Latest news with #Bavaria
CTV News
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Champions League final lineups named as fans pack Munich
Paris Saint-Germain fans chat slogans before the start of the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) MUNICH — Soccer fans took over Munich before Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan went head-to-head in the Champions League final on Saturday. The teams have felt the pain of falling at the last hurdle in recent years. Inter was a losing finalist against Manchester City in 2023 and PSG lost its only previous final against Bayern Munich in 2020. Lineups Both teams named strong lineups with star players Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Lautaro Martinez on show. PSG: Donarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos (captain), Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia Inter: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez (captain) Fans Supporters geared up for the evening game by making their way to designated fan zones hours before kickoff. Many stopped en route to sample Munich's gastronomy on a beautiful warm day in the Bavarian capital. Near Odeonsplatz, where Inter fans gathered, many stopped at neighboring Wittelsbacherplatz — a cobbled plaza flanked by stately buildings with a bronze statue of Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, on a horse in the center — and sheltered from the sun under giant umbrellas and enjoyed lunch washed down by beers. Police kept a watchful eye on a huge group of black-clad ultras who banged drums, sang and waved flags as they marched toward the fan zone. Other Inter supporters who wore T-shirts identifying themselves as hooligans cheered them on. The PSG supporters made their way to Königsplatz, another town square nearby, which seemed calm in comparison to the flares, smoke and loud pop tunes being spun at Odeonsplatz. Overall, it seemed Inter fans outnumbered their French counterparts. On Marienplatz, Munich's main square in the center of the old town, they jumped and sang songs surrounded by onlookers with their phones up to capture the footage. Brothers Giuseppe and Andrea Pertosa, who were also at the 2023 final in Istanbul, are hoping for a better outcome this time around. 'We will win 1-0,' Andrea predicted, somewhat doubtfully. Champions League pedigree Inter has won the Champions League or European Cup on three occasions, most recently in 2010. PSG hasn't won it at all. PSG spent billions of dollars and signed some of the sport's greatest players like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi without Champions League success. Those superstars have exited, but coach Luis Enrique has assembled one of the most exciting squads in Europe, with the likes of Dembele, Desire Doue and Kvaratskhelia filling the void left by that trio. Luis Enrique is aiming to win the competition for the second time as a coach, having lifted it with Barcelona in 2015, and would become the seventh coach to win the trophy with different teams. 'The motivation for me is to win the Champions League title for the first time for PSG,' he said. 'That is the gift I want to give the people, the club, the city.' Inter was looking for a treble just over a month ago, but is now left with the Champions League as its only possible trophy. It lost the Italian title by a point and was knocked out of the Italian Cup in the semifinals. 'These players in these four years did a lot — won a lot and lost sometimes. It happens. But we all gave our all, everyone. We are proud to be Inter," coach Simone Inzaghi said. 'I dreamed of playing the Champions League final. I didn't do it as a player, but thanks to this group of players I've been in two finals as a head coach.' When does the Champions League final begin? The match at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT). James Robson and Ciarán Fahey, The Associated Press
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Füllkrug grateful for Germany return, but Amiri leaves team camp
West Ham forward Niclas Füllkrug is "very grateful" to coach Julian Nagelsmann for nominating him to the Germany squad for the Nations League after a "very difficult" first season in the Premier League. "You have to assess the situation realistically. The coach certainly didn't invite me because I've had the best season of my career. Rather, it's because I've always performed well here," he said on Saturday. Advertisement "And my qualities will certainly be needed at some point," he added. The player has scored 14 goals in 22 games for the national team. Füllkrug last played for Germany in September and has since struggled with Achilles tendon problems, which had an impact on his form. But he was called up again in the absence of the injured Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst. But he will face competition with VfB Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade, who had a strong season and won the German Cup. The national team gathered at