Latest news with #LukasPodolski
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The real GOATs: CR7 and Podolski level pegging here
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lukas Podolski on equal footing? Podolski has won 13 titles in his active career so far, CR7 an incredible 98. We don't even want to start with the goals scored. But there is one statistic where the two striker legends are on a par. They are the only two players out of 368 who played in the 2004 European Championship and have not yet ended their active careers - more than 20 years later, they are still on the hunt for goals! And this fact, of course, the former DFB striker had to share with his fans on his social media channel on 'X'. And Poldi, believe us, we were at least as surprised as you when creating this graphic! Podolski has been under contract with the Polish first division club Górnik Zabrze for almost 4 years, his contract runs until 2026. Ronaldo's contract with Al-Nassr even runs until 2027. And while we might see CR7 play in the World Cup next year, we have to forgo a reunion with Lukas Podolski. He played his last international match unfortunately already in 2017 against England. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. 📸 FABRICE COFFRINI - 2008 AFP
Euractiv
05-08-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
Is Germany facing a döner shortage over workers' rights?
For months, workers have been on strike over working conditions at one of Germany's largest döner kebab skewer production sites. Could this mean the beloved staple is becoming scarce? The döner kebab, traditionally lamb or beef meat, in flatbread is one of Germany's most beloved fast foods – whether for lunch, a cheeky midnight snack or as a hangover remedy after a night out. Beyond convenience, the döner represents much more: It's a symbol of Turkish-German friendship and the legacy of Turkish Gastarbeiter (guest workers) who arrived between the 1950s and 1970s to help rebuild post-war Germany. Over time, the döner has achieved cult status. From slogans like 'Döner makes you better looking,' to ex-national footballer Lukas Podolski launching a kebab chain, and politicians rallying with cheap döner during campaigns to engage young voters. For some, it's seen as a badge of honour if your local kebab dealer knows you on a first name basis, while calls for a 'döner price cap' spice up concerns about inflation and affordability. To the dismay of many, the median price of a döner rose from €4 to €7 between 2016 and 2025 and a months-long strike at a key production site in the southern state of Baden-Württemberg is stirring public worry about a further price increase. Workers unite! The Birtat factory is a major supplier of kebab meat nationwide. For months, workers have been demanding higher wages and a collective agreement, but so far, there has been no consensus. According to the Food, Beverages, and Catering Union (NGG), employees' conditions involve intense work on fast-paced production lines and inconsistent wages, with some unexplained differences of up to €50. Union slogans like 'Döner: even prettier with a union contract!', alluding to the colloquial catchphrase, reflect the growing pressure. While the strikes have disrupted production only for singular days and no shortages have been reported so far, extended industrial action could eventually affect supply. The Döner Index Germany's 'Döner Index' might not enjoy the same fame as The Economist 's 'Big Mac Index', but is an equally quirky yet telling way of measuring regional inflation and economic pressure. Döner-hungry individuals need to fork out between €5.79 and €9.77 for their kebab, a study across 37 German cities by food-delivery service Lieferando found. The most expensive döner was identified in the northern city of Flensburg, while the cheapest was located in the eastern city of Halle (Saale). According to Professor Oliver Holtemöller of the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, three main factors drive these variations: competition (how many shops are nearby), local costs (like rent and wages), and demand. Combined, they explain the wide price gap. However, Holtemöller cautions that döner prices reflect local conditions more than general inflation. 'The price differences for doner kebabs are much more regional than those of general inflation. That means there are special, döner-specific factors at play,' he said in an interview with public broadcaster MDR . In short: wealthier areas with higher wages typically see higher döner prices. Döner goes Brussels The döner has also entered the policy arenas of Brussels, with Turkey seeking EU recognition for it under the Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) scheme – which protects recipes, not regions. Ankara wants to set rules on how döner is made to preserve its authenticity – from the thickness of the meat slices to the hours of marination. An application, filed in 2022, outlines detailed preparation standards, from meat slicing to marination, to safeguard authenticity. After months of inconclusive talks between Turkey and EU countries, the ball now lies in the European Commission's court. The decision will be taken 'in due time," a Commission spokesperson told Euractiv.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 Homecoming: Köln sign German World Cup winner
