues, he has done just that.

Even if, in these scenarios, that teammate misses that goal, his 80% chance is better than your 45% chance, and you have to play the numbers if you want to beat the best teams. Not only that, but the passing game establishes a faith and belief in the rest of your team to play for one another and make the most of their opportunities. The more you share the glory, the more glory their is to share. In making this simple change, not only does Robben become a much more dangerous player, but he becomes a better teammate, and everyone at Bayern becomes more dangerous in front of goal. And Bayern become Champions.

Robben is not the only play to thrive under Heynckes. The development of David Alaba has been a revelation for Bayern. On a symbolic level, the partnership between Alaba and Ribéry is the perfect symbol for the beauty of football culture in the 21st century as compared to our Global society. One is a Muslim, one is a Christian. One is black, one is white. One is French, one is Austrian. One is handsome, the other marred by injury. One is an established star, the other is a young up and comer with a briiliant career still in it’s infancy.

Two players, so very different, but two players, so very the same. Both men of faith with strong motivation. Both players who love the game and want to establish themselves as dominant players in it. Both creative and fit, blessed with vision, footwork and pace. Equal opposites perhaps, but two players who found a perfect kinship that has helped them both play with a poise, confidence and synergy that makes them half of the most dangerous wings in European club football.

Arjen Robben and Philip Lahm man the other flank, with Xherdan Shaqiri, the left-footed tank who could put Gerd Müller to shame with his balance, ready to sub in on either side OR in the middle. With Toni Kroos injured, you only have to worry about Thomas Müller behind the striker, running into every channel he can find to knock in balls with either foot, or his head, to the man or the the net, from any part of the penalty area.

With Thomas that much closer to goal, the chances of him scoring and creating goals greatly increases. Thomas Müller is a kid in a candy store behind the striker. Kroos’ injury becomes a blessing in that respect, as it becomes his default position on the squad on match day for the big game. With Ribéry and Robben on either flank, Schweini behind you and Lahm and Alaba on your flanks, you have little to worry about regarding service in the middle.

In the Barca game, Müller found the form he had in the World Cup campaign, where he was denied the match against Spain, mulitplied by the co-efficient of all the football knowledge, experience, and practice he has put in since then. Showcasing both passing and scoring from headers, volleys and strikes, Müller has shown anyone who understands football that he understands the game as well as any player out there, Lovely Lionel included.

You can’t say this is a changing of the guard, because there is a mass of soccer knowledge behind Bayern right now as nearly every player in the squad understands the game intimately, but there is a desire to prove to the world that they will not be defeated. The performance at the Allianz sent a message. The performance at the Camp Nou will be the exclamation mark.

Much like the match against Argentina wherein the Germans dominated and won 4 – 1, FC Bayern isolated Lionel Messi, took him off of his game and never gave him the time of day. In short, tehy played the Borussia Dortmund style of football on Lionel Messi, and they broke him. Now then, Dear Readers, let’s take a look at the OTHER score in the Champions League tie.

OH HO! Look at that. Sie Germans win again. This time Borussia Dortmund, with the return of the prodigal son, Nuri Sahin, take on Real Madrid and educate them to the tune of 4 – 1. The only goal was conceded by Mats Hummels, who may be bothered by the fact that he is plagued with the desire to return to Die Bayern, whom he left when not given opportunity to start behind players such as Brazil’s Lucio and Martin Demichellis, now of Malaga.

The dream final for all German Football fans is one step closer to becoming a reality. The most telling sign of today’s match between Klopp and Mourinho’s side was how Jose Mourinho, the self-appointed “Chosen One” walked away in shame from the man who will one day head the German National Team after a thorough rout at the Westfalenstadion.

To all the non-believers, it’s about time you caught on to the reality. The Bundesliga is one of the most exciting leagues in the world, with the best stadiums, the best players, the best clubs and the best fans. Watching anything other than German footy is just doing a disservice to yourself. Sure, I pay attention to the scores in the other leagues, but nothing beats the Bundesliga.

The Champions League results are the PROOF that there is nothing better than German Football. And what most people just FAIL to understand is that Leverkusen, Freiburg, Schalke and Hannover can all frustrate and shut down both of these teams on any given weekend in the Bundesliga. And yet, every weekend, between matches on GOLTV, I watch replays of a drudgerous Norwich vs Everton match that pales in comparison to Frankfurt vs. Mainz. Or Nürnberg vs Augsburg in the Bavarian derby.

You see, Dear Readers, what makes the Bundesliga beautiful is that, even though we have the most passionate, storied and legendary rivalries in our league, we also have a strong culture of respect. Many fans who have grown tired of the racism or violence in their own football cultures seem to have been drawn to the economical and fan-friendly approach the Bundesliga has adopted.

