It’s not been a great month for Ronaldinho’s PR team. Back in October, it was reported that the Brazilian legend would have his role as an ambassador for FC Barcelona significantly reduced — including his presence at Legends games — due to his political backing of Brazil’s President-elect, Jair Bolsonaro.
Borussia Dortmund is through to the DFB-Pokal Round of 16 after defeating second-division side Union Berlin 3-2 Wednesday. 20-year-old American Christian Pulisic scored the opener, assisted on Max Philipp’s second and then earned the penalty that Marco Reus converted for Dortmund’s third.
We can only speak for ourselves here at The18, but we’d grown a little terrified of late, and we’re not talking about the culmination of binging The Haunting of Hill House ’til Halloween night.
Hertha Berlin battled to a positive 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund despite two goals from 18-year-old wunderkind Jadon Sancho on Saturday. But what stood out most from the Dortmund vs Hertha highlights were events taking place off the pitch, in the stands.
The scenes at Signal-Iduna Park, home of some of the most intimidating fans in the world, dissolved into madness as police and Hertha fans clashed in the stands.
Bayern Munich is in a rut right now, in seventh place in the Bundesliga and winless in almost a month.
It turns out, the reason Bayern Munich is so awful is because of the media.
Duh.
At least, that’s what Bayern Munich leadership wants you to think after calling a bizarre press conference that included president Uli Hoeness, CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic on Friday.
When Germany won the 2014 World Cup, there was little doubt Manuel Neuer was the best goalkeeper in the world. His impressive shot-stopping ability and unparalleled foot skills made him a unique weapon for Die Mannschaft.
These days, however, Neuer looks to be a shadow of his former self.
Following a long injury layoff, Neuer couldn’t do anything to help Germany during the country’s worst-ever World Cup showing over the summer in Russia.
Back in another life, when I was a sports writer for a daily newspaper, I spent a weekend on holiday at the PAX South gaming convention in San Antonio. At an after-hours party at a nearby bar I met a girl who had just reached a milestone as a Twitch streamer and was quite proud of herself.
When I told her what I did for a living, she responded: “Oh, so I’m kind of like email and you’re kind of like snail mail.”
For the first time ever, the gala for the Ballon d’Or will also include a presentation for the inaugural awarding of the Kopa Trophy — a prize given to the world's best under 21 player, so really just another Golden Boy because we really need more individual prizes in this sport, don’t we?
Regardless, the 10 finalists for the prize include:
A German second division match was the sight of one of football’s great rarities today — the goalkeeper goal. With visitors Heidenheim leading 1-0 in the 94th minute against Union Berlin, Berlin goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz strove forward for a free kick just inside Heidenheim’s half.
After being played into the box, a neat little cutback eventually found its way to Gikiewicz, who towered over his marker and planted the equalizing header just inside the far post.
It should come as no surprise, but this was the first goal of Cikiewicz’s senior career.
Manchester City scraped by Hoffenheim and its young 31-year-old manager for a 2-1 win on Tuesday in the Champions League. The Citizens scored a late winner through David Silva, but that the match was even close to begin with comes down to the play of the two goalkeepers involved — a play each, to be precise.