Lukas Podolski and Ron-Robert Zieler not only won the 2014 World Cup together. Both were also trained at 1. FC Köln and are deeply rooted in the city. One of the two lost sons is now returning to the club. Zieler, most recently a long-time goalkeeper for Hannover 96, will be playing in the cathedral city again in the future. Advertisement Between 1999 and 2005, the keeper was trained by the Billy Goats. In the 2020/21 season, he already returned to his hometown on loan. Today, the 36-year-old signed a two-year contract with the FC and is expected to compete with Marvin Schwäbe for the starting position in goal. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. 📸 Christof Koepsel - 2014 Getty Images
Business Wire
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Business Wire
EA SPORTS FC FUTURES Doubles Grassroots Impact Year-on-Year, Opening Up Community Football Access to 500,000 People in Two Years
BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced that EA SPORTS FC FUTURES has doubled its year-on-year impact, opening up access to grassroots football to over 340,000* people in year two. Building on the 170,000** in year one, it means the programme has increased access to the world's game to over 500,000 people around the world in just two years since its inception. Since launching in 2023, the initiative has continued to deliver on its commitment to grow community-level football worldwide and support real-world play, by refurbishing community pitches globally, delivering new free-to-access training practices inspired by EA SPORTS FC in-game drills, and working with partners to provide opportunities for all to play the beautiful game. With a vision to make the sport more inclusive and accessible for players around the world, FC FUTURES empowers the next generation of football fans and coaches – providing training materials, as well as safe and inspiring spaces to play and thrive through real-world football experiences. In its second year, FC FUTURES has: Launched 11 new online practices, in partnership with UEFA, taking the FC FUTURES Academy library to a total of 17 free-to-access drills, designed to support coaches and players in daily training sessions. By using in-game drills to power these coaching tools, the Academy provides a unique and innovative way for coaches and young people to learn core football skills, encouraging participation and driving fandom in the next generation. Through our UEFA partnership, the Academy has now been integrated into 54 National Football Associations, with 500+ coaches trained on using the practices in the past 12 months. Refurbished a further 8 community pitches worldwide - from the flood-impacted city of Valencia, Spain to Bañado Sur, Paraguay - in collaboration with league, confederation and charity partners, alongside FC FUTURES ambassadors – bringing the total to 19 pitches across 14 countries since launch. These pitches have been used by thousands of young people worldwide and have provided safe and accessible spaces to further their love of the game. Deepened its global impact through multiple partnerships with organisations focussed on driving positive youth development through sport. Year two saw continued collaboration with UNICEF, Merky FC, and Football Beyond Borders, as well as partnerships with some of the biggest names in football and entertainment to host numerous community training sessions and events, designed to inspire the next generation. From teaming up with LALIGA to open a new pitch in J Balvin's hometown of Medellín to working with German football legend Lukas Podolski on a community refurbishment in Cologne, FC FUTURES is proving how far-reaching the power of play can be. 'In just two years, FC FUTURES has demonstrated the powerful impact football can have beyond our EA SPORTS FC game, making a positive difference to hundreds of thousands of people,' said Andrea Hopelain, GM & SVP, Publishing, EA SPORTS. 'We're creating lifelong sports fans not only through our game, but by actively supporting and growing grassroots football around the world. By bringing together our digital game with real-world coaching expertise, we're democratizing access to football training and reimagining coach education in a truly unique way, which is both impactful and incredibly relatable for the next generation.' As FC FUTURES looks ahead to its third year - and an exciting year for football globally - the initiative will continue to engage and inspire future generations of footballers by launching new community pitches, expanding its free training library, collaborating with new partners, strengthening existing partnerships, and building on its ambition to grow football for all. Beyond this, FC FUTURES will unlock new ways the game can further revolutionise coach education, through the creation of additional learning experiences, harnessing the power of interactive play and the merging of physical and digital football to inspire more young people into the sport. Find out