Great teams, great fans, great service and affordability which leads to packed houses in top-notch stadiums to create record revenues and develop top notch talent in an extensive youth system that, thanks to the contributions of Jürgen Klinsmann in what seems to be so long ago, secured the future of German Football for ages to come.

And whether Bayern or Dortmund win at Wembley in the Champions League Final, the great victory comes in knowing that the message we have been sending in this blog for the past 3 or 4 years, dear readers, is finally being broadcast to the world. The Germans know how to play football better than anyone else in the world. And when the Champions League final comes around, dear readers, regardless of which one of us wins, the bottom line will be that the Germans did it better than anyone else did. All season long.

Ein Leben Lange
Rot und Weis?
Schwarz und Gelb?

One way or the other, we’ve shown the world that we are the best football system in Europe. It’s about time the rest of you woke up and smelled the coffee and showed a little respect for “that other league” that you all seem to be too stubborn to pay attention to. You just might find out it’s a lot more exciting that the football you’re used to. And even though Dortmund fans might feel hard done by with the latest news, you really never know who you;’re going to buy with all that money you’re going to get, now do you?

You have the coolest coach in the world. Remember that. It serves you well, for now.

Though I can understand, Dear Readers, that to claim that one league is better than another is a fool’s debate, as there are so many variables and discrepancies of taste you cannot definitely make such claims or exaggerations without expectation of disagreement and discord. However, you must admit that the performance of Dortmund and Bayern in the past 5 years or so have made the European Football Culture take a good, long look at Germany and say “They really are on to something over there, now aren’t they.”

Their reach has come far enough to have captured the heart of Your Humble Narrator, all the way over in Canada. Surely, they are close to proving to the world that they are a force to be reckoned with rather than just a passing fad. Welcome to the future. Welcome to German Football.

FC Bayern win Bundesliga Championsip – One down, Four to Go

In a goal perfectly fitting to his role on the team, Bastian Schweinsteiger knocked in an Arjen Robben low cross with what appeared to be an effortless backheel, beating Frankfurt goalkeeper Oka Nikolov and putting Bayern ahead 1 – 0. The goal scored by “The Boss”, Bastian Schwensteiger not only sealed a Bayern victory in a hotly contested match at the Commerzbank arena, but it cemented FC Bayern’s place as the German Champions this season with an astounding 6 matches left to play. Chalk up yet another Bundesliga record for Die Bayern, who nearly sealed their place as champions last weekend, but for Dortmund’s narrow victory at Stuttgart.

Normally, a 1 – 0 victory, even on the road, would be considered something of a disappointment for FC Bayern München this season, since the team has become accustomed to scorelines that even hockey fans would envy this season. They have been winning games to the tune of 8 – 0, 9 – 2 and other scores that are simply mind-boggling to even the best of Europe’s football sides.

What makes this feat even more astounding is that, contrary to continental opinions which often originate in the United Kingdom, FC Bayern are not beating poor sides who are without talent. They are simply playing with a boatload of confidence, a great amount of discipline, and with a degree of football IQ that can rival even the great Barcelona dynasty of our day. This team adapt so quickly to an opponent’s defenses, probing and prodding at their opposition like a cat bats at a mouse before it decides the best time and way to pounce on it.

And when they pounce, they pounce long, hard, and repeatedly, as the Bundesliga’s most prolific non-German goal-getter Claudio Pizarro showed last weekend with his 4 goal performance against Hamburg. Pizarro not only scored four goals, but scored one with a clever backheel similar to Schweinsteiger’s goal today against Frankfurt. He created another with a similar backheel assist to Dutch dynamo Arjen Robben, who was happy to repay the favour, having been the provider for Pizarro’s own backheel goal.

The tiny details of these goals and the play that built up to them truly show the growth and maturity that have taken place at FC Bayern over the last 18 months under Jupp Heynckes. When he first arrived at FC Bayern, Arjen Robben was a “Shoot first” player, who likely would not have made the passes that led to both Pizarro and Schweinsteiger’s goals. He may have SEEN them, but he would have opted to, selfishly, try to hog the glory for himself by taking a low percentage shot rather than making the pass for a high-percentage chance for a teammate.

It is in adopting an unselfish, team-oriented approach that Bayern have found success this season. This was evident today when Bayern were awarded a penalty kick, and the kick taker was not striker Mario Gomez, nor Arjen Robben or Thomas Müller. It was the young David Alaba, Austrian international, devout Christian and one of the hardest-working players on the squad, who was allowed to approach the spot and challenge Nikolov. Though he rattled his spot kick off the post, it did not deter his squad from playing hard for the victory.

