Bayern book final showdown with Wolfsburg

Bayern are on course to defend the Telekom Cup after a penalty shoot-out victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach in Saturday’s second semi-final at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg. Superb finishes by Robert Lewandowski and fit-again Franck Ribery either side of half-time put FCB in the driving seat, but two Max Kruse penalties tied it up before the end. Gladbach were poised for victory in the shootout but a crucial Tom Starke save kept the Bavarians in it, before Javi Martinez put away the vital spot-kick that ultimately sealed the win.

Pep Guardiola’s men now play VfL Wolfsburg in Sunday’s final after the first semi of the day ended with the Wolves beating home side Hamburg SV on penalties following a goalless 60 minutes.

Guardiola again favoured a three-man defensive line for the one-hour meeting with Gladbach and fielded Javi Martinez at full-back alongside Holger Badstuber and David Alaba. Rafinha and Juan Bernat lined up as the nominal holding midfielders, although the Brazilian was handed a relatively free role and the Spanish newcomer often swapped places with Alaba.

The strong attacking unit featured Franck Ribery for the first time in pre-season, with Sebastian Rode, young Gianluca Gaudino and Claudio Pizarro supporting central striker Lewandowski.

Honours even after 60 minutes

Once referee Peter Gagelmann whistled play underway, the sides felt each other out for a spell but FCB soon gained the upper hand and created the first chance on ten minutes when Rafinha crossed towards Lewandowski, only for the Poland star to direct his header too high. However, Lucien Favre’s Gladbach looked lively on the break and Starke in the Bayern goal did well to save from new signing Ibrahima Traoré after Raffael’s reverse pass on 15 minutes.

The next opening came at the other end when Ribery wormed his way into the box, but Borussia fought back and Kruse broke down the left before finding Raffael, although the striker’s shot was never likely to trouble Starke. FCB made the breakthrough a minute from half-time when Gladbach keeper Janis Blaswich could only parry Rode’s shot, with Lewandowski showing exceptional composure to control the rebound, hold off a clutch of defenders and then flip a delightful lob over the Borussia throng and into the net.

Bayern doubled the lead four minutes after the restart with another glorious solo goal when Ribery streaked down the left channel before scooping the ball delicately across Blaswich and in at the far corner. Gladbach refused to give up and cut the arrears on 42 minutes after Badstuber was harshly penalised for handball and Kruse stroked home the penalty, but Munich sub Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg stiffened the midfield and Guardiola’s side seemed to be comfortably closing out the victory. However, Martinez was adjudged to have fouled Andre Hahn in the last minute and Kruse stuck again from the spot to level it up.

In the shootout, each keeper saved one of the first five penalties with Starke brilliantly keeping out Oscar Wendt’s fifth effort for Gladbach, before Martinez netted and Julian Korb missed his side’s sixth to hand FCB a 5-4 victory.

Live match report for fcbayern.de by Chris Hamley

FC Bayern - Borussia M'Gladbach 2-2 (H-T: 1-0)
(FCB win 5-4 on penalties)

FC Bayern	Starke - Martinez, Badstuber, Alaba - Rafinha, Bernat - Rode, Gaudino, Pizarro (Hojbjerg 35), Ribéry (Scholl 41) – Lewandowski
Borussia M'Gladbach	Blaswich - Korb, Schulz , Dominguez , Wendt - Dahoud, Nordtveit - Hahn, Raffael, Traoré - Kruse
Referee	Peter Gagelmann (Bremen)
Goals	1-0 Lewandowski (29), 2-0 Ribery (34), 2-1 Kruse (42, pen), 2-2 Kruse (60, pen) Penalties: 1-0 Lewandowski, 1-1 Nordtveit, 2-1 Alaba, 2-2 Raffael, 3-2 Badstuber, 3-3 Hahn, Rafinha missed (Blaswich save), 3-4 Kruse, 4-4 Hojbjerg, Wendt missed (Starke save), 5-4 Martinez, Korb missed.
Yellow card	- / -

Lewandowski Opens Account in Friendly Draw

Star signing Robert Lewandowski scored on his first appearance in a Bayern shirt as Pep Guardiola’s experimental team drew their second friendly of pre-season 1-1 away to third division MSV Duisburg on Monday. The 24,126 crowd at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena in the Ruhr Valley saw Lewandowski and Fabian Schnellhardt trade second-half goals in a good-quality warm-up clash, as the Bavarians continued their long-established practice of lending a helping hand when once-famous clubs fall on hard times. "If you know Bayern Munich, you know they’re prepared to assist clubs with financial problems,” Duisburg’s grateful sporting director Ivica Grlic commented.

