Germany v England
Westfalenstadion (Signal Iduna Park),
Dortmund, Germany
22 Mar 2017
This friendly had the added twist that it was also the farewell game for Lukas Podolski. The emphatic German striker was starting in his 130th international and had already netted 48 times before the match. He was to extend his tally to 49 following a wonder strike that no goalkeeper on planet earth could have stopped. The Germans edged out England 1:0 in an entertaining match at the home of BvB Dortmund.
The final England allocation was for just over 4000 across two price categories (Cat 4 £39 and Cat 5 £22). I opted for the cheap seats at the back because I didn't fancy being soaked with beer from some of the imbeciles that have started to follow England. I was unfortunately proved correct.
Giant tifo is displayed in the Sud Tribune celebrating the international career of Lukas Podolski
To the right is the Sud Tribune, straight ahead is the Main Stand (Tribune West) and the Nord Tribune is to the right of picture. England are in the Nordost corner.
Poor choice of front covers for the 151st edition of the
Free Lions - he wasn't even in the squad
Germany 1 England 0
Attendance: 60,109
Make no mistake, this friendly game was a belter. England dominated the 1st Half with some slick movement and first time passing. The Three Lions narrowly missed taking the lead when Adam Lallana intercepted a pass on the half way line and then sprinted into the box leaving the German defence in his wake. His shot beat the keeper but rebounded off the post. Later Jamie Vardy robbed a defender in the final third and then stabbed the ball through to Deli Ali who had a point blank strike on goal, unfortunately the shot was blocked by keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. In the 2nd Half the Germans adjusted to counter England's system and they started to get on the ball more. Then on 69 minutes Lukas Podolski released a thunderbolt that broke the deadlock.
Free Lions - he wasn't even in the squad
Germany 1 England 0
Attendance: 60,109
Make no mistake, this friendly game was a belter. England dominated the 1st Half with some slick movement and first time passing. The Three Lions narrowly missed taking the lead when Adam Lallana intercepted a pass on the half way line and then sprinted into the box leaving the German defence in his wake. His shot beat the keeper but rebounded off the post. Later Jamie Vardy robbed a defender in the final third and then stabbed the ball through to Deli Ali who had a point blank strike on goal, unfortunately the shot was blocked by keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. In the 2nd Half the Germans adjusted to counter England's system and they started to get on the ball more. Then on 69 minutes Lukas Podolski released a thunderbolt that broke the deadlock.
Arriving at Dortmund Hauptbahnhof at 1146
The apartment on Lindemannstasse, Dortmund
5 floors later and we arrive the
front door a bit out of puff
Uwe (the host) is the technical director of the Dortmund U (the main cultural and exhibition centre in town).
Our view
Borrussia Dortmund's Fan Shop
Impressive
Exterior of the Nord Tribune
Inside the Fan Shop
The Main Stand (West Tribune)
Sudost Tribune
Old ticket booth leading to the Ost Tribune
Outside Strobels Bar
1st bier in Dortmund
Currywurst mit 'pommes und mayo'
Westfalenhallen is a multi purpose venue originally built in 1925 and re-built in 1952 following destruction in WW11. It was where the Bundesliga was founded in 1962
2nd bier in a Dortmund Kneipen in our
local neighbourhood of Kreuzviertel
local neighbourhood of Kreuzviertel
The Winged Rhino is the symbol of Dortmund's Opera House. There are 100 artistically designed Rhino sculptures within the city and all have different shapes and colours.
Our 3rd venue is in down town Dortmund and we are meeting the lads in the rather unfortunately named bar
Sue, Paul, me, Tommo and Jamie
At last we find Kumpel Erich
Prost!
Dortmund's port terminates the Dortmund-Ems canal which connects Dortmund to the North Sea.
The old harbour master's office in Dortmund Hafen (harbour)
'Bierkutscher' (Brewer's drayman)
outside the Stadtgarten Theatre U Bahn station
Alte Rathaus on Friedensplatz
The new Rathaus opposite the square
Approaching Wenkers from Betenstrasse
Wenkers next to the ticket collection point
Zum alten Markt (to the old market)
Blasserbrunnen (Horn Blower's fountain)
in the Old Market Square
St Reinoldi's Church (1250-70)
Goose Market
Stadt plan
Hovel's Haus Braueri is one of the last remaining active breweries in the former 'Bierstadt" Dortmund.
The 'Dunkel Bier" (dark beer) is outstanding.
The 'Dunkel Bier" (dark beer) is outstanding.
Old photo of Dortmund in the U Bahn
Steinerner Turm was part of the medieval defence system of Dortmund and controlled the long
distance trade route to the south between Dortmund and Cologne.
distance trade route to the south between Dortmund and Cologne.
Florianturm is the TV tower of Dortmund and was built in 1959 and is 220 meters high.
Views of the Sud Tribune from Florian Tower
View to the South
St Reinoldi's and Sankt Marien's Kirche in front.
Walking to the stadium along Stobelallee
The scene outside the England entrance
Beer is on - this could get messy
Prost
This wouldn't be Germany if there wasn't one in the Stadium!
View to the Sud Tribune
The Nord Tribune
Pano 1
Pano 2
Podolski's Tiffo in the Sud Tribune
Pano 3
England fans shaping up to boo the German national anthem
England's finest in the NE corner
The raising of Podolski's shirt when he scores that cracker
Our final day in Dortmund so we visit the Dortmund U because Uwe (our host) is the Technical Director. The Dortmund U is the site of the former Dortmund Union Brewery and is now an Art and Cultural centre
Uwe introduces us to some of the Artists and we watch new exhibits being put together. This is Darco a graffiti artist from Paris at work.
Me and Uwe on the terrace of the U
Spontaneous drawings by Romanian artist Dan Perjovschi
The main exhibition during our visit was "I am a Fighter" by Niki De Saint Phalle (she's worth googling). Quite a disturbing collection!
Deutsche Fussball Museum
Deutsche Fussball Museum
4 x World champions and don't we know it!
The Klaus Fischer memorial
On the bus with my imaginary 'freunde'
Gutten Tag Frau Sue
La Paz Bahn 403 - A pub on a tram
Auf Wiedersehen Dortmund und danke
Great read, as always!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it. England away is always an adventure!
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