The last time I was at the Säbener Straße, taking in an FC Bayern training session which had been opened to the public, coach Jupp Heynckes would diligently watch over even the simplest of passing drills amongst his substitute squad. Players like David Alaba, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Diego Contento would listen intently to his instruction as they repeated the same, basic drills over and over and over until their execution was flawless.

Do not let Heynckes’ old man grin fool you, dear readers. This team has excelled because Heynckes is completely unforgiving on the training ground. The smile you see on the TV camera is not there on the training ground. There is only the glare of the REAL boss of this team, as he scrutinizes every aspect of every player’s game, demanding 100% effort and 100% execution from all his charges.

It is no surprise to me that David Alaba is the success that he is now, because two years ago, when no one knew who Alaba was save the Bavarian faithful and a starting spot on the team was a distant dream rather than a virtual guarantee, when Heynckes asked for 100%, Alaba gave 105%. When 105% was not enough, he gave 110%. And when all was said and done, and though dripping with sweat and exhausted in the August heat, Alaba would spend 20 – 25 minutes signing autographs for every and any fan who wanted one before hitting the showers and taking a well earned rest.

How is this important to success, you might ask dear readers? This is what it takes to be a champion, my friends. Championships are not bought, they are earned. The are earned by the hard work and dedication of people like David Alaba, who had a dream of making a star-laden FC Bayern squad that, on paper, had no place for him. He made a place for himself by giving 100% on the training ground every day for years until finally, the coaching staff could no longer deny him the spot in the starting eleven that he earned with hard work, discipline, and faith in his abilities.

Along with all these things, there was a quiet humility about Alaba. He is a genuinely happy young man, but above all else, he is completely appreciative of the opportunity he has been given. That appreciation is evident at the genuine flattery you see in his face when Bayern fans would call his name, and he would smile shyly and walk over to the line of adoring fans with a Sharpie, signing autograph after autograph with an ear-to-ear grin, thanking each and every fan for the honour of asking him to sign his name on their Bayern shirts, hats and jackets.

Behind all this was Jupp Heynckes himself, at 60+ years of age, out in the August heat, sweating it out with his substitutes, his hands behind his back, watching intently to ensure that each and every one of his “Second choices” was ready, willing and able to step into the team at a moment’s notice and make a difference in a close match. He COULD have left this up to an assistant, but that is not the Jupp Heynckes way. Heynckes knows that the successes or failures of his team are his responsibility, as all great leaders do.

Heynckes understands, above all, the winning mentality. To summarize this mentality in two simple words, I would list it as keine Ausreden; no excuses. This Bayern team offers no excuses for their losses or their poor performances. They don’t take days off. They don’t point fingers and play the blame game. They play for one another, and they play hard. The success of one is the success of all. Arjen Robben, once a notoriously selfish player, has now become a great provider of assists as well as scorer of goals.

Thomas Müller, Tony Kroos, Franck Ribéry, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luiz Gustavo, Javi Martinez, Philip Lahm, David Alaba, Arjen Robben, Mario Mandzukic, Claudio Pizarro, Xherdan Shaqiri all world class players who would easily start on any football club in the world, all take their turns on the substitute’s bench without complaint as Heynckes rotates his squad so everyone has a chance to play. In the past two seasons, Bayern has been a collection of superstars, an embarrassment of riches that would make any football club jealous.

This season, they became a team. A whole which is greater than the sum of it’s parts. A unified squad of individuals who all come together, accepting whatever role they are asked to, playing for each other rather than for themselves. Playing with confidence, discipline and faith in one another’s abilities. It is for that reason that this team has found success, and much of that success is attributable to the man many forget when Pep Guardiola’s name was associated with FC Bayern back around Christmas time.

That man is Jupp Heynckes. Take a bow, Herr Heynckes, but as I am certain he would be the first to say, the road is far from over. There is plenty of work left to do. We have one trophy won, this is true. But there are many more games left to be played. There are 6 Bundesliga matches to worry about. There is the DFB Pokal, another trophy who Bayern would like to etch their name on. (And it is, in my opinion dear readers, the most handsome and awe-inspiring trophy not just in football, but in all of sport.) Then, there is the coveted Champions League.

If successful in the Champions League, then there is a trophy to be won between the Champions League winner and the Europa league winner. And let us not forget the Audi Cup, where Bayern sponsors Audi get the world’s best teams together to play in a short tourney before the leagues begin, with a brand new Audi for the entire club and their staff the prize for the victors. Today is a great day for Bayern fans, but the journey is not over yet, fellow Bavarians.

One down. Four to go.