Just as in last Friday’s Dream Game in Memmingen Guardiola started with a three-man back line, this time featuring fit-again Diego Contento, Rafinha and captain for the night Holger Badstuber. The line-up included Juan Bernat on the left, David Alaba in the holding role, starlets-with-famous-fathers Lukas Scholl and Gianluca Gaudino in the centre, and Lewandowski at centre-forward. The home players, boasting over 350 second division appearances between them, are only a week away from their first league outing of the new term and promised to pose a stern test for the visitors at this early stage of pre-season.

Goal apiece after half-time

After referee Martin Thomsen whistled the match underway, FCB were soon on the attack but home keeper Michael Ratajczak saved well from Gaudino and brilliantly from Lewandowski after eight minutes. Alex Sieghart, promoted to FCB II from the U-19 youths for this season, shot too close to the keeper after a quarter-hour, but there was a let-off for the visitors when Zlatko Janjic steered wide of an open goal from MSV’s first meaningful foray.

The muscular and well-organised home team kept a lid on Munich’s attacking efforts for a long spell and restricted FCB to a single chance before half-time when Lewandowski spooned Contento’s centre over the bar. Duisburg began the second half brightly with Christopher Schorch heading wide and Starke saving expertly from Janjic, but the flow suffered for a time as both sides made substitutions, home coach Gino Lettieri swapping out almost his entire team in the course of the second period.

The visitors picked up the pace on the hour and claimed a deserved lead after 62 minutes when Lewandowski burst onto Rafinha’s chip and took a touch to control before slotting past second-half MSV keeper Marcel Lenz. The Poland striker hit the side-netting shortly afterwards, but the home side levelled with 20 minutes left when sub Schnellhardt drilled home left-footed from 20 yards. FCB youth and half-time sub Michael Eberlein missed a golden opportunity to restore his side’s lead but dallied with only Lenz to beat, before Lewandowski and Badstuber accepted the crowd’s warm applause when the pair departed the action with four minutes to go.

Live match report for fcbayern.de by Chris Hamley

MSV Duisburg - FC Bayern 1-1 (H-T: 0-0)

FC Bayern	Starke – Contento (Steinhart 55), Badstuber (Walter 86), Rafinha (Basta 79) – Alaba, Hojbjerg - Gaudino, Scholl (Eberlein 46), Bernat – Sieghart (Schwarz 46), Lewandowski (T. Schweinsteiger 86)
Substitute	Zingerle, Paul, Oikonomou
Referee	Dr. Martin Thomsen
Viewers	24,126
Goals	0-1 Lewandowski (62), 1-1 Schnellhardt (70)
Yellow card	- / Steinhart

Badstuber: I've Worked Hard for This

A friendly success can never have felt as good for Holger Badstuber as Friday's 3–0 victory over the Red Baroons fan club. The defender captained the Bayern side in Memmingen, the town where he was born, and the 11,150 capacity crowd gave the former FCB youth a standing ovation when he was substituted after an hour. But the most important take out of the evening was that Badstuber has finally made his long awaited comeback.

“Obviously it was fantastic,” said the defender, who was sidelined for more than 19 months with cruciate ligament damage. “I'm just so grateful. I’m enjoying every single minute I spend out on the pitch. I've worked very hard for this.” Badstuber played alongside new signing Juan Bernat and Austria star David Alaba in a three-man backline and shut out the Baroons, whose team was augmented by semi-pro fourth division players from FC Memmingen.

Wearing the captain's armband was “only a secondary thing," Badstuber said afterwards. “What matters is that I'm fit and healthy, I didn't feel cramped in the game and I felt confident. That was the main thing.” The Germany international understands what lies ahead for him personally: “Not very long from now I'll have cut out the errors I made today. Every game and every training session will make me more confident. We'll keep on doing what we’re doing. There's still a lot of work ahead before I get back to where I was.”

Debuts for Rode and Bernat

Sebastian Rode also felt the game in Memmingen was “a bit special” as he appeared for the first time in the famous red shirt. “It's not every day you play the Dream Game in front of a 10,000 crowd,” acknowledged the newcomer. Sebastian also felt the standard of play was more than reasonable in the circumstances. “There were a few decent players on the opposing team. It was a very good game to get us back into it,” the 23-year-old commented.

Rode played a half, but Bernat completed the full 90 minutes. “I'm very happy with that for a first game,” said the Spaniard after his maiden appearance for “a terrific team”. Professionals taking on their own fans was “totally unusual” back in his home country, Bernat reflected, “but it's a great idea to have the fans play their idols. I really liked it.” Everyone was a winner after the 2014 edition of the Dream Game.