the training camp in Bavaria's Herzogenaurach to prepare for the Nations League Final Four on June 4-8. Advertisement Germany face Portugal in the semi-finals on Wednesday. The winner will face either 2020-21 champions France or title holders Spain in the final. Midfielder Nadiem Amiri has left the Germany training camp due to adductor problems, the German Football Federation (DFB) said on Saturday. The DFB initially didn't announce a replacement. Nagelsmann won't attend Champions League final Due to the preparations for the tournament, coach Julian Nagelsmann and DFB sporting director Rudi Völler have decided to skip the Champions League final in Munich between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan. "We received an invitation, but we said 'thank you' and won't be going," Nagelsmann said. Advertisement "We will stay with the team and watch the final together, because we want to use the time with the group. Otherwise, we would be away for half a day," he explained. Nagelsmann added that, in his position, one should remain neutral, but said that he will have his fingers crossed for national team player and Inter defender Yann Aurel Bisseck. "We have a player in the final, fingers crossed he makes a good game and come to us with a successful result. That would be better for him and for us," he said.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Midfielder Amiri leaves Germany camp due to adductor problems
Mainz's Nadiem Amiri celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and Bayer Leverkusen at Mewa Arena. Torsten Silz/dpa Midfielder Nadiem Amiri has left the Germany training camp due to adductor problems, the German Football Federation (DFB) said on Saturday. The DFB initially didn't announce a replacement. The national team gathered at the training camp in Bavaria's Herzogenaurach to prepare for the Nations League Final Four on June 4-8. Advertisement Germany face Portugal in the semi-finals on Wednesday. The winner will face either 2020-21 champions France or title holders Spain in the final. Due to the preparations for the tournament, coach Julian Nagelsmann and DFB sporting director Rudi Völler have decided to skip the Champions League final in Munich between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan. "We received an invitation, but we said 'thank you' and won't be going," Nagelsmann said. "We will stay with the team and watch the final together, because we want to use the time with the group. Otherwise, we would be away for half a day," he explained. Advertisement Nagelsmann added that, in his position, one should remain neutral, but said that he will have his fingers crossed for national team player and Inter defender Yann Aurel Bisseck. "We have a player in the final, fingers crossed he makes a good game and come to us with a successful result. That would be better for him and for us," he said.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
PSG and Inter Milan have been the standout teams in the Champions League, mixing flair with functionality - the beauty of this final is it is really too close to call, writes CRAIG HOPE
They are Europe's twin pillars of fashion, cities of grandiose, perfume ads and no little chaos. Yet the football clubs of Paris and Milan do not arrive here in the sauna of Munich conforming to cultural stereotype. If anything, they are built as much on the traditions of the country that will play host to Saturday's Champions League final. Paris Saint-Germain and Inter are the right finalists, too. They have been the standout teams in this season's competition. There is flair but with it functionality, in its best sense. Not the obdurate, grind-you-down type. Rather, a competence and strategy that allows the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Lautaro Martinez to stand atop their own side's structure and break down that of the opposition. Like Germany teams of old, this pair are quietly formidable. Leave it to Real Madrid and Barcelona to squabble over their Ballon d'Or favourite, the greatest prize awaits here at the Allianz Arena, Bavaria's luminous cocoon that glows as brightly as the sun on the outside and silverware within. The trophy sparkled pitchside on Friday night as the world's broadcasters took turns to plant it on their velvet pedestals. And the most intriguing aspect of it all? No-one knows who will lift it come sundown. I chatted to Rafa Benitez, a Champions League winner, at Munich Airport on Friday. Edwin van der Sar, a two-time winner, strolled by. Big game, big names. Benitez sided with PSG, and then made an argument for Inter! Having been to both semi-finals, I would share Benitez's instinct, but only just. PSG have undergone a footballing feng shui since I watched them lose to Dortmund in last season's semi, when they could not score over two legs. They are no longer hostage to the ego of Kylian Mbappe, Leo Messi, Neymar and others. Under the bold and brilliant Luis Enrique, the matador has chased the bulls from the ring. There are