It is in keeping one eye on the future that Bayern have found this success. It is in never accepting second place as an accomplishment that Bayern have become one of the most respected football clubs and feared opponents in the world. As the fan song states, “FC Bayern, forever number one. We’re much better than the rest.” We do not make that claim idly. In order to be better than the rest, we must continue to work hard, for one another, to succeed not only today, but tomorrow as well.

That is what it is to be a true Bayern fan.

Mia San Mia We are who we are
Mia San Meister We are Champions
FC Bayern München FC Bayern Munich
Jetzt und immer Rekordmeister Now and Always Record Champions

Immer die beste Always the best
Immer Meister Always champions
Immer mein Verein Always my club
Keine Ausreden No excuses

Mid Week Footy Picks for the Gamblers

Well, dear readers, though some may view it as a vice, there are some among us who enjoy the odd wager on our footy as it makes the games a bit more exciting to watch.

I have been known to make (recreational) wagers on footy, and I must admit, it makes the act of watching the game a far more engaging experience, even though the wagers I make are so small most regular gamblers would ridicule me for making them at all.

That being said, for those of you who love to chase the “Big Money” win, February is the BEST time to wager on soccer for various reasons. First off, there is a TONNE of footy going on with Europa League and Champions League knock out stages, the thick of the chase for titles in domestic leagues and most League Cups nearing the quarter final stages as well.

The other reason is that many books are so pre-occupied with scouting March Madness teams in preparation for the glut of brackets the North American public bombards them with and you have a recipe for weak lines and/or trick lines looking to fool the unsuspecting gambler into reckless plays, but which can be an absolute gold mine for the sharp bettor.

Rather than get into drawn out arguments and dissertations on the nature of my picks, I prefer the machine gun approach. I hope you all made yourselves a bit of money on the Bayern victory today, and if so, why not re-invest your winnings in some Europa league plays before we rake in some more dollars on the weekend footy?

Here they are, dear readers!

Wednesday Champions league

Galatasaray +115. #Drogba to score is a prop worth sprinkling if you like that kinda thing.

Thursday Europa league plays

#FCBasel +390 HIGHWAY ROBBERY at that price.

#Tottenham +205 Lyon used to be good but not a good as this price makes them out to be. Easy money here. Parlay pick as well.

#Zenit over Liverpol +390. Price too good not to take. Hedge with the draw if you like. #hulk to score prop worth a look Hulk is a stud.

#Ajax over Steau Bucharesti +145. Easy money again. Ajax outclass this team. Over 2.5 worth a sprinkle / parlay with the win.

Ghett0s big money Parlay 3 gamer. #Zenit #FCBasel and Tottenham hotspur all to win Combined Odds are +7223! MUST SPRINKLE!

As for my LEANS, which is Greek for “More bets I would make if I was a raw degenerate gambler, but I am not so I’ll just suggest them to those of you who are”

Cluj / Inter over 2.5
Rubin Kazan / Atletico Madrid draw
Stuttgart to beat Genk AND the over 2.5
Gladach / Lazio Over 2.5
Metalist kharkiv -125 at home (METAL! \m/)
Benfica / Leverkusen over 2.5,
Napoli to win +185
Bate Borisov +500
Hannover / Makhachkala over 2.5
AND
Olympiakos / Levante under 2.5.

Good luck to all and may the winners be yours!

For all of my footy picks, Follow me on twitter @OGGhett0 as you can find over here —>

(I’m trying to embed my tweets to the website, but apparently, I don’t know how to turn to scripts on properly because I fail at wordpress.)

EDIT:

OK, so I got daring and played a few more parlays.

Borisov + Galatasaray Combined Odds +1190
Hannover and Amsterdam Combined Odds +415

More to be played when my book finally opens their Over/Under lines on the Europa league play.

LAY IT DOWN AND WIN! And remember, if you lose, the picks were free, and I don’t solicit you for a cut when the tickets cash! Good Luck and enjoy responsibly everyone!

Thank you for reading! We Break 10,000 posts!

Dear readers, we have reached a milestone as our most recent evolution of this publication has topped the 10,000 hit mark. Though I’m sure a few of those hits came from me as I proof-read and edited our work, I am humbled and deeply appreciative of all of you who have dedicated your time to be a part of our readership and our community.

I hope the coming years will see us breach even more milestones, with the next big target being 15,000, then 20,000 and the lofty 25,000 hit mark. Thank you all once again, and come back soon for more articles on the Bundesliga, football, life in general and anything and everything that we think will enrich your day by entertaining, making you think, or simply making you smile. (Or, from time to time, rousing your passions and encouraging a spirited debate.)

Thanks again, dear readers! I appreciate and adore each and every one of you.

