The Horns vs. The Billy Goats (die Hornissen gegen Die Geißböcke) Kickoff 17.30 Somewhere deep in Austria behind closed doors (Kitzbühel). Forget the World Cup, this is the big one. Maybe of limited importance to most fans, but I have a crate of beer hanging on this. Despite going down to the second division FC Cologne have a very strong fan base - including most of my neighbours - but none of them will be watching the match. It could be that the mascot is there - a real Billy Goat (Hennes the eighth) but apparently his main weakness is that he is afraid of the ball (in common with many of the players). Both sides will be protected from lightning - they have an early warning system in Kitzbühel. For some unaccountable reason they are in the same training grounds as Fortuna Düsseldorf - who the Horns play next. Quite how this works out I don't know. Cologne and Düsseldorf have the same 'friendly' relationship as Liverpool and Manchester, or the Geordies and the Mackems all rolled into one. For any Hornets who are in the area and who want to try out their German - do it with Austrians, because the Cologne accent (Kölsch) is unintelligable to most other Germans. Like a cross between Scouse and Geordie would be difficult for foreign visitors. I am not in Austria at the moment and am not sure were my updates of the match will come from but I will manage it somehow - there is a lot riding on this one ! COYH.
The starting 11 is Foster, Janmaat, Cathcart, Kabasele, Masina, Capoue (C),Pereyra, Hughes, Richarlison, Sema, Gray. No news of the subs at present.
Kick off is a little late because the Horns arrived late. Not actually behind closed doors and mostly Cologne fans present.
Half time the Horns lead 1-0. Few chances, a shot by Richarlison after 4 mins. later Richarlison laid on Andre Gray for the goal. Not much for Ben Foster to do and very few goalmouth scenes at both ends. I am watching the game on Sport 1 Youtube channel with German commentary - not sure if it's available in the UK.
Full time 1-1. the Horns were the better side in the first half but Cologne came out strongly in the second. Watford with only one real shot on goal in the second half from Lukebakio which went close. All change at half time with the Horns lining up with: Gomes, Femenia, Mariappa, Hoban, Wilmot, Britos, Holebas, Success, Lukebakio, Sinclair.
On the whole not a bad display seeing as we changed the whole team at half time, Sema looked especially good. Still the lack of a real cutting edge in the final third. Cologne are a little further in their preparations than us because their season begins a whole week earlier than ours, on the 4th. Next up for us are Fortuna Düsseldorf who exchanged places with Cologne last season through moving up to the 1 Bundesliga.
Well knowing our luck probably injured or taken a knock - both GD and Chalobah had been out for a while.
I heard somewhere (Radio 5Live?) that NC had been training with the England team at St George's before they left for Russia since Southgate counted hm as important in the group. Don't know if thiqs is true....
