MSV Duisburg v FSV Frankfurt (1:2) German Bundesliga 2 03.02.12
In April of last year I had completed 3 games in 3 days in 3 countries, to Holland, Germany and Belgium. The plan this year was to go one better and attempt 4 games in 4 days in 4 countries.
It was by no means an easy task as I had planned to go and see MSV Duisburg-FSV Frankfurt in Germany on the Friday night. This was to be followed by West Ham-Millwall on the Saturday and FC Vise-KSK Tienen in Belgium on the Sunday. The trip was to end after my attendance at the Limburg derby in Holland between Fortuna Sittard-MVV Maastricht on the Monday evening.
I caught the late morning flight from Aberdeen to Frankfurt and worked out that I could catch a train direct to Duisburg from the airport when I arrived. This would take me straight to the centre of city and then I would just walk to the stadium.
The flight was smooth and my connections worked out perfectly with me arriving in Duisburg 4.35pm. This gave me enough time to get to the ground for kick off at 6pm and obtain a ticket. MSV play at the all seated 31,000 capacity Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena. This ground was opened in 2004 on the site of the old ground, the Wedaustadion. It is now the usual rectangle modern arena with plastic blue tip up seats that you see anywhere else these days.
Outside is where it looks best with blue neon lights running around the top of the concrete structure. These lights seem to reflect off the metalwork and gives a similar kind of colourful glow as the Allianz Arena does in Munich. Outside was also the fan shop where I was headed to buy a ticket. I opted for a seat along the length of the pitch so paid a premium of 32 euros for this ticket. Later I realised I could have got it a lot cheaper standing at the end behind the goal but had wanted a good seat to get some nice photos.
MSV Duisburg have been classed as one of “the yo-yo” teams of German football. Their last appearance in the top flight in 2007-08 lasted only one season and to date ply their trade in the Bundesliga 2. FSV on the other hand are Frankfurt’s second team and do not have the same level of support as city neighbours Eintracht. Both were middle table going into this game so although I thought it was never going to be a classic I had at least hoped that it would be entertaining.
Wrapped in my newly purchased scarf and hat, I sat shivering in my seat waiting for the game to start. The temperature was –12c. One of the coldest nights I have ever watched football. Colder than Cove on a Friday night and colder than Arbroath’s Gayfield Park. I bought a beer, the locals call it Konig Pils. A little bit weak I thought and void of any real taste. Watching football and sitting with a beer in your hand is still a novelty for me when travelling abroad, such are the laws in Germany, Holland and Belgium which make this possible.
Both teams entered the arena to the sound of what I understood to be the “MSV anthem”. A cross between Loch Lomond and Chesney Hawkes I thought. The game started and within the first five minutes MSV had two “how cold you miss that” moments. 4 yards out with an open goal not once but twice, both times well over the crossbar. This was followed by another two great chances that were missed also due to poor finishing. I could sense the MSV fans loosing faith in their team already and FSV, with their small band of fans to my left, were starting to get the ball down and playing a little. It was no surprise then when they opened the scoring after 17 minutes.
The 9,500 home fans were now frustrated seeing their team a goal down and now throwing away possession easily. They were second to every ball, lacked conviction and confidence. Somehow I thought this was not the real MSV and hoped that it would be a better contest when the teams returned for the second period.
My beer had an ice film on top after my half time refuelling. I had to pick the ice off the top of my pint. Now don’t get me wrong I love ice cold beer but I start to loose interest when it becomes so cold outside that your beer starts to freeze. It was a struggle to finish it but to uphold the good old Scottish tradition I didn’t let my country down and necked the last dribble.
Two minutes after the restart we had an equaliser and the constant drumbeat coming from the Duisburg Ultras behind the goal began to beat faster and louder. Goran Sukalo was the hero netting from a free kick. So it now looked that we might just have a game on our hands with the goal spurring the home side into action. However in a similar pattern to the first half the home side passed up a number of decent chances only for FSV to creep in front with a simple goal. This sent the small travelling support into raptures. Time ran out and so did the chances for the home side and following the final whistle all the supporters scurried home to the waiting buses to get warm.
I made it back the station and caught the train to Liege where I was staying overnight. It was to be an early start in the morning as I was travelling with the Belgium Hammers on a bus that was leaving Mechelen at 6am. Time for some zzzzzzzzz
I woke after my 3 hours sleep knowing that I should not had that last beer at 2am. We sheepishly made our way to Mechelen train station which was our departure point and with the temperature –19c I was beginning to think what am I doing here, why am I mad crazy and I would do anything for 10 hours in a comfy bed.
The Belgian Hammers make the trip over the Channel for every home game and believe it or not I found this the easiest way of obtaining a ticket for one of the most fiercest rivalries in English football only made possible following West Ham’s relegation last year.
All was going well until we reached Calais, we streamed through the passport office and got back on the bus only for it not to start. 30 minutes later we had not moved and discovered that the bus had broken down. It was 9.30am and kick off was 3 hours away. We still had to wait for a replacement bus and travel another 2 hours across Kent so the chances of making the game were fading. The replacement bus never turned up and we ended up being stranded outside the Calais passport office.
My phone buzzed with an incoming text, which brought further bad news. Due to the low temperatures the Limburg derby was now cancelled. I then asked around to see if any other games were still on for my football feast. “No” was the answer all were cancelled. So I suppose I can be glad that I at least got to one game.
Oh……the replacement bus finally turned up at 5.30pm after spending a day in the nearby shopping centre watching the Hammers-Millwall game streamed live on the internet in a bowling alley. For a weekend that started well and promised so much it ended a but of a cold, damp squib. Next up is Madrid in a few weeks, surely in Spain there won't be any snow? Can there???