Sincerely,

Paul D. Homuth

AKA Your Humble Narrator

Bell “Let’s Talk” Day 02/12/13 – Let’s Break the Ice – My Story

Dear readers,

I have been wondering how to commemorate our 200th post here on “DAS BOOT!”

When I realized that today was Bell’s “Let’s Talk” day, a day about mental illness awareness and in support of the de-stigmatization of mental illnesses and those who suffer from them, I realized how to best celebrate the success of “DAS BOOT!” Truth be told, dear readers, this publication and all of you are a large part of my solution to my own struggles with depression.

I hope you all bring an open mind to the following article. It is probably the most difficult article I have ever written, but in order for us to truly excel in life, we must cast off our fears and face the world, no matter how daunting a task that may be.

After hearing a friend share their experience with mental illness, I have been inspired to do the same. As many of you know, today is Bell’s “let’s talk” day to help raise awareness about mental illness and de-stigmatize the concept of mental illness. Statistics in Canada show that 1 in every 5 people in this country will suffer from mental illness this year. I can almost assure you that I will be one of these people.

Though it is not as crippling or as daunting as some other mental illnesses, I have suffered from depression my entire life. Some people may say “Well, everyone gets depressed.” I often tell myself this because I am afraid of losing myself to depression once again. I couldn’t possible tell you how many times I have suffered from depression nor explain all the things it has cost me. Friendships. Relationships. Career Opportunities. Jobs. A scholarship. My Post-Secondary education. The “perfect life” that so many people expected I would have.

I share this not to make a big deal out of my pain or to try to garner sympathy (for there is nothing that terrifies me more than people knowing how weak and vulnerable depression makes me, and there is nothing that saddens and upsets me more than to be the object of pity). I share this because so many people look at me and simply could not believe that I would be depressed, nor could they understand what I would be depressed for.

The first time I remember being depressed I was in kindergarten. (Yes, kindergarten. I was 4, maybe 5 years old.) I didn’t know what was happening to me or why. In truth, I never really thought about it until later on in life when I looked back on it. I just remember waking up one day and not wanting to get out of bed. I didn’t want to eat. I didn’t want to see my friends. I didn’t want to go to school (and for a bright and eager student like myself, this was most definitely not the Paul that everyone knew and loved.) I simply wanted to hide under my blankets and wish the world would just go away. My mother, uncertain what to do with me, brought me to school where I threw a tantrum, crying and begging her to just bring me home, insisting I was sick and I couldn’t go to school. I remember being in the hallway of St. Anthony’s Elementary, terrified of going into the kindergarten class to face my classmates.

This might seem like just a child throwing a tantrum but this was the beginning of a cycle of depression that would repeat itself time and time again for years to come.

To try to illustrate how depression affected me, allow me to paint a picture of “Little Paul”, since many of you never knew this person and you would never believe it was me if you did.

When I was not depressed I was thoughtful, polite, and friendly in a very shy and bashful kind of way. I was quiet. (Yes, you read that correctly. I was quiet.) I was eager to learn, loved to help others and I tried my best to be kind to everyone and anyone, especially those who seemed sad or unhappy. The world seemed to embrace me for some reason and I embraced the world in return. I loved to learn about anything and anything. I was generous and helpful. I made a point to make friends with the people who had no friends because my tiny little heart couldn’t stand the idea of seeing anyone be sad.

I was an excellent student and scholastic success in particular seemed to come easily to me. I could read at high school level in Grade 3 and had remarkably insightful opinions on subjects that other children had little interest in, let alone understood. All this led me to be included in the “Program for gifted learners” where even there I shined, though not as widely and vastly as I did in my normal class. Hearing all that, how could a kid like that suffer from depression? Surely, he had “A perfect life” ahead of him, did he not? I could do anything I put my mind to. Anything, that is, but understand how to escape the pitfall of my own depression.

The next, most severe bout of depression I can recall happened in Grade 4. I played sick from school for nearly a month, I would only go to school once a week when I was due to go to the “program for gifted learners” because I thought I could pretend I was someone different there. I thought maybe they might not notice my secret. They were a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance to be the someone I was when I was not depressed. I thought maybe they wouldn’t know my secret. Maybe they felt like I did. Maybe there things would be different. Maybe…..

As for my parents, at first I said I had a stomach ache. I would say I had a fever. I even hid behind the chair in the living room one day after pretending to leave for school because I was terrified that no one at school liked me and I couldn’t face them. My father, though disappointed to discover me at home around 10 AM, found his son in tears insisting that I needed to stay home for just one more day because …. I didn’t know why. I was out of excuses. I just couldn’t go to school.

Think about that for a second. A kid with a 12th grade reading level. In the program for gifted learners. Who loved to learn and soaked up information like a sponge. A child who all the teachers said “Could do whatever he wanted with his life because there’s nothing he can’t figure out.” A child who loved to learn… terrified to go to school.

