The World Cup has now been over for almost two weeks. And club football is on pause too. In short: we’re right in the middle of the football summer slump!
At first, that sounds dull and uneventful. But it really isn’t. Because even friendlies can produce absurd matchups, bizarre stories, and plenty of moments that make you shake your head. We’ve picked out five especially curious clashes for you.
Vietnam embarrasses BVB
As part of an Asia tour, Borussia Dortmund faced the Vietnam national team in November 2022. Completely unexpectedly, BVB lost 2-1 to the side ranked 99th in the FIFA world rankings at the time.
It’s true that the Bundesliga club played without those taking part in the winter World Cup in Qatar, which was about to begin, but even big names like Mats Hummels, Emre Can, and Donyell Malen couldn’t prevent the defeat.
Bayern humiliate the Germany national team
The relationship between FC Bayern and the Germany national team was not exactly at its peak in May 2005. Former president Uli Hoeneß in particular did not think too highly of then-DFB coach Jürgen Klinsmann.
And so the supposed summer kickabout to open the Allianz Arena turned into a tense match full of symbolic meaning. In the end, Bayern—who lined up with actual internationals such as Kahn, Schweinsteiger, and Ballack—won comfortably 4-2.
Aussie All-Stars blow Newcastle away
The clash between the A-League All Stars and Premier League heavyweight Newcastle United was supposed to be the highlight of Global Football Week Melbourne 2024. But in truth, only the top players from Australia and New Zealand’s top flight really enjoyed themselves.
📸 Quinn Rooney – 2024 Getty Images
The team specially assembled for that week thrashed Newcastle by an incredible 8-0. But to be fair, the Magpies played the match with more of a youth side.
China youngsters brawl with English side
It was only supposed to be a secret friendly. In 2007, China’s U23 side faced English historic club Queens Park Rangers. But what began as a harmless training match turned into a mass brawl involving more than 30 people after a foul.
There was kicking, hitting, and fighting until one player even ended up unconscious in hospital. The referee took the only logical course of action and abandoned the spectacle.
Robben faces his Bayern bros
From time to time, FC Bayern faced various national teams in friendlies over the past decades. One of them was the Netherlands in May 2012. The match had been arranged as compensation for an injury suffered by Arjen Robben.
📸 CHRISTOF STACHE – 2012 AFP
On that day, he played for the Oranje and suddenly found himself up against his usual Munich teammates like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm. Robben and the Netherlands came up short and lost 4-2 to the German record champions.
Did we miss any other curious friendlies? Let us know in the comments!
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
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