Badstuber Comeback in Memmingen Friendly

Brass bands, Goißlschnalzer (Bavarian whip-crackers), alpen horns and FC Bayern - the eighth Dream Game was again a very special football event. This time fan club Red Baroons Dietmannsried e.V. in Memmingen gave Germany's record champion an inspiring reception. The entertaining showdown on Friday evening ended with a comfortable 3-0 win for Bayern.

This time the Dream Game did not just make a dream come true for an amateur team. The team's traditional game against a fan club was also a significant moment for one of Bayern's first-team players. After 594 days out with injury, Holger Badstuber made his long-awaited comeback in his hometown. The 25-year-old captained the team and played 58 minutes in the middle of a three-man defence.

Pep Guradiola had seven first-team players available in his first pre-season match. Eleven U-23 and U-19 players made up the rest of the squad due to the absence of the many players involved in the World Cup. Robert Lewandowski, Franck Ribery, Claudio Pizarro and Diego Contento are all still restricted to light training and missed out. Newcomers Sebastian Rode and Juan Bernat did make their first appearance in a Bayern shirt though.

Alaba with a double

11,150 spectators packed the sold-out Fußball Arena in Memmingen to watch the game in the hot summer temperatures, as the seating capacity had to be doubled to accomodate the attendance. On the pitch, Bayern's mix of senior and youth players had a comforatble outing. A clutch of youth players, Lucas Scholl and Gianluca Gaudino in particular, had good outings.

It did not take long for goals to come either. David Alaba scored an excellent long-range  goal (5) and added another on a free kick (37). Daniel Hägler secured a 3-0 lead by half-time. Only the post and a save from goalkeeper Philipp Beigl (78, 87) prevented a higher scoreline in the second half. The Red Baroons, predominantly made up of players from Regionalliga FC Memmingen, very rarely got out of their own half. In the 40th minute Andreas Mayer nearly had a consolation goal but could not force the ball past Bayern goalkeeper Tom Starke.

Red Baroons Dietmannsried - FC Bayern 0-3 (H-T: 0-3)

FC Bayern	Starke - Rafinha (Basta 67), Badstuber (Schwarz 58), Alaba - Rode (Paul 46), Scholl, Gaudino, Hojbjerg (Leo 77), Bernat - Hägler (Sieghart 46), Eberwein (Walter 61)
Substitute	Hundertmark
Referee	Tobias Schultes (Betzigau)
Viewers	11,150 (capacity)
Goals	0-1 Alaba (5), 0-2 Hägler (14), 0-3 Alaba (37)
Yellow card	- / -

Lahm Announce International Retirement

Five days after leading Germany to World Cup glory in Brazil, national team captain Philipp Lahm has surprised the footballing world by announcing his retirement from the international game. “I became increasingly resolved to take this step in the course of last season,” the 30-year-old was quoted as saying by Sportbild magazine. Lahm informed Germany coach Joachim Löw of his decision last Monday.

Lahm’s national team career began on 18 February 2004 with a 2–1 victory away to Croatia. The FC Bayern captain appeared at three World Cups and three European Championships, scoring five goals in a national team career spanning more than a decade. Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro against Argentina was Lahm’s 113th appearance for his country.

Reaction to Lahm's international retirement

“There can hardly be a better way to say farewell than to bow out at the high point of a career as world champion,” FC Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge toldfcbayern.de. “However, it will not be easy for the national team to replace Lahm as a player, person and captain.”

Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer spoke of “very surprising news for the national team and Germany fans. But only Philipp can sense whether his decision is the right one at this point in time. I definitely have the very greatest respect.”

“In his ten years with the national team he has not only been an outstanding player but always an absolute role model. I thanked him for all he has achieved on behalf of the DFB,” commented German FA (DFB) President Wolfgang Niersbach in a statement on the association homepage. During a phone conversation with the player, Niersbach revealed, “I swiftly realised it would be hopeless trying to talk him out of his decision.”

Bayern Mania

FC BAYERN MUNCHEN EV

World Cup Stats for Muller, Neuer & Co

There were seven Bayern players in the 1974 World Cup winning squad and it was a magnificent seven again 40 years later. The German triumph and the whole of Brazil 2014 bears the mark of FCB. That is not only evident in the official FIFA awards but also by a number of interesting facts and figures discovered by fcbayern.de:

General stats:
- No other club provided more players for the World Cup finals in Brazil as FC Bayern. There were 14 at the start of the tournament, 12 in the Round of Sixteen, ten in the last eight, nine at the semi-final stage and seven in the Final.

- No club contributed as many goals as FC Bayern. Mario Götze's winner in the Final was the eighteenth Bayern goal at Brazil 2014. There is a significant gap to the next two clubs Barcelona (10) and Manchester United (9).