One thing that many people fail to recognize about depression is that, even in a child, the mind can play some very cruel tricks on itself. Being depressed is like falling through a hole in the ice and finding yourself trapped in a frozen lake. You look up and you can see and hear everything that you know is up there in the world above you, but you just don’t feel like you’re a part of it. It’s so close to you that its maddening, knowing just feet away there is this wonderful world full of sunshine and happiness that you want to be a part of, but you just can’t break through the ice and break free. You feel like you don’t deserve to be a part of it. You panic, trying desperately to find a way out but there is a barrier there between you and them and you just can’t seem to find the strength to break through and return to the life you had before.

Most of my classmates thought I was a sweet, kind and caring boy. I was shy and I was smart. I was not despised by any stretch of the imagination. Quite the contrary, most people tended to look rather fondly on me…. when I wasn’t depressed, that is. Then, it’s not that they stopped liking me. They could just tell that there was something wrong. Something that they just couldn’t help and couldn’t fix, even though they tried as best they could.

People who knew the “not depressed” Paul could see the difference in my personality, and it was stark. You know all those wonderful things about that boy? The kindness, the smile, the desire to make others happy. Put them all on mute. Take them all away. All you’re left with is a quiet little boy who wouldn’t say anything to anyone. Take that smile away and you have a completely different person. He’d just sit there and stare, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. My answers to questions would be one or two words. People would try to be nice to me and cheer me up, but I would rarely respond. I would politely say “Thanks,” or “That’s ok,” If I wasn’t such a good student, a fresh pair of eyes would probably think I had a learning disability.

But, I was still smart, right? I still tested well on all the tests. I still learned quickly, I was still a good student. So there was nothing wrong with me, right?

Right?

With time, it would go away as it always does. Someone or some thing would make me smile. My parents or grandparents would buy me a gift. I’d get a book from the library or a magazine in the mail or we’d rent a new Nintendo game. I’d find some new project, some new escape to lose myself in until the fear and the sense of distance would fade away and I would be ready to be a part of the world again.

But it always came back, eventually.

This cycle of depression, this balance of extremes, has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. In my case, I am fortunate. I have never been medicated for my depression, though the suggestion has been made on more than one occasion. I have adapted various “Solutions” to my problem, some of which helped and some of which didn’t.

Some of my “Solutions” included drugs, alcohol, anger, aggressive behaviour, destructive behaviour, and thoughts of suicide and self-destruction. I’m sure you can all imagine exactly how effective these “Solutions” have been. To a fault, almost all of them have led me nowhere. I have come to learn that these things are simply anchors for me to throw over the side of the ship that is my life in an attempt to weather the storm. I may think that they will give me stability, but ultimately, all they do is prevent me from moving forward.

Knowing that the depression I suffer is mild relative to that which many people suffer, I almost feel guilty making this confession for I know that my “Suffering” is an absolute blessing compared to the suffering of some people I know. I am fortunate, however, to be brave enough to admit my faults to the world and be willing to accept the consequences of that confession and the change in how some people will view me.

There will be those who admire my courage. There will be some who resent it. They will laugh and call me names. They will accuse me of self-pity or say I am a cry baby. Luckily, I have learned to accept these facts of life and deal with them the best way I am able.

As for my depression, it comes and it goes like rain follows the sun. There are days when I still wish to bury my head under my blankets. There are days where I am still that scared little boy, convinced the world hates me and does not want me to be a part of it. There are days when I find myself trapped under the ice. Sometimes I break the ice. Some days I do not. I’ve come to realize I can’t make the weather, but I can dress for the occasion.

My personal solution for my depression I have boiled down into a simple motto.

“Socialize and Exercise”.

These are the two most difficult things for me to do when I’m depressed, but they are the two things which have worked for me, time after time, in the many years I have suffered from depression. They are largely positive and simple things to do, and they have little to no negative impact on the world around me. If I don’t want to deal with people, then I go for a run, a bike ride or do push ups and squats until my mind can no longer run in circles and must focus on the strain I have placed my body under instead. If I can’t find the motivation to exercise, I try to find someone to talk to. Often, the best solution comes when I do both. I go for a power walk and say hi to a stranger. I kick the soccer ball around the park near my house and a neighbor comes by to say hello. It doesn’t always work right away, and it doesn’t always work as I’d like it to, but it’s a start.

I am fortunate however, because I surround myself with people who help break the ice for me. Most of them don’t even know it when it happens. I have learned thousands of different ways to “snap out” of my bouts of depression, to crack that ice and give me a chance to return to the world that I know and love.

