What the DFB Cup is about
An underdog can dream of the Europa League
April 2, 2024, 6:34 a.m
The “cup terror” asks for the next fight, but this time he can’t throw out a Bundesliga team. 1. FC Kaiserslautern is playing in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup in Saarbrücken – an underdog makes it to the final in Berlin. It’s about much more than just prestige.
While champions FC Bayern Munich and defending champions RB Leipzig have long since been eliminated from the DFB Cup, two second division teams and a third division team are still fighting for the coveted trophy. In the evening (8.45 p.m./ARD, Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker) There will be a semi-final between 1. FC Saarbrücken and 1. FC Kaiserslautern without Bundesliga participation. What is it about for the third division team from Saarland and the traditional club from the Palatinate?
The image
The great successes of 1. FC Kaiserslautern were a long time ago. The club sensationally became German champions in 1998 and cup winners for the last time in 1996. This season the Fritz Walter Club, which had since been pushed through to the 3rd league, once again has the chance to polish up its sporting image. “It’s a final. One to reach a final,” said coach Friedhelm Funkel. Unfavorable for the legend: The Red Devils have to do without top scorer Ragnar Ache and regular goalkeeper Julian Krahl.
Saarbrücken has already defeated Bayern, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach in the current competition. Before the semi-final, coach Rüdiger Ziehl spoke of “a bonus game”, goalkeeper Tim Schreiber of “a little fairy tale”. For the FCS, the image is also at stake in another respect. If, after the quarter-finals in February, the semi-finals at the beginning of April had to be canceled due to heavy rain, the reputation of the third division team would be damaged again. In addition, you would lose home rights for the catch-up game. The third division team tried everything to get the pitch going in time. The league game against Rot-Weiss Essen had been postponed. 4,000 holes have also been punched into the lawn and filled with fine sand so that the moisture is absorbed. The club has had problems with its playing surface for months – and at a bad time. A huge tarpaulin over the lawn was supposed to help over Easter.
Final in Berlin
May 25th, full Olympic Stadium and millions of spectators in front of the TV screens. Whoever wins on Tuesday will have the biggest stage in German club football in just under two months. FCK last made it to the final in Berlin 21 years ago. Saarbrücken has never been in the final, but four years ago it was a clear underdog in the semi-finals.
Chance for Europe
Via Berlin into international business? This is possible for Saarbrücken and Kaiserslautern. The cup winner qualifies directly for the Europa League and could face opponents like Tottenham Hotspur or AS Roma as early as September. This option is of course also available for Fortuna Düsseldorf, which will be in the second semi-final on Wednesday (8.45 p.m./ZDF, Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker) visited Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen has already secured participation in the Champions League.
Extra money
The semi-finalists received 3.45 million euros just for making it to the last four. Added up with the additional bonuses for the first rounds, the clubs already have a good 6.5 million euros in bonuses. What sounds like peanuts for Leverkusen in view of the approaching championship and premier class makes a big difference for the third division team from Saarbrücken. If you reach the final, an additional increase is possible.