- Only Thomas Müller and Xherdan Shaqiri managed to bag a hat-trick at this World Cup. That rare feat was only achieved once in the previous two World Cup finals (2010 and 2006) by Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain (2010).

- The 64 games played saw the official FIFA Man of the Match award go to 11 FC Bayern players: Arjen Robben (3), Thomas Müller, Mario Götze, Xherdan Shaqiri (2 each), Toni Kroos, and Mario Mandzukic all picked up the accolade. FCB were followed by Barcelona (7) and AS Monaco (4).

The phenomenon of Thomas Müller:
- Müller was the first World Cup goalscorer to repeat his goals tally from the previous tournament: 5 goals and 3 assists.

- He was just one goal short of winning theGolden Boot again.

- Three of his five goals at this tournament gave Germany a 1-0 lead. No other player scored the opening goal at this tournament as often.

- Müller only needed eight shots on target to clock up his five goals (16 shots on goal). By comparison Cristiano Ronaldo, who went out at the group stage, unleashed 22 shots but only succeeded in netting one solitary strike.

- Müller has the best conversion rate of all German players who have scored at least three goals in World Cup finals (since 1966): 41.7 percent of his efforts found the back of the net. Thomas leads ahead of Helmut Haller (40 percent), Gerd Müller (30.4 percent) and Miroslav Klose (28.1 percent).

- No one at Brazil 2014 ran as far as Müller. The 83.957 kilometres he covered is the equivalent of almost two marathons. Toni Kroos was in second place with 82.6 kilometres.

- Müller had 47 touches of the ball in the opposition penalty area, more than any other player. Arjen Robben was next best with 45 touches.

Manuel Neuer:
- 25 saves plus nine successful forays outside his box represent the best performance by a keeper at the World Cup.

- The number one keeper in the world kept four clean sheets. Argentina's Sergio Romero was the only other shot-stopper to equal that return.

- The FCB keeper made a total of 244 successful passes - two more than Lionel Messi! 68 percent of the Argentine's 356 passes found a team-mate - Neuer had an 82 percent success rate.

Arjen Robben:
- With three goals and one assist Robben joins Robin van Persie and Daley Blind as the most successful players in the Dutch team.

- Arjen had the most shots on goal for Holland (19), set up the highest number of chances (17) and won an impressive 55 percent of challenges for the ball.

- Along with Ron Vlaar he played the full 90 minutes in every Dutch game.

Philipp Lahm:
- Nobody made more passes than Philipp Lahm. The FCB captain passed the ball 651 times with 562 reaching their target (86 percent). Second place went to Toni Kroos with 633 passes of which 537 found a team-mate (85 percent).

Götze: It's Like a Dream

Helmut Rahn, Gerd Müller, Andreas Brehme and now Mario Götze. The 22-year-old striker netted a wonder goal to join the list of German players to score a World Cup winning goal for the national team. He chested the ball down and volleyed it into the far corner – that was Götze's magical moment 113 minutes into the Final against Argentina.

“It's incredible, I can't find the right words for it, it's like a dream,” declared the hero of Rio de Janeiro, “I'm just proud of the team and everything we've achieved here in Brazil. I think we've earned this trophy.”

Joachim Löw once again pulled the rabbit out of the hat. “Mario is a man for the big match. I felt he could make a decisive contribution and seal it for us,” explained the Germany coach who admitted he gave Götze a few words of advice when he brought him off the bench on 88 minutes: “I told Mario to show the world you're better than Messi and you can win this game. You've got every chance of doing it.”

'A prodigy'

Götze had his moment of magic at the Maracanã Stadium 25 minutes later, rounding off a brilliant move by taking the ball on the chest before volleying it into the back of the Argentina net with his left foot. “Mario was incredible,” declared André Schürrle who provided the assist and earned the FIFA Man of the Match award for his efforts.

“Götze is a player who can do it all. He's a prodigy,” enthused Löw in praise of his match-winner, “he has tremendous ability and outstanding technical skills. He's so astute. I know he can always win a game for us when push comes to shove. It was a fantastic finish.” Indeed, a wonder goal for the history books.

Bayern Reaction to Germany's World Cup Triumph

Germany are world champions again after a 24-year gap, and FC Bayern made a huge contribution to the triumph through their seven World Cup-winning players. “This is an outstanding success,” declared Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, “warm congratulations to the German team.” Matthias Sammer added: “What a magnificent triumph!”

FCB reaction to Germany's World Cup win:

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: “Warm congratulations to the German team, they've deservedly become world champions! We're all delighted that no fewer than seven Bayern players contributed to the success, and it’s an outstanding success. We'll lay on a fantastic but brief reception for our World Cup winners here in Munich. After that they'll take a vacation they truly deserve.”

