Lukas Podolski’s farewell game in the live ticker – Manuel Neuer arrives

When Lukas Podolski enters the Rheinenergiestadion, he will wear the Cologne jersey for the last time. Some companions accompany him when he says goodbye.

Twelve years after his departure from 1. FC Köln, Lukas Podolski invites you to one last game in the cathedral city. Under the motto “Our 10 are returning home – one last time in Rut un Wiess” tons of Podolski’s companions will gather in Cologne’s Rheinenergiestadion on Thursday evening. Follow the evening in the ticker.

Before the party – There are only a few minutes left until kick-off. Joachim Löw therefore steps up to the microphone and speaks again about his time together with Podolski: “We have a lot in common. When I think of Luke, I think of his warmth and his laughter. He was always a top player and one of the best strikers we ever had in Germany – and one of the most popular.

He himself will always remember the art “that he has always been as a person”. “That sticks with me: the person Lukas Podolski. “It’s hard to beat,” Löw continued. In the locker room he gave Podolski his last task: to score a goal. “You can rely on that,” emphasized the former national coach.

Before the party – In addition to Podolski, nine other Rio world champions around Manuel Neuer are part of the team’s squad. With Bayern Munich’s five-time world goalkeeper, who retired from the national team just a few weeks ago, Matthias Ginter from SC Freiburg and Hannover 96 goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, there are a total of three current first and second division professionals in the game against “Team FC”. .

The team is supplemented by some of Podolski’s current teammates at the Polish first division club Gornik Zabrze. On the other hand, in the Cologne stadium, “Team FC” gathers companions from Podolski’s time at 1. FC Köln and nine active professionals from the seventh team in the second division, including captain Timo Hübers.

Before the party – Podolski invited well-known players for a special evening. So the now 39-year-old brings Joachim Löw back to the coaching bench. Germany’s 2014 world champion coach will coach the “Poldis 11” selection at Podolski’s farewell game together with the then goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke and his former assistant Hansi Flick, now a coach at FC Barcelona.

Before the party – A frightening scene had already occurred beforehand: a Polish football fan was critically injured by a stab wound during a confrontation between two groups near Cologne Cathedral. A person suspected of being involved in the crime was arrested, the police and public prosecutor’s office said. Read more about this here.

Before the party – Hello and welcome to the ticker of Podolski’s farewell game. The party in Cologne starts at 8:45 p.m.