Thursday, September 16, 2021
World champion before expert debut
Podolski hands out violently against FIFA and VAR
Lukas Podolski has an opinion. Before his expert debut around the Conference League game Slavia Prague against Union Berlin, the 2014 world champions deal. Against FIFA (“it’s all about more money”) and the VAR. The audience can look forward to a clear edge.
Ex-national player Lukas Podolski does not believe in the plan to host the soccer World Cup every two years. “The World Cup would lose its appeal and value as a result,” said the 36-year-old, who is now under contract with Górnik Zabrze in Poland, in a “kicker” interview. “It’s all about more money.” An advisory group of the world association FIFA recommended the corresponding recommendation to move away from the previous cycle with a World Cup every four years. The topic is hotly debated.
Podolski continues to view the use of video evidence, which has long been established in football, very critically. “The VAR (Video Assistant Referee) destroys football,” said the striker, who played 130 international matches and was world champion in 2014. “He takes the intensity out of the duels. There are no more fouls, no more slips, they only apologize.”
Podolski’s tackles have not been seen on the pitch in the past few weeks. The reason? A corona infection put the 2014 world champion out of action. And even after surviving the corona infection, the Cologne legend does not yet feel in the best of shape. He was weakened by the quarantine at home, said the globetrotter. “I was able to train relatively little there. That’s why I won’t be back at 100 percent until after the next international break,” added the striker. For his new club, he has only played two games so far due to the infection.
Podolski not nervous before TVNOW debut
For his start as a TV expert for the RTL group at games in the Europa League and Conference League, the 36-year-old said he was “not well prepared” because he doesn’t have to. He is no longer nervous in front of the camera “after thousands of interviews”. “As in life, practice is the best school,” said Podolski. He wanted to avoid the standard questions from reporters as much as possible. “For me it depends on the game. You shouldn’t plan questions beforehand,” said the ex-international, who will make his expert debut around the Slavia Prague game against Union Berlin.
RTL shows the Europa League and the new Conference League with rights to 282 games. The games of the two competitions can be seen on RTL, Nitro and the streaming service TVNOW. In addition to Podolski, Karl-Heinz Riedle is also part of the team of experts. Podolski is calm about the judgment of the audience. “One likes it, the other doesn’t,” he said.
The first Union Berlin game ever in a European Cup group stage will be shown live on Nitro and on TVNOW at 6.45 p.m. The two German Europa League participants Bayer Leverkusen (6.45 p.m., against Ferencvaros Budapest) and Eintracht Frankfurt (9 p.m., against Fenerbahce Istanbul) are broadcast on TVNOW.
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