Matthias Sammer: “What a magnificent triumph! I'm hugely delighted for the German team, for Jogi Löw and our seven Bayern world champions! It's a magnificent success, the team deserves it, and the whole of Germany is thrilled!”

Pep Guardiola: “It's outstanding for Germany. Congratulations to all my players and Joachim Löw. Enjoy this unbelievable title! You deserve it!”

Robert Lewandowski: “I watched the game at home and really enjoyed tuning in. Congratulations!”

David Alaba: “Lads, I'm really proud of you. I'm unbelievably pleased your dream has come true and you've won the thing.”

Sebastian Rode: “Congratulations! The lads were superb throughout the tournament and they've made history by winning the World Cup. Enjoy the party in Berlin!”

Rafinha: “That was an excellent World Cup final. I obviously wanted Brazil to win the tournament, but it wasn't to be. Fortunately Germany have won it instead. Lads, you're the best in the world!”

Götze Fires Germans to Fourth World Crown

Fully 24 years since their last global triumph, Bayern-inspired Germany are once again the champions of world football. FCB starlet Mario Götze struck a superb winner after 113 minutes of a tense and evenly-matched final in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday to seal a hard-fought but deserved 1-0 victory over Argentina and seal a fourth world crown for the Germans to go with their previous triumphs in 1954, 1974 and 1990.

Once again, a six-strong FCB contingent comprising Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Jérôme Boateng, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos and Thomas Müller were named in national coach Joachim Löw’s starting line-up, although there was a late change when Sami Khedira pulled up with a hamstring injury in the warm-up. The crucial Real Madrid defensive midfielder was replaced by Christoph Kramer of Borussia Mönchengladbach, although the youngster was forced off injured after barely half an hour.

In an end-to-end first half the defensive Argentinians were prepared to leave possession to the Germans, but their counter-attacks posed a truly dangerous threat. Gonzalo Higuain latched onto a loose Kroos return header after 21 minutes and found himself with only Neuer to beat, but dragged his shot wide. Germany slowly but surely seized the initiative and came closest to opening the scoring, but Kroos fired wide from a promising position and Benedikt Höwedes headed against a post from point-blank range.

Götze seals it

The South Americans were the livelier team in the early exchanges after the restart, with superstar Lionel Messi coming close on 47 minutes. The Germans probed for gaps in the defence superbly marshalled by ex-FCB centre-back Martin Demichelis, but the Gauchos defended with tremendous discipline and surprising energy. The match remained goalless until the end of the regulation 90 minutes, with Götze coming on for the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer and former Munich striker Miroslav Klose in the 89th minute.

In an increasingly bitter fight, with Schweinsteiger on the end of a series of mean fouls and requiring stiches to a head wound after a blow from an Argentine elbow, neither side truly dominated the play for a long spell. It always looked likely that a moment of genius might decide it, and it came when sub André Schürrle hared clear down the left and centred for Götze to control brilliantly on his chest before volleying home into the far corner and sealing the Germans’ fourth world title.

Lahm, Müller & Co Aim for Crowning Glory

Germany and their seven-strong Bayern contingent are just one step away from claiming a fourth World Cup crown, 24 years after the country’s previous triumph. The whole nation is in a state of fevered anticipation prior to Sunday's final against Argentina in Rio de Janeiro, and the players can also hardly wait.

“We're really looking forward to it and we're ready!” declared Philipp Lahm a few hours before the squad's departure for Rio, where the Bayern and Germany captain is determined to lead his men to victory. “We're fired up,” agreed Thomas Müller, “a World Cup final is the biggest game of all for a player. Our sense of anticipation is as big as you'd expect.”

However, the squad is fully focused too, because no-one expects an easy time of it against the team spearheaded by superstar Lionel Messi. The Germans have moved on rapidly from the extraordinary 7–1 demolition of Brazil in the semi-finals. “We know how hard it will be on Sunday,” stated Müller, “we'll throw everything we've got at it, with all our abilities both in terms of skill and fighting spirit.”

Total focus

“We start again from scratch,” agreed team manager Oliver Bierhoff, “we still have one very large step to take.” Bierhoff thinks the rerun of the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals will be “a completely different ball game. Argentina keep it tight and give you very little space.” Müller knows it will be physically gruelling: “We'll have to run ourselves to the limit especially when we're tracking back.”

Germany's top scorer at the tournament on five goals warned against too much focus on Messi, who has four goals to his name. “We have to defend against Argentina and not just one individual,” said Müller, although he acknowledged the Barcelona player’s special status. “We always have to have someone on him. If he gets round one of us someone else has to be there. We need a united team performance.”

