Strange international break
Why the Bundesliga and national team are taking a break at the weekend
At the weekend, the ball rests in the Bundesliga and all other top European leagues (symbol image)
© Jan Woitas / Picture Alliance
Before the 21st match day, the Bundesliga takes a 14-day international break. However, there is also no game of the DFB-Elf. How did this unusual interruption come about and what alternatives are there for football fans?
The second half of the Bundesliga season has only been running for three weeks and the ball is already at a standstill again. But not only the Bundesliga is pausing for two weeks, the DFB selection is also not playing any international matches in the next few days.
International break not only in the Bundesliga
The reason is a “corona-related shutdown window”. Fifa had granted the continental associations this extraordinary break in the summer of 2020 to compensate for the international matches between August 31 and September 8, 2020. At the time, Uefa still allowed international matches to be played – now the European national teams have to take a break.
For the clubs in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga, this means they only have to release national players from the remaining continental associations. For all European professionals, on the other hand, friendlies and regeneration are on the agenda. But not only the Bundesliga has to take a break – the time-out also affects other top international leagues such as the English Premier League and the Spanish La Liga.
Hot phase in the Africa Cup
If you don’t want to miss out on top-class football, you can still experience some exciting games over the next 14 days. So the Africa Cup starts at the end of the week in the really hot phase. The quarter finals will be played at the weekend. Host Cameroon meets Gambia with Bayern star Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The game will be broadcast on Saturday at 5 p.m. on the DAZN streaming service. The winner of the game will advance to one of the two semi-finals, which will be played on February 2nd and 3rd. The final takes place the following Sunday, February 6th, in Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé.
There are also some interesting international matches on the other continents. Associations from Asia, Oceania, South America and North and Central America play groundbreaking World Cup qualifiers. Brazil, with superstar Neymar, meets Ecuador, Argentina and Lionel Messi meet Chile and the USA meet Canada in a neighborhood duel.
The DFB selection does not start the new year until the end of March. On March 26, coach Hansi Flick’s team will meet Israel in Sinsheim. Three days later, the classic game against the Netherlands takes place in Amsterdam.
Source:Bundesliga, table football