Official photo session with the new German champions Official photo session with the new German champions

FC St. Pauli is German champion

tl;dr: FC St. Pauli defeated the reigning champions from Marburg on penalty kicks in the final of the German championship.

Disclaimer: This blog post has a lot of words and pictures, but it's not every day that you become German champion - especially not as a St. Paulian. So forgive me for the length of the article, but blind football in Hamburg has really achieved great things.

The frame

For the first time, the German blind football championship was decided in a final between the first two teams of the previous Bundesliga season. The two teams from Marburg (16 points and reigning champions) met in Halle an der Saale FC St. Pauli (15 points and never won against Marburg). After the last match day and the certainty of this final game, I immediately booked my train ticket. I'm accompanying the team now a little longer and I really wanted to be part of this unique chance to win the German championship title. But even second place would have meant the best placement in the Bundesliga for FC St. Pauli. After all, you shouldn't forget that FC St. Pauli had a subscription to last or penultimate place in the table in their Bundesliga years from 2008 to 2013. In these 6 years the team had scored fewer goals overall than this season alone!

The game

The team's concentration and focus on this game was palpable. The "we are Kiezkicker" in the team circle was particularly loud. When the players were introduced, the players called out the names of their teammates as usual - but this time with particular confidence. There stood a united and determined team on the artificial turf.

FC St. Pauli also got off to a good start, was more aggressive at the beginning and created chances. But no goals were scored in the first half. The Marburg attack, led by serial goalscorer Alican Pektas, repeatedly ran into problems with FC St. Pauli's defense, which was playing in a new formation. The team had quickly adopted the tactics of the newly crowned European champions Russia. Philipp "Hippo" Versen in particular had thrilling duels with the top scorer from Marburg. Towards the end of the first half, Marburg also got into the game better. Both teams had five team fouls on the clock and the next foul would have meant an eight-meter penalty. The half-time whistle came just in time after 5 minutes.

The second half started more evenly. Suddenly the fast Paul Ruge used the space in the center of Marburg to counterattack. Unexpected and unsustainable for the Marburg goalkeeper, Paul converted with his weaker left foot to make it 1-0 in the 25th minute. Marburg now got better and better into the game. A defensive battle unfolded before the eyes of the numerous spectators. 4 minutes before the end, Marburg had a good free-kick chance and cleverly substituted Niklas Schubert, who smashed the ball through the wall to equalize.

In the regular league game, FC St. Pauli led 1-0 but lost. This time they threw everything into the game, even if Marburg got stronger and stronger. Marburg almost made it 2-1, but the good ball hit the post and bounced back into the field. Then it was over: the German championship had to be decided by a penalty shootout.

The six-meter shootout

The spectators saw an exciting and high-class final and were rewarded with a nerve-wracking six-meter shootout. Marburg won the new seat selection and decided that they would start shooting. Psychologically an advantage.

However, the first Marburg shooter only hit the left post. Rasmus Narjes was the first to appear for FC St. Pauli. The team captain, dressed for the German national team, missed the decisive penalty against Turkey. But this time he transformed with somnambulistic calm. Marburg's next shooter duped the excellent brown and white goalkeeper with a tunnel. Compensation. Paul Ruge then scored again for St. Pauli with a very strong six-meter shot, which the Marburg goalkeeper got his hands on but was unable to deflect decisively. The last Marburg shooter was supposed to be Niklas Schubert again. He now had to score if there was still a chance of the penalty shootout continuing. With a panther-like reflex, Sven Gronau raised his hand in the St. Paulian goal and blocked the shot. FC St. Pauli was close, but deserved to be German champions for the first time!

The highlights of the game are now also available in a short format 5 minute video on Facebook. Before the award ceremony, the Marburg players and coaches spontaneously and without any agreements made an alley, applauded and congratulated the new German champions. This is true sportsmanship and for me the moment of the game. Thank you for this great gesture, dear Marburgers!

The stories by the way...

As befits a good German city center, a few punks were chilling near the playing field, which was located in the middle of the city. And of course they were wearing St. Pauli memorabilia and listening to St. Pauli music. I had spotted them shortly before the game and nodded over in a friendly manner. As I was also walking through the city in the team outfit, the guys realized what was about to happen right next door. By the time the announcer welcomed the FC St. Pauli team over the loudspeaker system, blind football had found new fans. They watched the game from the stands and of course celebrated particularly intensely at the end. Their beer was shared with the team, because otherwise there was only champagne. After the official part of the team awards, the celebration was quickly moved in front of the stands and a photo was taken with family and punks. The guys then provided the train food aka more beer while the team showered for the journey home. And somehow the team also got the sign with the inscription “German Champion” from the award ceremony.

The return journey was largely trouble-free…

What are the next steps?

Anyone who wants to see the German champions play in Hamburg can do so at the Masters next weekend on the BZBS grounds on Borgweg. On the weekend of September 16th and 17th, between 09 a.m. and 18 p.m., FC St.Pauli Blind Football is hosting a Masters tournament with international participation for the tenth time. The Italian champions AC Marche 2000 controluce, the Belgian BBFC winner 5-a-side Anderlecht, the Greek runner-up Asamea Keravnos, Avoy from Brno/Czech Republic, as well as an all-star team of English and German national players exude a touch of the Champions League . Marburg is also there.

Admission is free and the area can be easily reached via the U3 (Borgweg stop). Come by, you rarely see German champions playing in Hamburg...

  1. I like the blur in the background. Maybe you can write another post about what aperture you took the photos with, whether several cameras and lenses were used, or whether you switch between them. For example, at aperture 2,0 (Fujifilm 35mm F2) I have problems hitting the player with the ball. How is it with you?

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