more on FC FUTURES and access the FC FUTURES Academy, the free digital library of training practices, here. PRESS ASSETS ARE AVAILABLE AT *Based on the average annual number of users of the community pitches; residents who live within a 10km radius of all publicly accessible pitches (Rio de Janeiro, Medellín, São Paulo); and participants in FC FUTURES or FC FUTURES-partnered programs and pitch inauguration events. **Based on the average annual number of visitors to the Seoul pitch; residents who live near (10km) new public pitches (Singapore, Spain, and Mexico); users of the Rocky & Wrighty Arena and Sam Kerr pitches; participants in FC FUTURES or FC FUTURES-partnered programs; and number of footballs provided through partner initiatives. About Electronic Arts Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. In fiscal year 2025, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ College Football, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1 ®. More information about EA is available at EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Baller League Finals format and rules explained
Ballers League reaches its climax as we approach the final at the O2 Arena in London on June 12, 2025. The top four teams from the season will face off to determine the winner — here's everything you need to know about the Baller League finals. 3 3 What is Baller League? Baller League is a dynamic, influencer-led six-a-side indoor football competition that originated in Germany in 2024. It has rapidly expanded to the UK — and will soon have a franchise in the US. The league was created by entrepreneur Felix Starck, along with the support of professional footballers Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski. The aim was to blend traditional football with entertainment and appeal to a younger, more digital-savvy audience. Twelve teams play in six-a-side matches, with the top four advancing to the final play-off in June to be crowned the champion. Starck said: " Baller League is a brand new way to consume football. "We're redefining how the game is played by bringing an exhilarating and authentic approach to football, and one that will appeal to current fans along with future generations. "Baller League is all about forward-thinking, aggressive, hyper-exciting football. "We're about creating a version of the game that's impossible to ignore — thrilling, bold and packed with excitement." How does the Final Four work? The four teams with the most points after 11 matches qualify for the Baller League Final Four. Ruben Dias and Maya Jama's romantic debut at Baller League match There will be two semi-finals to determine the final, with the team who placed first in the league stage playing fourth, while second plays third. In the event two teams are tied after 11 matches, the order will be first decided by goal difference, then goals scored, followed by the result between the two sides in question. If, after these three stipulations, the two sides are still level, a shootout will determine who progresses. In the event of a draw in the Final Four after the regular 30 minutes, a penalty shootout is held in which each team initially provides three takers. Baller League is all about forward-thinking, aggressive, hyper-exciting football Baller League CEO Felix Starck If the shootout ends level, it will become sudden death until a winner is established. Who is involved in Baller League? YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI is the president of the UK version. Among the football legends and celebrities managing teams this season, John Terry is in charge of 26ers, while Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Micah Richards jointly manage Deportrio. Clint 419 is the manager of FC Rules the World, and Miniminter (Simon Minter from the Sidemen) leads M7 FC. MVPs United is managed by Alisha Lehmann and Maya Jama, and the trio of Arsenal Invincibles — Jens Lehmann, Robert Pirès and Freddie Ljungberg — manage N5 FC. Brit Award-winning artist Dave (Santan Dave) is at the helm of Santan FC, with YouTuber Sharky managing SDS FC. Luís Figo leads Trebol FC, and Tobi Brown (TBJZL from the Sidemen) manages VZN FC. 3 Wembley Rangers is managed by Ian Wright and Chloe Kelly, while Yanited is under the guidance of YouTuber Angry Ginge Who has qualified for the Baller League Final Four? Just four teams remain from the 12 that started on Matchday 1 back in March. Deportrio topped the standings on goal difference after 11 rounds of action-packed fixtures. MVP United narrowly missed out on top spot by one goal, but they have secured their place in the final four. Yanited and SDS FC complete the sides competing for Baller League glory on the night of Thursday, June 12, 2025 — with fans set to be treated to even more thrilling action at the O2 Arena. Organisers have confirmed a Legends vs Creators match has been booked in with some blockbuster names taking part. Baller League Final Four fixtures As they finished top of the standings, Deportrio will face the lowest-ranked side in the Final Four, which is SDS FC. The team that is victorious will face the winner of MVPs United vs Yanited in the grand finale.
