It is said to have been a difficult week for football romantics, not just from the Dortmund area. For German groundhoppers it ended with a comforting, conciliatory experience. They are actually used to faceless functional arenas like Düsseldorf and Amsterdam, where the last international matches took place in September.
The current away trip took them to one of the smallest and most extraordinary stadiums in top European football. The Bilino Polje (in German: herb field) was created in the early seventies, and nothing much has changed since then. It breathes nostalgia. It is in Zenica because Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, does not have a stadium suitable for UEFA.
The size of 13,600 seats in Zenica alone – in the German regional league there are some arenas that can accommodate more people. The rickety camera stands behind the goal are adorned with rust that could have already set in during the Yugoslav era. The VIP area differs from the wooden class in terms of comfort only in that a holder is attached to each seat in which a plastic bottle of water is placed.
The German team has been delighting large stadiums again this year, and they can also do it in small formats. Thanks to two goals from Deniz Undav, they won the last first round game of the Nations League 2-1 in Zenica and continued their successful streak. It is the eighth win in the twelfth game this year, with only one defeat. If they beat the Netherlands on Monday, they would practically be winners of the group after four out of six matchdays.
Hot sausages in a dressing gown for 1.40 marks
But the star of the evening is the stadium. The charm always comes from the surroundings. The Bilino Polje is in the city. Behind the standing stands, residents walk their dogs. In the house in front of the main entrance you will find a driving school and a dentist offers his services.
A bakery opposite the main stand sells hot sausages in a dressing gown for 1.40 marks, and the local currency also serves nostalgia for many guests. In euros that’s 75 cents. The national dish is grilled on the opposite side. There is steam and smoke coming out of the chimney; no ultra smoke pot can keep up with that. Ćevapčići is not a crime!
The Bosnia Mosque is in the immediate vicinity. Her minaret With the old floodlight masts that protrude far above the stands, forms the skyline of the Islamic town. A good two hours before kick-off, the muezzin calls for Friday prayers. Young Muslims follow him, many wrapped in the blue and yellow national flag with the EU stars, because afterwards it’s football.
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Inside there is a relaxed atmosphere. When the lawn sprinkler accidentally (accidentally?) wets the cameramen and they have to cover their expensive technical equipment, the crowd cheers. The Bosnian fans on the standing block shout Antonio Rüdiger towards yourself. He fulfills their wish and gives a follower his warm-up jumper. The bystanders applaud.
A flash of inspiration breaks through the harmlessness
The tension rises during the anthems. The Bosnian-Herzegovinian one gets the crowd excited. During the German one, a local man gives a Hitler salute. It’s meant ironically, as an ape. In Zenica, hearts beat for Palestine anyway, as can be seen from individual flags and heard in chants.
The game is balanced for a long time. The Germans control the midfield, but nothing more, until a flash of inspiration breaks through the harmlessness. Robert Andrich lobs up into the penalty area Florian Wirtz. He chooses the more difficult, but intuitively correct path. Instead of shooting, he turns away from the goalie and puts it directly and precisely back to Undav.
Wirtz made a few bad passes in this game, but his assist to make it 0-1 is the moment of the evening. The home fans express their appreciation through shocked silence. The people on the window sills of the prefabricated buildings that frame the stadium also seem impressed.
The opening goal loosens up the game. Germany scores again immediately, through Tim Kleindienst, but it is offside. In return, Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirović loses a little too much speed and power on a counterattack and his shot thunders onto the crossbar.
Shortly afterwards, Maximilian Mittelstädt hits a pass inside. Undav slides in. 0:2. Undav hardly took part in the game until then. The fact that he still scores two goals will be interpreted as cleverness. But his cheering seems to betray a touch of embarrassment.
The moment of the Bosnian folk hero
After the break, Undav scored a third goal, but again it was offside, like another one from Serge Gnabry. Germany, who started without some of their regular players, let the ball circulate under the guidance of Pascal Groß and Joshua Kimmich. The game comes down to a routine victory.
Then comes the moment of the Bosnian folk hero. Edin Džeko was once German champion with Wolfsburg and was no longer very young then; he later won the Premier League with ManCity. You hear his name all evening long, the kids on the balconies shouting it, the people in the stands.
Even before a corner in the 70th minute. The DFB team mostly covers the near post, but the ball flies over the crowd, including Rüdiger. Džeko, on the other hand, is correct. Alexander Nübel just falls, but doesn’t jump into the corner, and the score is 1:2. Screams of happiness.
Suddenly there is tension, Bosnia and Herzegovina hopes again. The smallest country in Group A has just over three million inhabitants Nations League. It is a poor, war-torn country, rich only in graves. However, it still produces good footballers, for example for the Bundesliga. One person who is still very fond of in Hamburg is the coach: Sergej Barbarez. He now pushes his team forward, brings in another striker, but they lack the strength to equalize.
