The Gegenpressing Newsletter

Germany vs Curaçao Reaction Show

Manuel Veth — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 20:49:16 GMT

Stefan joins Manu, who is live on location in Houston, to break down Germany’s dominant 7-1 victory over Curaçao. The two highlight the many positives of the game. Alongside Felix Nmecha, Kai Havertz, Nathaniel Brown and Jamal Musiala were the big winners of the match. They then discuss Leroy Sané, with Manu providing context for why Julian Nagelsmann continues to rely on the Galatasaray winger. Enjoy!

Germany vs Curaçao preview show from Houston

Manuel Veth — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 04:26:18 GMT

Manu is live on location from Houston for a brief Germany vs Curaçao match preview. What is the latest team news for Germany? As Julian Nagelsmann drops some major lineup news. Also, some impressions from the host city, Houston.

The big Germany 2026 World Cup preview

Manuel Veth — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:03:14 GMT

Germany will kick off the tournament in Houston on Sunday against Curaçao. But after two failed World Cup performances, how far will Die Nationalmannschaft go this time? In this episode, Dan and Manu break down the squad, position by position; they analyze the World Cup opponents and break down Germany’s complicated path to the final following the group stage. Enjoy!

Also! If you are interested in Gegenpressing merchandise, you can now find our store right here: https://gegenpressing.myshopify.com

Leverkusen win the race for Eichhorn & answering subscriber questions on Bayern transfers rumours

Stefan Bienkowski — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:12:22 GMT

Available for iOS and Android

On today’s live show, Manu and Stefan sat down to discuss the surprising news that Bayer Leverkusen had won the race to sign Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn. They broke down why the young German talent opted for Leverkusen over Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich and why his signing lines up with the club’s clear push for a big rebuild this summer under new head coach Carles Martínez. Before wrapping up the show, they also answered some listener questions on Bayern Munich’s summer activitity.

Unchained? The TSV 1860 Munich crisis explained

Manuel Veth — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:24:14 GMT

On the second bonus show this week, Matt and Manu break down what is the biggest story in German football right now. The crisis at TSV 1860 Munich. By the time of recording, the club had severed ties with investor Hasan Ismaik. But is that truly the end of the story? Also, how did we get here, and what will happen next for one of Germany’s most historic clubs? Manu breaks down the three original sins and explains why the current situation could be a great opportunity for the club. Enjoy!

Knocked out! Is this the end for TSV 1860 Munich?

Manuel Veth — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:03:27 GMT

There is a painting hanging in my office, which depicts a lion sitting in the corner of a boxing ring, one eye swollen, blood on both gloves, ready to get up for one last fight. In the background, there is former 1860 Munich legend Daniel Bierofka urging on the wounded lion.

The painting was the cover art for an article I wrote for the American magazine Howler. A long read that still, to this day, encapsulates best what ails Munich’s beloved chaos club. Why a boxer? Well, because 1860 actually has a very successful boxing department.

Who is Bayern target Ismael Saibari? Nathaniel Brown set to leave for a European top club?

Manuel Veth — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:10:27 GMT

On this week’s transfer show, Stefan and Manu break down the biggest topics on the transfer market. They discuss Bayern Munich zeroing in on PSV Eindhoven forward Ismael Saibari. What can the Moroccan add to Vincent Kompany’s team? Then they chat about Bayern also being linked to Junior Kroupi and Sergiño Dest. They then move on to Eintracht Frankfurt, where Nathaniel Brown has been linked with Real Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern. Could the German national team star finance the club’s rebuild? Enjoy!

On the terraces: Lok Leipzig lose Regionalliga play-off, reform momentum grows

Matt Ford — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:43:44 GMT

For the second season in a row, and for the third time since 2020, Lokomotive Leipzig were crowned champions of the fourth-tier Regionalliga Nordost but haven’t been promoted, instead losing a promotion play-off, this time 3-1 on aggregate to Würzburger Kickers, the runners-up from the Regionalliga Bayern. Both legs were attended by over 10,700 supporters who produced atmospheres worthy of the 3. Liga or higher, while also voicing criticism of the indisputably ridiculous situation and calling for reform – specifically for the so-called “compass model” which has the backing of almost 80 clubs and some of German football’s most influential officials. Momentum is building, but there is still resistance from some regional federations, notably in Bavaria. Whatever happens, it’s too late for Lok Leipzig.

