Top dogs
When Saturday Comes|June 2017

Easter weekend in Hamburg and, at a large kulturhaus called Kampnagel, one of the more inclusive football tournaments is starting.

Si Hawkins
Top dogs

Inside, attention is swiftly drawn to the foyer’s fabulous centrepiece: an 11-a-side football table, with 22 handles, all of which are grabbed seconds after its unveiling. “That combination shows what the game stands for,” says Hannes Thiekler, who helped run the 2017 Table Soccer World Cup. “One side was nearly completely occupied by the Chinese juniors team. On the other side, the half with the keeper was taken by the Iranian women’s team. And on the strikers’ half, there were some British men playing.

That was so awesome.” Many people may be unaware that there actually is a Table Soccer World Cup, as that quasi-sport – widely known as foosball – is not taken hugely seriously here, but it is a significant event. It involves 150 volunteers, 41 nations and 800 players and Thiekler, a fulltime enthusiast, sounds particularly thrilled to have welcomed “all of the top USA players, who are kind of legends in foosball”.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 2017-Ausgabe von When Saturday Comes.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 2017-Ausgabe von When Saturday Comes.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS WHEN SATURDAY COMESAlle anzeigen
Pirate Transmission
When Saturday Comes

Pirate Transmission

Broadcasters around the world are paying huge sums to screen football, but they will not be willing to invest if they cannot be protected.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 2019
Scandi Drama
When Saturday Comes

Scandi Drama

Years before it was screened live in the UK, England’s Football League was building a cult following abroad thanks to a visionary broadcaster.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
December 2019
Pot Of Gold
When Saturday Comes

Pot Of Gold

A rare meeting between two local rivals brought FA Cup fever – and a useful financial boost – to one corner of Hertfordshire

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 2019
Digital Divide
When Saturday Comes

Digital Divide

From earnest post-match punditry to being used in actual players’ matchday preparations, the virtual game is becoming increasingly blurred with reality.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 2019
Haringey Ladder
When Saturday Comes

Haringey Ladder

The decision to walk off in the face of abuse has shone a national spotlight on a community club with a progressive approach

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 2019
Bournemouth 0 Norwich City 0
When Saturday Comes

Bournemouth 0 Norwich City 0

Dean Court may have received a Premier League facelift but against today’s visitors the home team fail to live up to their status, although the low-quality draw they play out is still somehow reassuring.

time-read
8 Minuten  |
December 2019
Room With A View
When Saturday Comes

Room With A View

Hampden Park

time-read
3 Minuten  |
January 2018
Not In The Script
When Saturday Comes

Not In The Script

ARSENAL FILM

time-read
3 Minuten  |
January 2018
Out Of Place...
When Saturday Comes

Out Of Place...

After another unsuccessful qualifying attempt Martin O’Neill is under pressure, while a poor Republic of Ireland squad is only getting weaker

time-read
3 Minuten  |
January 2018
Uncomfortable Truth
When Saturday Comes

Uncomfortable Truth

At the end of April Sheffield United surprised many people by re-signing Ched Evans, who, following a retrial, has now been found not guilty of the rape charge for which he spent two-and-a-half years in prison.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
June 2017