You’d be surprised how little it takes to help make that a reality. Sometimes, it’s a phone call or an email from a friend, wondering how I’m doing, wondering what I’ve been up to. Sometimes, it’s my grandmother inviting me out to lunch. Sometimes, it’s just a friend looking to see how I’ve been.

Sometimes it’s someone I’ve only ever met on the internet asking me “Hey man, when’s the next DAS BOOT coming out?” or “Yo Paul, did you see the Bayern match this weekend?” “Hey dude, when are you going to make another Youtube Video?”

Or maybe it’s an old high school friend who says “Hey man! Long time no see! Remember that time you licked the floor in my math class to sell tickets to the play? Man, that was hilarious.”

You see, I have come to see that I don’t need drugs to be happy. I don’t need to be angry. I don’t need to get drunk or to hurt myself or anyone else to escape my depression. I just need to find a reason to smile.

That’s it. That’s all it takes. When I find that smile, I’ve learned to hold on to it and to use that to break through the ice and return to the world full of people that I know and love.

Even with all that knowledge, all the years of dealing with depression and the many tricks I’ve learned to help myself, sometimes, I’m still afraid. I’m afraid to press post on this diatribe of mine for fear of what people might think. I’m afraid they’ll take it the wrong way. I’m afraid they’ll never look at me the same way again. I am afraid, but one must be afraid before they can be brave. For what is courage if it is not a willingness to act despite fear?

Just as other people have become a part of my solution, I have learned that I can be a part of other people’s solutions. I too can help other people break their ice, just as they have helped break mine. Because even though, on some days, I am still that scared little boy hiding behind a chair in his living room, crying his eyes out because he’s terrified that the world doesn’t want me in it, there are other days where I’m the sweet little boy with bright eyes and a brighter smile who just wants to help other people be happy.

I can’t promise you who I’m going to be tomorrow. As much as I would love to say I will never fall through a hole in the ice again, I know all too well that I will. I can promise you this, though. If you ever find YOURSELF trapped under ice. If you ever find yourself afraid that the world is against you. If you ever feel lonely and afraid and apart from the world that you so desperately wish you could be a part of.

Let’s talk. Come find me. I’m on Facebook. I’m on Twitter. I have email and I’m ALWAYS near a computer or on the internet. I won’t judge you. I won’t tell anyone. I’ll be here to listen. I’ll be here to help. And even if I’m trapped under the ice myself at the time, then we’ll break through it together.

Thank you for reading. If you got this far, you deserve a high five. I hope you took something positive away from this, and please understand I don’t write this for me. I write this for the hundreds of people I know who find themselves trapped under ice just like I do and are terrified of what people will think of them if they admit to it.

It’s time for that attitude to change. It’s time for the stigma against Depression and other mental illnesses to end. Let’s talk about it. Let’s break the ice.

Paul

PS I’m sorry that I’m 5 minutes late, but that scared little boy showed up and almost erased this post rather than sharing it. Thankfully, due to the courage of a friend of mine, I realized that if he can share his story, then I can share mine.

Dante’s impact on Bayern more than just strong defending

As dedicated readers may recall, we mentioned not so long ago in one of our many articles that Javi Martinez’s impact on FC Bayern was profound before he ever stepped onto the pitch. In short, the increased competition in the midfield made players like Luiz Gustavo elevate the quality of their game in order to earn his time on the pitch. It also sent the message to the squad that Bayern are not shy about spending buckets of money to bring in players they know can help the team.

In similar fashion, today we will discuss how the acquisition of Brazilian defender Dante has had an impact on the squad that goes beyond simply stabilizing a central defense which had shown moments of uncertainty prior to his arrival. First off, let’s start with some of the facts. Prior to the Match Day 21 action, Dante had been credited with a successful pass completion rate of 96% of a total 1270 passes, good for top spot in the league.

Interesting to note was the fact that most of the others who were close to his own success rate were his Bayern teammates, namely fellow Brazilian Luiz Gustavo. The main difference was, Dante had attempted roughly three times as many passes as his compatriot. As a litmus test of this astounding number, I decide to track all of Dante’s passes in the recent fixture against Schalke to see how long it took him to put one wrong. It was not until the 75th minute, with the game well won and done at a score of 4 – 0, that Dante made an optimistic long pass up the middle of the park looking to spring David Alaba free so he could try to turn his brace into a hat trick. The pass was headed down by a Schalke midfielder. One can easily forgive this misplaced pass as the fruits of being a good teammate rather than a poor passing play.