stars, but they exist in the same orbit as their manager and team-mates. Georgian winger Kvaratskhelia was not only PSG's best attacker in the semi-final win over Arsenal, he was their best defender. It is because of him and the likes of teenage jewel Desire Doue that PSG are, whisper it, likeable. There has not been a great deal of neutral affection in 14 years of their Qatari-bankrolled project, and such fondness might well be the biggest transformation of all. It is hard to believe this is the same team that not so long ago felt like a mood board for petulance, now on the brink of their first Champions League crown. Simone Inzaghi's Inter are worthy of equal respect. Their greatest strength? They find a way to win. In fact, they know no other feeling. In 14 Champions League matches, the Italians have trailed for just 16 minutes. And yet, there is also an endearing jeopardy at times. Catenaccio this most definitely is not. In the quarters and semis, when they were underdogs against Bayern Munich and then Barcelona, the wolf was never far from their door. At least, that is, until Lautaro showed his fangs and chased it away. Is there a more under-rated player in European football? The Argentine's goal here versus Bayern will make the podium for this season's best, a move he started on the centre spot and finished on the penalty spot. He will also be one of only two players on the pitch to have played in a World Cup final and won. The Champions League would complete the game's ultimate double. In the Allianz media room on Friday night, Inter officials asked each journalist which player they would prefer to ask questions of - Lautaro or midfielder Nicolo Barella? Sempre Lautaro! The subject of perception was broached but, curiously, it was the idea of him being appreciated more in Italy than Argentina. Barella, sitting next to his captain, laughed. He knew it would likely irritate his friend. Lautaro seized the chance to hit back. Call it striker's instinct. 'You're the journalist, you tell me!' he snapped, albeit with a smile. 'You're from Argentina. You know the daily grind, what you guys are saying about me. I always think individual achievements are in the passenger seat anyway. The main priority for me is to give what I can to Inter. I've been here seven years, the Italian press see me every day. Maybe that's why they hold more esteem for me. But when I'm back with Argentina, I also get good press, I think!' With his squat stance anchored by calves that make those of Jack Grealish look like cocktail sticks, there is something of the middleweight boxer about Lautaro. He let his tongue land the blows this time. The 27-year-old was on the losing side in this final two years ago, when Inter were beaten 1-0 by treble-chasing Manchester City in Istanbul. Pep Guardiola told Inzaghi afterwards that his team would be back in another final soon enough. Maybe it was one of Pep's slightly patronising consolations - 'Southampton, so, so good' - or maybe he had seen beyond the scoreline and knew that Inter were the better team. And they are, still, a better team than what many believe them to be. It is wrong, too, to pitch this as a clash of styles. Inter have scored 114 goals this season. Across those ties against Bayern and Barcelona, they netted 11 times. The biggest contrast is age. PSG have the youngest average starting XI in the Champions League, at 25, whilst Inter have the fourth oldest at 30.3. But there is a feeling for both that their time is now. This is no dress rehearsal for another day. That much was evident in the centre of Munich on Friday night, where it felt as if an entire continent had converged. The beer halls were perfumed by roast pork and the spilt froth of giant steins that are still too small, but the pervading scent in this sticky, summer air was football. Kvaratskhelia and Dembele shirts sat alongside those of Lautaro and Thuram. The only thing more intense than the heat was the hope. When the rivals bickered, it was never anything more than hop-fuelled claims of which team would win. And that is the beauty of this final - we really don't know the answer. INTER MILAN League Phase Sep 18: DREW 0-0 v Man City Oct 1: WON 4-0 v Red Star Belgrade Oct 23: WON 1-0 v Young Boys Nov 6: WON 1-0 v Arsenal Nov 26: WON 1-0 v RB Leipzig Dec 10: LOST 1-0 v B Leverkusen Jan 22: WON 1-0 v Sparta Prague Jan 29: WON 3-0 v Monaco Knockout Phase Mar 5: WON 2-0 v Feyenoord Mar 11: WON 2-1 v Feyenoord Apr 8: WON 2-1 v Bayern Apr 16: DREW 2-2 v Bayern Apr 30: DREW 3-3 v Barcelona May 6: WON 4-3 v Barcelona (aet) Top Scorers Lautaro Martinez 9 Hakan Calhanoglu 4 Marcus Thuram 4 Manager: SIMONE INZAGHI League titles: 1 Domestic cups: 3 PS. This is the first-ever competitive meeting between PSG and Inter. The last final in which that happened is 2005 (Liverpool v AC Milan). WATCHING BRIEF... Kick-off: 8pm, Allianz Arena, Munich. TV & radio: LIVE on TNT Sports 1, discovery+ (free), BBC 5 Live and talkSPORT. Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Rom).