Thanks for reading the “On the terraces” newsletter throughout the 2025/26 season and thanks for all the comments, feedback and general engagement. It’s been a lot of fun - and we’ll be continuing next season! If you want to keep up to date with the latest developments in German fan culture from choreographies and campaigns to finances and 50+1, please consider taking out a paid subscription and spread the word. -Matt

Picking our Bundesliga player and young player of the season

Stefan Bienkowski — Fri, 29 May 2026 07:02:19 GMT

In the final normal bonus show of the season, Manu and Stefan knock their heads together to hand out their end-of-season awards in the Bundesliga. They pick their player of the season, young player of the season - specifically, players that debuted in the league this season - and then pick their head coaches of the season too. Let us know who would be your main contender in the comments below!

Why Wolfsburg deserved to get relegated

Stefan Bienkowski — Thu, 28 May 2026 18:01:32 GMT

It’s hard to put your finger on where Wolfsburg’s demise first started. It certainly wasn’t on Monday evening, when Laurin Curda’s shot fired into the bottom left corner of the goal to secure Paderborn’s promotion to the Bundesliga at their opponent’s expense. I’m not even sure we can blame the club’s decision to sack Daniel Bauer after just 15 games and replace him with Dieter Hecking - even if that in itself was a curious decision, considering the fact that Hecking had failed to keep Bochum up in similar circumstances just 12 months prior.

It may have come in the summer of 2024, when the club announced an outlandish new sporting operation under managing director Peter Christiansen and sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz, who promised European football with the “Wolfsburg Way”, but ended up appointing an entirely inexperienced head coach from Holland in the form of Paul Simonis, who didn’t even speak German and lasted just 131 days in the job. Perhaps we can go all the way back to 2015, when Wolfsburg’s parent company, Volkswagen, were fined €30 billion in criminal fines, civil penalties and consumer compensation for “Dieselgate” and the subsequent impact that it had on the Bundesliga club’s budget.

Paderborn up, Fürth stay, tears for Wolfsburg and Rot-Weiss Essen

Manuel Veth — Thu, 28 May 2026 06:48:47 GMT

Manu, Matt and Dan are live from the UEFA Europa Conference League Final in Leipzig to recap the relegation playoffs. They chat about what will happen to Wolfsburg, what to expect from Paderborn, and touch on the 2. Bundesliga/3. Liga relegation playoffs, too. Enjoy.

How Vincent Kompany has become Pep Guardiola 2.0 at Bayern Munich

Manuel Veth — Wed, 27 May 2026 13:45:54 GMT

What sort of influence did Pep Guardiola have on Vincent Kompany? It was a question that made Bayern Munich pause. It was the day before the DFB Pokal final against VfB Stuttgart inside the press room at the old Olympiastadion in Berlin. Then, as it is often the case with Kompany, he answered slowly and thoughtfully, delivered in perfect German with significant depth.

On the terraces on Cup Final day – plus Wolfsburg U19s and Rot-Weiss Essen ultras steal goalpost

Matt Ford — Mon, 25 May 2026 14:57:34 GMT

Bayern Munich won the DFB-Pokal in front of supporters for the first time since 2019 and for the 21st time overall on Saturday, beating holders VfB Stuttgart 3-0 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. While hat-trick hero Harry Kane grabbed the headlines on the pitch, two of Germany’s biggest fan scenes combined to produce one of the most spectacular cup final atmospheres in years, with elaborate choreographies, creative banners, coordinated protests and copious pyrotechnics. Not every German football official was entirely happy – but that’s sort of the point, isn’t it? Gegenpressing was on hand to document proceedings and explains what exactly was going on.

Of course, the cup final day in Germany is about more than just the showpiece event in Berlin, with 21 regional cup finals also taking place throughout the day - including a derby in Köln. Elsewhere, VfL Wolfsburg’s ultras even attended the U19s cup final in Potsdam in support of their youth team. Finally, there have also been promotion/relegation playoffs at various levels, including in Essen, where Rot-Weiss Essen’s ultras managed to have a unique dig at local rivals MSV Duisburg.

Matt Ford’s “On the terraces” newsletter will be appearing again throughout the 2025/26 season, keeping you up to date with developments in German fan culture from choreographies and campaigns to club ownership models and the 50+1 rule. If you like what you see, please consider taking out a paid subscription.

