DAS BOOT! – Match Day 9 – Friday Fix

Long time no see, dear readers. Is it just me, or do the international breaks seem to last forever? Just when we seem to get a thirst for the Bundesliga action, and for those of us in North America, grow accustomed to waking up at the crack of dawn to watch footy on the weekends, it seems our favorites leagues always have to take a back seat for some qualification matches.

For most European footy fans, I am certain the international break contained a minimal amount of heartache, with most European footy super powers booking their ticket to Brazil for 2014. Can you believe the World Cup will commence at the end of this season? I know I barely can, dear readers. Let us focus on some more immediate matters however, and take a peek at the match which commences in just a few hours here on Everyone’s Favorite German Footy Blog…..

DAS BOOT!

Our Friday Fixture this weekend will see Bayer Leverkusen visit Hoffenheim looking to capitalize on an inconsistent start from the Sinsheim squad. Leverkusen currently sit, as ever, in third place in the league. In truth, dear readers, Leverkusen seem to spend so much time in third in the league that you can nearly take it for granted. Hoffenheim, meanwhile, sit in the middle of the pack at tenth place, and need to get their affairs in order if they expect to turn their season around.

This match is a tale of two very different clubs, with Hoffenheim having become a model of inconsistency after their Cinderella run came just short of a championship a few seasons ago. Leverkusen, on the other hand, have been Steady Eddie in the Bundesliga; a consistently dangerous side that combines sound defensive play with a potent attack that features pace and finesse on the flanks with the Bundesliga’s most consistent and dangerous striker over the past three or four seasons a stable fixture through the middle, Stefan Kießling.

Indeed, Kießling’s form has led to his being included in the German national squad once again, despite being so often over-looked in favour of sexier players like Mario Gomez and André Schürrle, who’s youth and/or prestige seem to give them more clout with German boss Jogi Löw. In fact, it is likely only due to an injury to Mario Gomez which will see him out of action for the next two months that led to Kießling’s recall to the national team in the first place.

Never to be confused as a speedster, the lanky Kießling is nevertheless one of the most consistent goal-getters in the league, a fact that Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia doesn’t seem to be complaining about. With Korean prodigy Heung Min Son flourishing on the left flank and the pacy Sidney Sam playing play-maker on the other while Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok sits on the bench, ready to nod in goals when given the chance, the Leverkusen attack may not be as flashy and as sexy as the likes of Dortmund, Bayern, or even Hannover with their plethora of goal-getters, but Leverkusen do consistently score enough goals to get points out of more matches than not, and they all look the same on the scoreboard.

For Hoffenheim, there is only one guarantee in their matches; there is bound to be goals, and lots of them. Their most meager offensive performance saw them knock in a single goal against Wolfsburg in a 2 – 1 loss, while their best display was a 5 – 1 drubbing of Hamburger SV, known to fans of this publication as the HSV virus, a moniker granted due to their unerring ability to under-achieve match after match, season after season. For those of our readership who enjoy recreational gambling, this makes them an absolute nightmare to bet on.

If you are a betting (wo)man, then by all means, dear readers, take the over 2.5 goals scored in this match. I would even venture to wager on the over 3.5 goals if you can find it, for when Hoffenheim don’t score boatloads of goals, they seem to concede them. In only two of their eight matches, Hoffenheim have kept the opposition to a single goal. They haven’t a single clean sheet to their name thus far, and they coughed up SIX goals to VfB Stuttgart, who are a far cry from an offensive powerhouse.

With two wins, two losses, and four draws thus far, it is fitting that Hoffenheim lie smack dab in the middle of the table. The bulk of their offense has come from three key figures in their squad; newcomer to the squad Anthony Modeste (a French striker), young German striking talent Kevin Volland, and Brazilian midfield dynamo Roberto Firmino. All told, those three have combined to score 16 of Hoffenheim’s 20 goals this season.They will most certainly be marked men in this fixture as former defender and current Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia will have surely told his lads to contain them as best they can.

With the porous Hoffenheim defense and relatively unproven young Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels between the wickets for Hoffenheim, Leverkusen will hope to have a field day in the attacking third. Look for Heung Min Son in particular to make his mark on this match if he is able and knock in a goal or two for his new club. Though recent history suggests that Hoffenheim manage to score at least one goal in all their matches thus far, they have yet to face a defensive juggernaut of the caliber of Leverkusen in this young season.

Still, let’s give the Hof the benefit of the doubt and say they manage to get a least one goal past Bernd Leno. After all, who would want to disappoint the Hof?

Prediction:

Hoffenheim 1 – 4 Leverkusen

Come back soon while we review the result of this match and preview the many fixtures to come this weekend here on Everyone’s Favorite German Footy Blog…..

DAS BOOT!

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!)