Bremen happy to dodge World Cup
- 28 Jun 06, 07:14 PM
BREMEN - You might expect that a club who applied to host World Cup matches, but was rejected, would feel particularly left out now.
And with currently the second best club side in the country after a third successive Champions League qualification, you would think they are feeling hard done by.
Bremen's is one of four orginal host candidates to be trimmed from the organising committee's plans.
But Werder's media director Tino Polster isn't too bothered.
"In one way we are disappointed not to be part of this spectacular championship," he said.
"But from an organising point of view it is very good for us that we just missed it."
What Polster is worried about is having the entire club taken over by Fifa for the duration of the tournament, and with the club's offices and training facilities all based at the stadium this would have proved a massive hassle.
"It's something you really don't need."
"We had here at the weekend," he proudly boasted, "so we carry on as normal."
Check out the video.
The reasons the stadium was rejected are the lack of roof coverage for all of the 37,500 seats - 5,000 less than their Bundesliga capacity which allows standing - and poor car parking.
Still, it hasn't stopped the people in the city enjoying the World Cup, the Swedish team was even resident here until their elimination last Saturday - although Polster couldn't tell us any juicy late-night partying stories.
And the club's fans are very proud their star player, , is also the star of the Germany team, with .
Polster was very keen to point out to us, and to all those that may not know, that Werder Bremen is a big club and they will not be selling their main asset - despite rumours of a big money move in the papers.
"No, we will not sell him. Not for any price," he said.
"Not unless we get 75m euro and we can close the club and make a bank."
Polster is an entertaining guy and one of the quickest-witted Germans we've met on our trip so far - most of our attempts of humour with the locals have been met with stern faces and a sensible reply.
A lifelong Bremen fan and former TV presenter and commentator, he is now in charge of the club's image and keen to grab any opportunity to thrust the club into the limelight.
He was keen to show us his "100% Champions League" T-shirts, which the Bremen players quickly donned after a last-day victory over local rivals Hamburg saw them leapfrog into second spot in the Bundesliga.
"Greetings to Hamburg," he said on learning that was our next destination.
"But remember we are number one in the north."
Don't forget to for the chance to win some fabulous Sport Relief prizes, including a Pele-signed table football and our very own Shevchenko-signed Fletch and Ricco t-shirts.
Comments Post your comment
Martin,
It's interesting you mention Miroslav Klose from Werder Bremen because he's one of the few shining stars at this year's World Cup.
Where is Ronaldinho? Where is Rooney? I posed the question on my blog (read more at
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Complain about this post
Glad to hear you're finally coming to Germany's finest city! ;)
There's a nice Stellplatz right in the city centre: , but it may be a bit hard to get to it because of the massive construction going on in the surrounding area (think London Docklands...).
Another option would be one of the camping grounds next to the river, including sand beaches. See you here! ;)
Complain about this post
Toni Polster is probably so quick-witted, because he is an Austrian...
Complain about this post
Higli - the article got Polster's name right the first time around... The Press Officer at SVW is Tino Polster. Toni Polster (he of the onetime big hair) is still working in Austria I believe; there is no mention of his working at Werder on his website.
Complain about this post
As for the stern faces and sensible responses, please remember that English is not our native tongue and our effort is in providing you with responses to your questions. It is a lot easier to be witty if you don鈥檛 have to think too much about what vocabularies and grammar to use. Herr Polster鈥檚 English must be very good for him to also be quick-witted.
Complain about this post
Yeah, but this isn't about T*o*ni Polster, the former striker for Cologne and Gladbach.
T*i*no Polster is the Public Relations guy of Werder Bremen...
BTW, I don't think the Germans are less quick-witted compared to other Europeans. IMHO the language barrier ist the main problem here...
Complain about this post
The sensible answers indeed are language barrier related. But the stern faces have to do with British dental care. WOW, did I just really write that? Gee, I鈥檓 not suppose to be that way. ;-)
Complain about this post
I live in the US for almost 3 years now. Even though I was able to talk to people right from the start about pretty much anything it took me a long time to get my jokes across. I frequently had the problem (and sometimes i still have) that I have a nice thing in my mind but somehow it only works in german. People are probably happy if they understand you at all. Its hard for them to tell the difference between you being funny and them not getting some words.
So if you want to be funny you have to do it in a very obvious way (which is of course far from being quick witted).
Complain about this post
Hi All
Hope yr interested in my comments
I'm not quite sure that England have found the system to suit their critics, however they are getting closer to the grail.
In my humble opinion:
Terry and Lampard are suffering from a lack of self belief. (aka a benitez hangover 'twice')London based media will of course never agree. Carragher is the man instead of Terry, because of the winning experience and the heart. If you dont agreee look at the body language of Terry in all the cup games he has ever played compared to Jamie.
Gerrard is focused and knows Rooney inside out, J Cole is the same with both.
We only have one Rio, its a shame he Can't concentrate at corners.
Becks should move to right back later in the game for Aaron when we are chasing; Sven has got this perfect.
I will not carry on because Im worried that all my secrets might get conveyed to Portugal then France and Germany.
But one things for sure; as a man who witnessed Crouch score both goals against Wigan; he is destined to score in the final.
Regards to all world football fans; and fortunately my brazillian friends
have passed on the soul to me.
40 yrs of thanks
Mickey C
Complain about this post
Sensible answers, quick-witted answers -- here's another stereotype:
Northern Germans tend to be faster when it comes to talking. On the other hand in Southern Germany people generally are more deliberate. That's simply because their thoughts take the long way through all convolutions of the brain before finding expression. In Northern Germany people seem to have a faster connection between the ear and the mouth.
While in Bremen people may appear wittier, in the OECD PISA study that monitors students' abilities their children take the last place among all Bundesl盲nder. Southern German states hold the top positions.
Complain about this post
Ahh, Bremen. They had Depeche Mode, you know.
Klose has been brilliant, the star of the World Cup for me.
Complain about this post
What has got you the most riled up in the last few weeks of World Cup viewing?
We invite you to take this brief lull in the proceedings to get your World Cup rant off your chest. Think of it as therapy.
Drop by to find the easiest way for you to give us your rant.
Then check out the special 'angry' edition of the Soccer Shout podcast on Thursday night to see how many spleens needed to get a good old venting.
Complain about this post
37,000 is not big enough anyway! Come on, how many matches would have sold out about 10 times over?
I think there should be a minimum of 50,000 seats for smaller games and at least 70,000 for the bigger games (Eng, Ger, Bra etc...)
When England hosts the 2018 World Cup I am sure we'll have the best stadia of any country.
Perhaps Cardiff would lend the Millenium stadium for the 2018 final if Wembley is n't finished by then ;o)
Complain about this post