After the end there is applause for both sides and only happy faces. The Bosnians weren’t far away from a draw against another great football nation. The Germans celebrate an away win. None of them will likely forget their visit to Bilino Polje in their lives. You can succumb to his charm.
The Hidden Financial Struggles of Footballers: Divorce’s Costly Toll
The glamorous image of professional footballers, with their luxurious lifestyles and multimillion-dollar contracts, often obscures a harsh reality: the financial devastation many endure through divorce. Behind the fame and fortune, several high-profile players have seen their wealth significantly depleted after parting ways with their spouses, a stark reminder that no amount of money can fully shield one of the financial pitfalls of personal relationships gone awry…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
One of the most shocking examples is that of former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboué, who lost not only his properties in England but also custody of his children following a bitter divorce. Despite earning millions during his career, Eboué found himself stripped of almost everything. His situation became a cautionary tale, underscoring that even the wealthiest footballers can fall victim to the financial ruin that divorce can bring.
Eboué is not alone. Football legends such as Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs have also experienced significant financial losses due to divorce. Henry reportedly paid £10 million to his ex-wife, while Giggs parted with an astonishing £40 million after his marriage ended. Louis Saha and Wes Brown, both former Manchester United players, also suffered substantial financial hits, with Brown declaring bankruptcy despite earning £50,000 per week during his time at the club. His case highlights how even vast earnings can quickly evaporate when faced with legal settlements and financial mismanagement.
David James, the former England goalkeeper, faced a particularly dire situation, losing much of his fortune after divorce and being forced to auction his personal belongings to make ends meet. Similarly, Ray Parlour, another Arsenal great, saw his ex-wife receive half of his £10 million fortune, including a £2.5 million house. Jamie Redknapp, a former Liverpool star, also faced a hefty settlement, parting with half of his estimated £15 million fortune after his marriage ended.
These are just a few of the many footballers who have faced financial disaster due to divorce. Keith Gillespie, once a key figure in the Premier League, lost over £7 million, leading to his bankruptcy in 2010. Despite earning significant wages during his career, his divorce and poor financial decisions left him in financial ruin. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
Perhaps the most shocking case is that of Tendai Ndoro, a Zimbabwean striker who lost everything after registering all his properties in his wife’s name. Following their breakup, she kicked him out of the house, leaving him with nothing. Ndoro’s story serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of not protecting one’s assets, even in relationships where trust is implicit.
For footballers, whose careers often peak early, these financial setbacks can be devastating. While their salaries are among the highest in professional sports, the combination of short career spans, legal fees, and divorce settlements can quickly erode their fortunes. Many players also face additional challenges in managing their finances due to a lack of financial education or oversight during their playing years.
These stories underscore the importance of safeguarding personal wealth, especially for high-earning individuals like footballers, who may be more vulnerable to financial upheaval. Proper financial planning, asset protection strategies, and prenups are increasingly necessary tools for protecting one’s earnings and securing a stable future.
In conclusion, while the public sees footballers as insulated by their wealth, the reality is that they are just as susceptible to the financial hardships of divorce as anyone else. The personal struggles behind the scenes reveal that their lives, though glamorous on the surface, are often fraught with the same vulnerabilities and challenges faced by ordinary individuals. These cases serve as sobering reminders that financial security is never guaranteed, even for those at the pinnacle of success.
In February 2022, the Bengals missed the Super Bowl by three small points, but regardless, the future seemed bright in Cincinnati.
Posted at 1:13 a.m.
Updated at 7:00 a.m.
In any case, that’s what we, the most seasoned experts in American football, believed, capable of seeing the future each season, often in a very impressive way; for example, this column has been predicting since 1970 that the New York Jets are not going to win the Super Bowl, and that’s still exactly what happens.
The Bengals have never won anything, but their presence on the big stage two years ago suggested that, a bit like the Nordiques in 1990, the best was yet to come.
Well, no.
As of this hour, the Bengals are a dismal 1-4, and even then, their only win came against the Carolina Panthers, who are about as bad as they are.
The good news for the Bengals is that this “landing” is fairly easily explained: their defense is pretty awful. The less good news is that it is probably already too late to try to solve this problem.
In five games, the Bengals have allowed a total of 145 points, which gives a pretty staggering average of 29 points per game. No one else in the American Association looks this bad, and in the league as a whole, only the Carolina Panthers are even worse in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Bengals are wasting the best years of Joe Burrow, who turns 28 in December. He wouldn’t be the first quality quarterback to waste his talent in this uniform.
