Easter weekend in Hamburg and, at a large kulturhaus called Kampnagel, one of the more inclusive football tournaments is starting.
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”.
This story is from the June 2017 edition of When Saturday Comes.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2017 edition of When Saturday Comes.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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.
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.
Pot Of Gold
A rare meeting between two local rivals brought FA Cup fever – and a useful financial boost – to one corner of Hertfordshire
Digital Divide
From earnest post-match punditry to being used in actual players’ matchday preparations, the virtual game is becoming increasingly blurred with reality.
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
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.
Room With A View
Hampden Park
Not In The Script
ARSENAL FILM
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
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.
