The German national football team won its first official international match in ten years. The team of head coach Shuan Fatah (soon to be head coach of Rhein Fire competitor Hamburg Sea Devils in the European League of Football) won against Great Britain 49:11 in the European Championship qualification in Coventry.
The final game in the group of three against Sweden will take place next Saturday (October 26th, 5 p.m.) in Krefeld’s Grotenburg. The Swedes had also beaten Great Britain the previous week (20:19). Only the winner of the group of three qualifies for the Final Four of the 2025 European Championship.
“Of course we are very happy because we really wanted to win this game,” Fatah is quoted on the international association’s website, “we took the lead early on so that they couldn’t commit to the running game afterwards. So the British had to establish a passing game, which is obviously not their strength. It was an intense game and I’m just happy that we got off to such a good start after a ten-year break.”
Kai Hunter (RB, Stuttgart Surge) opened the game for the guests, who were reinforced with parents from the ELF, with a touchdown run, followed by kicker Eric Schlomm (Hamburg Sea Devils) with the first of seven extra points that day. After the British reduced the lead to 3:7 with a field goal, the Germans followed up: quarterback Lars Heidrich (Stuttgart Surge) passed to Hendrik Schwarz (WR, Frankfurt Galaxy) – 14-3. Louis Geyer (WR, Stuttgart Surge) made it 21:3 shortly before the break.
“As a child you dream of being the quarterback of the national team, and now to be here after ten years is the best feeling there is,” said Heidrich, who was later named MVP of the game.
Marvinrutsch (WR, Munich Ravens) caught a Heidrich pass in the end zone after the break, then Hunter ran for his next touchdown. The score was 35:3 and the game had long since been decided at that point. The remaining touchdowns (Great Britain 1, Germany 2) were nothing more than cosmetic results.
Six professionals from Rhein Fire were also represented in the German 45-man squad: In the offensive line there were three representatives from the Rhinelanders: Sven Breidenbach, Nick Wiens and David Weinstock. Marius Kensy and Lennart Weitz (both linebackers) as well as defensive back Rene Hanssen were also nominated.