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
PSG close to scaling summit but could old-school Inter end wait for glory?
A Bavarian beauty contest brings a quandary as old as time. Will fortune favour the youthful swagger and daring of Paris Saint-Germain or the refined cunning of an experienced Inter, whose legs simply refuse to tighten up? The Champions League final is guaranteed to throw up a relatively fresh winner through a clash of styles and approaches that tantalises more than any that this occasion has staged in the past decade. It is hard not to be compelled by Luis Enrique's remoulded PSG side, even if reservations about their Qatari ownership and utter dominance of Ligue 1 will colour perceptions. Their calibration away from the narcissism of modern-day galacticos, in favour of a fearless younger cast who understand the value of hard work, has in fact had the effect of creating new stars. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's maverick feats with Napoli had hardly taken place in the shadows, but coruscating displays on this stage open up an infinitely vaster audience. The 19-year-old Désiré Doué has a joy and freedom to his game that his Premier League peers may envy; Bradley Barcola's flair for self-expression is not far behind. Ousmane Dembélé, once seemingly destined to nestle a notch or two below the elite, is a player transformed, with 33 goals in all competitions. 'We have to finish the job because what we're really aiming for is to make history,' said Luis Enrique in the buildup. A PSG side managed by Thomas Tuchel, spearheaded by Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, were thwarted by their old boy Kingsley Coman in their previous final appearance five years ago. It has taken longer than intended for PSG, bought by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011, to scale the summit; they are almost at the very peak now and it has been no small achievement to make them likable. 'Our goal was to gradually create something different, something special,' Luis Enrique said. 'Something that could attract players and make them want to come to Paris'. Few would turn their noses up at joining the collective forged by a manager who led Barcelona to win this competition in 2015. He has created a midfield whose technique and acumen bears at least faint resemblance to the Xavi-Busquets-Iniesta triumvirate of yore, a frontline encouraged to lean into its capacity for producing the unexpected. They face an Inter team whose individual gifts are more familiar. There is something of the old-school Serie A about Simone Inzaghi's side, although that is not to overlook their capacity to construct moves of sweeping beauty. They can pass through lengthy periods of a match barely noticed, before surfacing to land a decisive blow. Lautaro Martínez fizzes with emphatic, relentless Argentinian intensity; Marcus Thuram is a swift, smart accomplice, and then there are the wiles of those further back. They will probably not dominate the ball, but nor will they eschew it to the extent José Mourinho encouraged when they last ruled Europe in 2010. Inter will field a starting XI whose average age is around 31, but they never stop. The sensational equaliser scored by Francesco Acerbi, the 37-year-old defender, in the semi-final second leg against Barcelona stopped even the most jaded observer in their tracks. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has discovered a Benjamin Button quality at 36 and it is worth remembering that the goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who is the same age, was not fancied by Bayern Munich. 'I asked during the week for concentration and determination, but not obsession,' Inzaghi told his audience inside the Allianz Arena. 'We must be free, free of mind and preparing in the best possible way'. The spectre of Inter's defeat against Manchester City in Istanbul two years ago, a game they could have won, looms but must not preoccupy. Nor should questions about Inzaghi's future, even though there is persistent speculation he will leave this summer. To assist the task at hand, he has a fully fit squad for just the fourth time this season. Only 18,000 fans of either club have tickets for the game but many more have poured into a sun-soaked Munich. The security operation is predictably extensive and is being mirrored in Paris, where 40,000 PSG supporters will watch a televised feed at Parc des Princes and around 15,000 are due to attend a screening at Roland Garros. Around 5,400 officers will be operating in Paris throughout Saturday evening. Whether they are overseeing fervent celebrations or a night of misery depends squarely on tonight's tussle between the tyros and the tested.