“We're totally focused,” commented Lahm, “when you’re as close as this, it calls for total concentration!” Müller promised that he and his team-mates would “dig deep” so that the fans in Germany could organise “a couple more barbecues.” Lahm ended with a rallying call: “We want to bring the World Cup back to Germany again at last. That's our job on Sunday.”

Five Bayern Stars in Running for World Cup Awards

Philipp Lahm, Thomas Müller, Toni Kroos and Arjen Robben have all made the shortlist for the adidas Golden Ball, the trophy presented to the best player of the tournament, at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The quartet plus Germany centre half and former Bayern youth Mats Hummels were among the ten players nominated for the prestigious award by FIFA on Friday. Manuel Neuer is also in the running for a personal honour as the world's best keeper is one of three candidates for the adidas Golden Glove awarded to the best goalkeeper at the World Cup. The winners are chosen by FIFA’s Technical Study Group and will be announced after Sunday's final between Germany and Argentina.

Badstuber and Alaba send greetings

Prior to the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro, Holger Badstuber and David Alaba used a TV studio appearance to send greetings to their team-mates and in Holger’s case national team colleagues. The defensive duo, who have resumed training in Munich in the build-up to the new domestic and European campaign, said they were keeping their fingers crossed for a Germany victory over Argentina.

Quote of the day

“It has to be Germany."
(Franz Beckenbauer, asked to predict the new world champions on Friday)

Green: The World Cup Has Helped Me Progress

Julian Green has returned to Munich from the World Cup after a stunning debut on the global footballing stage. As an 18-year-old FC Bayern II regular he scored 15 goals in 23 matches in the Bavarian Regionalliga last season and was a shock inclusion in the USA's World Cup squad. Shortly after turning 19 he made a spectacular impact in Brazil by coming on as an extra-time substitute in the USA's Round of 16 match against Belgium and scoring with his first touch.

Green, who only made his national team debut in April, spoke to fcbayern.de about his adventure in Brazil. How was it in South America? What experience did he gain? And what does it mean for the coming season at Bayern?

Interview: Julian Green

fcbayern.de: Hello Julian! You returned to Germany a couple of days ago. What's the prevailing feeling? The euphoria of your performance or the disappointment of the dramatic elimination in the Round of 16?
Julian Green: Of course we’d have loved to win against Belgium, but despite that I look back with pride because no-one other than us expected us to survive a group with Germany, Ghana and Portugal. And the fact that I also got to make an appearance in the knockout round and score a goal means a lot to me.

How nervous were you when Jürgen Klinsmann signaled you should get ready to come on?
There was a little tension but I wasn’t nervous. I was just really happy to be coming on.

How surprised were you even to be included in the 23-player World Cup roster?
I wasn't that surprised. I trained well in camp and the coach and my team-mates always gave me the feeling that I belonged, even though I was the youngest in the squad. I always tried to conduct myself normally and not as the 'young' Julian.

So how was it for you in Brazil? How stressful was it there?
Overall it was a great experience, even though it was very exhausting. We traveled to a new location every four days, and for us squad players the training was harder. The climate in our camp in Sao Paolo was pleasant, but in other places the humidity was extremely high. That's why we prepared in Flordia and California.

How did you find the atmosphere in Brazil?
On the way to training and games countless people were standing on the road and cheered us. It was obvious that everyone in Brazil is crazy about football. Even in the stadiums the atmosphere was always sensational. And what we saw on the internet, Twitter and on TV was also great.

Soccer fever broke out in the USA. Did you pick upon any of that?
Sure, that was impressive. I never expected so many fans to cheer and keep their fingers crossed for us. More viewers watched our game against Germany than the NBA finals.

Even President Barack Obama sent messages of support - and invited you to the White House…
It's a great honor and I definitely want to be there. But I still don't know when that's going to happen.

So how has the World Cup helped you as a player?
The experience has definitely helped me progress. I was able to watch the best players in the world up close, Cristiano Ronaldo for example. His presence on the field, his ambition, his posture. Experiencing that up close was great.

What goals do you have heading into the new season at Bayern?
After my vacation everything starts again from zero, but I’ll carry a lot of confidence and experience with me from Brazil to Munich, so I’m looking forward to the new season. I want to be able to stand my ground at FC Bayern.

In late July and early August you’ll be touring in the US with FC Bayern. How excited are you about that?
The trip is something special for me. I love the country, I was born there and I’m always glad to be there. At our game against the MLS All Stars I’ll also meet some of my team-mates from the national team. I'm very much looking forward to the tour.

But first up is vacation. Where will you be going?
I don't know when or where I'll go yet. I’ll decide spontaneously. The most important thing will be to relax!