Is it necessary here to remember that in American football, as in life in general, there is never anything certain? This reality reminds us of this sublime quote from Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who once wrote that “supreme happiness is a hundred times sweeter to hope for than to obtain”.
Rousseau must have been a Bengals fan, obviously.
You are probably aware that the New York Jets fired their coachbut that’s not the worst. The worst part is that poor Robert Saleh would have been escorted to the door like a pauper by security agents.
It’s undoubtedly one of the worst moments in the history of a club that collects the worst moments, from Mark Sanchez dropping a ball on his lineman’s pussy, to a visibly hot Joe Namath trying to to kiss a reporter live on TV (we’re going to move on to the naughty photo of Brett Favre because there are children here).
We can never repeat it enough: in football, as in life, everything starts from the top. The leaders of the Jets, who display a level of competence similar to that of the inventors of Pepsi Crystal, thus opted for the easy way, instead of realizing that their ground game is non-existent, and that their quarterback who hears voices in his head is finished.
In addition, barely installed, new coach Jeff Ulbrich decided to give control of the attack to assistant Todd Downing, who will call the plays from now on. This is not a detail because this task previously fell to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, close and confidant of Aaron Rodgers.
It’s obvious that this is going to end very badly. As per usual.
Someone whispers in my ear that the inbox is overflowing again, so let’s get to it right away.
First, Luc Girouard from Sept-Îles sends us this timely little comment: “Would Prince Rodgers have plotted to kick Robert Saleh out in order to take his place? »
We all see what you did, Luc.
Then, there is a certain Nicolas B. from Laval who sent this: “Hi Richard. Great weekly column on football. Really entertaining. In addition, you allow my teenagers to read about football in French, which is still a challenge […] If you ever make a reference to my comment, my sports travel gang is buying me a beer on our next trip. »
You will demand a micro beer, Nicolas. Finally, there is Marco Campanozzi who can no longer hear about “mixing” and the right chair: “I can’t do it anymore!!! »
We are Marco.
It will be another great opportunity to lock yourself in front of the TV while pretending to do something constructive, because Sunday’s menu is particularly spicy.
Thus, Commanders in a state of grace will go to Baltimore to prove that they are serious, the Chargers will go to Denver in the hope of recovering after two defeats in a row, and the Cowboys will host the Lions, in a match that they can’t really let slip away, just to build something following the little miracle last Sunday night in Pittsburgh.
Don’t forget to check out the colors during halftime.
Only 13 years old, badminton-player-honors-fathers-dream-at-nationals/” title=”13-year-old Saskatchewan badminton player honors father’s dream at nationals”>Gautham Sumesh is preparing to realize the dream of his father, who died six months ago: he will soon participate in the National Badminton Championship.
My father was really addicted to badmintonrecalls the Saskatchewan teenager. He really liked that I played.
Gautham Sumesh has been playing badminton since he was old enough to handle a racket. The first time he managed to beat his father, Sumesh Pulavathil, he was offered a drink to celebrate the event.
Sadly, Sumesh Pulavathil died in a road accident near Estevan last October.
Despite the tragedy, the teenager continues to carry his family’s dreams: Gautham Sumesh won the provincial championships this year and is preparing to participate in the National Championship in New Brunswick.
He would be really happyhe believes.
Dreaming of badminton
The young player’s parents left India in 2022 in the hope that their son would become a top badminton player.
: Gautham badminton”,”text”:”When we moved to Canada, we only had one thing in mind: Gautham badminton”}}”>When we moved to Canada, we only had one thing in mind: Gautham badmintonexplains the latter’s mother, Gayathri Ramdas. It is the foundation of our family life.
Her husband put everything in place to help his son play. He bought him shoes and racquets, in addition to devoting many hours to coaching him and other children.
Sumesh Pulavathil (front) was an avid badminton player. (Archive photo)
Since the death of his father, Gautham Sumesh has undergone intensive training, particularly in preparation for the provincial competition which took place in April.
He remembers that no one knew him when he started competing provincially, but that changed after his victory at the provincial championship.
: “Hey, good job!” Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with me”,”text”:”After I won, everyone said to me: “Hey, good job! “Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with me”}}”>After I won, everyone said to me: “Hey, good job!” Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with meexplained Gautham Sumesh.
A portrait of Sumesh Pulavathil (far left) and his family.
Photo: Provided by Gayathri Ramdas
Despite his son’s success in the championship, Gayathri Ramdas believes the victory was bittersweet due to his father’s absence.
Despite everything, she watched her son grow up and demonstrate the values of sportsmanship and good play that she and her husband wanted to instill in him, as he harbored ambitions of becoming a professional badminton player.
I’m little by little catching up on all the dreams we had.
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