Bayern Munich secure famous double - DFB Pokal show from Berlin

Manuel Veth — Sun, 24 May 2026 16:56:30 GMT

Bayern Munich have beaten VfB Stuttgart to secure their first double since 2020. Dan and Manu were at the Olympiastadion and have now returned to the Preußische Landwirtshaus to break down the game. Enjoy!

With the power of the cockatoo, Bayern Munich secure the DFB Pokal against Stuttgart

Manuel Veth — Sat, 23 May 2026 21:42:49 GMT

It was around the 50th minute of the DFB Pokal final in Berlin when both Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart fans began unfurling protest banners. Fans were lamenting high ticket pricing, poor planning around the final, and political populism against fan groups.

On top of that, a massive banner depicting a crossed-out DFB logo made its way from the Westkurve, where Stuttgart fans were placed across Nordkurve all the way to the Ostkurve, where Bayern fans were placed for the final. When the banner finally reached the VIP stands, both fan groups lit up flares.

DFB Pokal preview and World Cup squad recap

Manuel Veth — Sat, 23 May 2026 07:58:26 GMT

Manu and Dan are live on location in Berlin. They preview the DFB Pokal final between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart. What are the expectations for tomorrow? What did the players and coaches say before the game? Then they move on to discuss the national team squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On the terraces: Freiburg in Istanbul, Trojan Lions in Munich, Köln ultras' HQ up in flames, Frankfurt out with a bang

Matt Ford — Thu, 21 May 2026 10:57:32 GMT

SC Freiburg’s Europa League odyssey came to a disappointing end in Istanbul on Wednesday night as Julian Schuster’s team were convincingly beaten 3-0 by Aston Villa. Over 11,000 supporters made the trip from Baden to the Bosphorus, where the active fan scene were forced to scale down their choreography due to last-minute restrictions, saying: “Today’s overall conditions are worlds apart from our idea of a vibrant and loud fan culture.”

Back in Germany, Bayern Munich celebrated another Bundesliga title, but the official reception on Marienplatz was crashed in spectacular fashion, the Ultras Frankfurt had their say on a disastrous season and 1. FC Köln’s ultras’ HQ went up in smoke – prompting schadenfreude in Mönchengladbach. Our final-day choreo of the week goes to the Ultras Gelsenkirchen, who rounded off a brilliant season for Schalke with an equally brilliant display.

Aston Villa power past Freiburg - The Europa League final recap show

Manuel Veth — Wed, 20 May 2026 23:17:49 GMT

On the second bonus show this week, Matt, Dan and Manu break down the Europa League final between Aston Villa and Europa League. They discuss all the key moments, chat about the difference between an excellent Villa side and a Freiburg team that exceeded expectations. They touch on the importance of set pieces, Unai Emery’s qualities as a coach and what the Bundesliga, in general, can learn from the match. Then they go on to do a deep dive on SC Freiburg. What is going to happen with this team? How will the decision to sign Mio Backhaus from SC Freiburg impact the squad planning? Is he a better goalkeeper than Noah Atubolu? We discussed this and so much more. Enjoy!

Who was the best head coach of the 25/26 Bundesliga season?

Stefan Bienkowski — Wed, 20 May 2026 15:01:22 GMT

The Bundesliga season is now finished. Of course, we still have the relegation play-offs to contend with, as Wolfsburg lock horns (or fangs?) with Paderborn. And we certainly can’t ignore this weekend’s German Cup final between Bayern Munich and Stuttgart. But, by and large, we can now draw some concrete conclusions about the season that was.

While the league table is always the most important metric to judge the performances of any club, or indeed their head coach, here at Gegenpressing, we like to run our own power rankings to keep tabs on which tacticians have gone up and down in the rankings. To find out more about our methodology and points system, you can read all about it in detail here, but the general gist of the power rankings is to judge each head coach based on what was expected of their teams before any given match. So who was the best head coach in the Bundesliga this season?

Joško Gvardiol to Bayern, Darwin Núñez linked with Dortmund and Leverkusen set to appoint Andoni Iraola?

Manuel Veth — Tue, 19 May 2026 20:04:42 GMT

On this week’s first bonus show, Stefan and Manu sit down to break down the latest Bundesliga transfer rumours. They discuss whether Bayern Munich should sign Man City’s Joško Gvardiol. Then they move on to Dortmund, where a wild rumour links the Black and Yellows with Darwin Núñez. A story that could have some legs. Finally, they chat about Bayer Leverkusen and whether they could sign Andoni Iraola as the next head coach. Enjoy!