Juan Bernat starts pre-season at FC Bayern

23 May 2001, ‘A good day to make history’ as the FCB faithful announced in a never-to-be-forgotten fan choreography. It was the day Bayern secured a 5-4 win on penalties against Valencia in the Champions League final in Milan. Juan Bernat was just eight years old back then but already on the books at the Spanish club. “Of course, I don’t have very good memories of that match,” explained the Spain U-21 international, “but it’s all changed since then.”

The bitter defeat did not have a negative effect on the starlet’s career development. He graduated through all the youth teams at Valencia, became a junior international and last season went on to become the undisputed first choice on the left side of the Valencia defence. Impressive performances brought him to the attention of top European clubs, and 13 years after the triumph at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, Bayern came in with a bid.

Left winger by trade

“Bayern gave me the opportunity to come here. I didn’t need long to think about it,” explained Bernat, who said he was “full of commitment and anticipation” at his unveiling to the media at the Säbener Strasse. He did admit he was “slightly nervous” ahead of the new challenges awaiting him. However, the prevailing emotion was one of pleasure at the prospect of playing for “one of the biggest clubs in the world, a title-winning club. I’m very happy to be here,” said Bernat who was accompanied by his parents, twin sister and his brother.

Sporting director Matthias Sammer described Bernat as a player with “very, very good prospects.” The left winger has increasingly played in a more defensive role in recent years. Bernat is now considered to be one of the most talented full backs in Spain and has already been compared with full international Jordi Alba, who is four years older and also started out in the youth set-up at Valencia. “We’ve got similar capabilities and the comparison makes me feel a bit proud,” declared Bernat.

Not just back-up for the left flank

FCB recognised the “great ability” of the 1.72 metre Spaniard and Sammer believes he “will be able to improve here with us.” In addition to evident talent, his history also played a key part in the signing. “He grew up at Valencia and he knows all about identification and identity,” said Sammer before emphasising that Bernat is “not just back-up for the left flank.”

“We hope he can adapt quickly and become a reliable option for us.” Coach Pep Guardiola will have “the best sense” of where to play the new signing to the greatest effect. Bernat named his fellow Spaniard as one of the main reasons for his move to Germany. “I’m an enthusiastic supporter of Pep’s philosophy and I hope I can learn a lot from him.”

He wants to learn German “as quickly as possible” to be able to communicate with all his team-mates. Until then, his fellow countrymen Thiago and Javi Martínez plus the South Americans in the squad can help him settle. Bernat has an initial contract at Bayern to the summer of 2019. That gives him time to write himself into the history of his new club.

Mandzukic Poised to Join Atletico Madrid

After two seasons in Munich, Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic is poised to leave FC Bayern and join Spanish champions and Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid. “Nothing’s signed yet, but there are verbal agreements between FC Bayern and Atletico Madrid and between Mario and Atletico,” reported FCB board director for sport Matthias Sammer at the start of the club’s pre-season training programme on Wednesday.

“I think we can all rely on each other's word and we’ll soon announce closure,” continued Sammer, who said Mandzukic had “always behaved correctly and in an exemplary fashion” during his time at the club: “I have only positive things to say about him.” After joining Bayern from Wolfsburg, the 28-year-old marksman scored 33 goals in 54 Bundesliga appearances for the Reds.

Mandzukic bundled home the crucial opening goal against Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final at Wembley in London and made a vital overall contribution to FCB's historic treble triumph. “We want to thank Mario Mandzukic for his efforts and wish him all the best for the future,” said Sammer. Atletico need Mandzukic to replace Spain World Cup player Diego Costa, who is joining English Premier League club Chelsea.

Bayern's Germany Stars in Seventh Heaven

In an extraordinary match sure to be talked about for decades and which goes down in history in many ways, a Germany team with six Bayern stars in the starting line-up utterly destroyed hosts Brazil in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final, scorching to a 7-1 victory and booking a place in Sunday evening’s Final in Rio de Janeiro. After the scintillating last four victory, the Germans are now odds-on favourites to claim a fourth world crown regardless of whether they face Argentina or the Netherlands, who meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday.

Coach Joachim Löw kept faith with the starting line-up from last Friday's quarter-final triumph against France. CaptainPhilipp Lahm began at right back, withBayern stars Bastian Schweinsteiger,Manuel Neuer, Jérôme Boateng, Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos also on the field for kick-off. Mario Götze took a place on the bench.

The Brazilians opened brightly, but the 58,000 crowd in Belo Horizonte saw the Europeans seize the initiative and turn in an exceptional 20 minutes of football against a woeful home defence. Müller paved the way with his fifth goal of the tournament following an 11th-minute corner, after which Löw’s men conjured up a truly exceptional six-minute passage of play with goals from former FCB man Miroslav Klose (23), a Kroos brace on 24 and 26 minutes and a fifth from Sami Khedira (29) to settle the match before the half-hour mark.