Surely, coach Jupp Heynckes must adore this statistic, as I saw with my own eyes his relentless pursuit of perfection in the fundamentals of the game, with passing being the most basic of said skills. Indeed, as the (poor) video taken below shows, Heynckes is quick to point out to his players when their passing requires improvement and demand that they do better. (Feel free to peruse my Youtube channel for plenty of footage taken of Bayern’s training facility a summer ago.) It is this infallible standard to which he holds his players that has helped make Bayern the dominant force in the Bundesliga that they are today.

Stellar passing aside, Dante also provides a cool head and calm demeanor in front of goal. There is little panic in his game, simply the confidence of a man who knows his role and knows he can execute it well from minute to minute through-out the game. A stark contrast to the sometimes panicky and uncertain moments displayed in front of Manuel Neuer that prompted the acquisition of Dante from Borussia Mönchengladbach in the first place. As even the most novice footballer can tell you, panic in your own penalty area is contagious, and will often lead to goals conceded, panicky clearances, and an inability to retain possession once the ball is won.

In that respect, Dante has been a God-send for this team, helping calm the nerves of youngsters like Boateng and Badstuber and remind them to take their time and make the right play. A development which I am certain Jupp Heynckes and co. wholeheartedly agreed with and believed in, but it is often easier to hear these things from your colleagues than it is to hear them from the boss. His ability to help give his fellow defenders confidence is another intangible asset which cannot be under-estimated, and which has helped make Bayern the stingiest defense in the Bundesliga this season, conceding only SEVEN GOALS in a total of twenty-one matches thus far this season.

This confidence of his extends well beyond the penalty area and the defenders on the squad. Dante is a keen competitor and a sharp defender, but he is also a light-hearted and happy individual outside of the pitch. With the disappointment of a Champions League title lost on their home pitch heavy on the hearts of returning Bayern players heading into this campaign, Dante’s ear-to-ear smile was quite possibly the most valuable thing he could have brought into the squad when he arrived in the summer transfer window.

His affable and lovable nature quickly banished heavy thoughts of remorse, of the “Should haves”, “Would haves” or “Could haves”. In helping the team focus on the here and now, enjoying their football, playing to the best of their ability and making the most of the chances yet to come rather than dwelling on those that have passed them by, Dante’s playful and positive spirit, often typified by his iconic Afro, was just the tonic the Bavarians needed to remind them that the best has yet to come for this FC Bayern team.

In no way was this more evident than on the latest match day when Dante rushed over to congratulate Bastian Schweinsteiger on a brilliant free kick that went over the wall and off the inside of the post and into the back of the net, leaving keeper Timo Hildebrand frozen to the spot and watching helplessly in stunned disbelief. Though this was Schweini’s fifth goal of the season, it was the first time he had ever converted a free kick in the Bundesliga.

(I had hoped to share a video of this goal, dear readers, but as it would be in violation of copyright laws, those of you who missed it will have to catch the replay on your local “best of” footy review shows. With the majesty of the kick and the celebration that followed, I’m sure we’ll be seeing it again and again throughout the course of the year.)

Eager to celebrate his teammates’ accomplishment, Dante rushed to his side and guided him along with a bit of Brazilian flair, performing a “two-step celebration” together near the halfway line. As Schweinsteiger quickly caught on and took part, their Bayern teammates watched on in a display of camaraderie and teamwork that truly typified the secret to Bayern’s success in this year’s campaign. Teamwork, light-heartedness and most importantly a willingness to support one another, play for one another, and share in the success equally rather than as focus on individual accomplishments.

Though we cannot give any one player full credit for the stellar campaign that Bayern have had thus far this season, we can most certainly point out all the intangible qualities which the players possess off the field that have helped make this season one to remember for Bayern players and fans alike. Dante’s cool head, kind heart and ear-to-ear smile have become a perfect symbol for the general mood and spirit at the club this season. Luckily, the 29-year-old has been rewarded for all of his hard work with his first cap for his native Brazil in a recent 2 – 1 friendly loss to England.

Though Brazil have been much maligned and accused of under-performing relative to their immense potential in recent years, if the men’s team manager Luiz Felipe Scolari decides to make a habit of capping the Brazilian defender with the wide smile and the afro, then perhaps those fortunes are due to change. One thing is certain, he has already proven himself an invaluable member of FC Bayern’s squad this season, and we wish him all the best in enjoy equal success with the Brazilian men’s team.

(Unless of course they face Germany in a knock-out game at the 2014 World Cup, in which case we will hope he plays well, but has a lapse of form just long enough for Germany to be victorious. Even if that doesn’t happen, though, the sting of defeat will be a mixed blessing, as one cannot help but feel that Dante’s hard work has earned him the right to taste success in all of his endeavors.)

(The above photo was made by the Facebook page Die Bayern (The Bavarians). Feel free to join their Facebook group for plenty of news and interaction with other Bayern fans from around the globe!)