Müller: We'll fight for our lives

Bayern defender Dante took over from suspended Brazil captain Thiago Silva for the match, and the men in yellow started the second half determined to avert an even more embarrassing defeat. However, there was no way past the outstanding Neuer as the World's Best Keeper showed all his class with a string of fine saves. The Germans had shifted down a gear with Sunday's final already in mind, but there were still goals to come in the momentous encounter.

Substitute Andre Schürrle made the score 7-0 with a brace on 69 and 80 minutes, before Oscar pulled one back for the devastated hosts in the last minute, although it was scant consolation for the proud footballing nation. The historic nature of the win was driven home by Klose’s strike as it took the former Munich striker onto 16 goals at the finals, overtaking Brazil legend Ronaldo (15) as the all-time top scorer at the tournament.

“You wouldn't necessarily have expected a match like that," a still-bewildered Müller said afterwards, “we recovered possession immediately and we used the space brilliantly.“ Germany are now determined to seal the biggest prize in world football, as Müller made clear: “We have to see it through to the end one more time, go for it with everything we've got, fight for our lives and bring it home!“

Bayern All Stars Primed for United Legends

The programme for the Allianz FC Bayern Team Presentation at the Allianz Arena on 9 August features a clash between the FC Bayern All Stars and the Manchester United Legends. It is no ordinary game, even for the highly successful former players. “Bayern versus Manchester, Germany versus England – it’ll be a real treat for the fans. We’re already looking forward to the match,” declared Paul Breitner.

The FCB brand ambassador and 1974 World Cup winner captains the Bayern veterans team. fcbayern.de presents the provisional line-ups.

FCB All Stars	Manchester United Legends
Markus Babbel	Bryan Robson (Manager)
Andreas Brehme	Denis Irwin
Paul Breitner	Andrew Cole
Hans-Jörg Butt	Dwight Yorke
Harald Cerny	Dion Dublin
Maurizio Gaudino	Edwin van der Sar
Owen Hargreaves	Lee Martin
Walter Junghans	Mikael Silvestre
Robert Kovac	Clayton Blackmore
Oliver Kreuzer	Jesper Blomqvist
Hans Pflügler	Quinton Fortune
Michael Rummenigge	Danny Higginbotham
Paulo Sérgio	Ben Thornley
Michael Tarnat	Paul Scholes
Olaf Thon
Mark van Bommel
Marcel Witeczek
Alexander Zickler

Best In The World

There were just seconds left in Manuel Neuer’s 50th game for Germany when the keeper threw up a hand to beat away a goalbound Karim Benzema drive and secure his team’s place in the World Cup semi-finals at the expense of France. It was only the last of a string of crucial blocks by the Bayern stalwart.

“You have to make those saves,” the 28-year-old modestly reflected after a performance in which he showed all his class on the line, in the penalty box and also as the first man in the build-up play. “With Benzema you know he’ll always have a go, because he likes to get his shots away quickly. So I was ready,” Neuer continued.

22 clean sheets

Following a display against Algeria that redefined the concept of the keeper-sweeper, Neuer reverted to a more conventional goalkeeping style in his milestone match. He kept a 22nd clean sheet for his country, prompting effusive praise from head coach Joachim Löw. “It’s an amazingly good feeling for the defence when they know they have a keeper who dominates the penalty area, saves brilliantly on his line, and is a great player outside the box.”

Ever since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Löw continued, the 1.99 metre shot-stopper has been “one of the very best keepers in the world, if not the best. He’s so incredibly composed. It makes everyone in the team feel secure.”

His team-mates, and especially those from Bayern, long ago recognised Manuel’s quality. “I can’t stand there after every match and repeat that Manuel Neuer is world class. I’ve been saying it for years,” remarked captain Philipp Lahm. “If someone does break through, we know we’ve got Manu there,” added Toni Kroos. In the 34th minute on Friday, for example, when Neuer made a superb block to deny Mathieu Valbuena with his left hand. “We’re lucky to have him,” Kroos continued.

‘Whole new ball game’

It is tempting to make comparisons with 2002, when Oliver Kahn illuminated the tournament in Japan und Korea and became known as The Titan. Kahn conceded just one goal in Germany’s six matches prior to the Final, although it was his mistake that allowed Ronaldo to score the opening goal in Brazil’s 2-0 win.

Neuer has let in three at the current World Cup so far, but he is now aiming to do better than Kahn when the foes from 2002 meet in Belo Horizonte next Tuesday. “It’s a whole new ball game,” he said. The hard-earned win over the French has strengthened Neuer’s belief that Germany can reach the final this year: “We’ve come through against a good team. That’s a very good sign.”