Daily Schmankerl: Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino linked to Bayern Munich

Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino allegedly also being considered to replace Jupp Heynckes at Bayern Munich (kicker via FOCUS Online)

According to kicker’s Monday edition, Uli Hoeneß und Karl-Heinz Rummenigge are also considering Mauricio Pochettino as a potential successor to Jupp Heynckes at Bayern Munich. If it sounds rather far fetched, it is. Pochettino doesn’t speak a lick of German and is under contract with the Spurs until 2021. But Bayern are apparently exploring everyone who’s anyone other than Thomas Tuchel.

Mixed feelings in Germany about the upcoming World Cup in Russia: Jogi Löw, Sandro Wagner and others (Bild)

Bild interviewed several major figures of German soccer, including national team coach Jogi Löw and Bayern's own Sandro Wagner. Many feel conflicted about traveling to Russia on account of Russia's involvement in Syria and eastern Ukraine and recent doping scandals. Löw stated,

Taking part in the World Cup doesn't mean that we make common cause with a system, regime, or ruler. We will not allow ourselves to be instrumentlized—no matter where we play, we always stand for our values. Values like diversity, openness, and tolerance.

Regarding Syria, Löw stated,

It's unbearably hard to see these horrifying pictures coming out of Syria everyday, especially when children are affected. Therefore I wish that the politicians can reach a peaceful solution through diplomacy.

Sandro Wagner echoed Löw and criticized Germany’s ongoing struggle to form a government:

As a father, of course such pictures are incredibly painful and make you speechless. But we are first and foremost professional soccer players and play soccer. We try to make people happy with our sport. We have very, very many politicians in Berlin whom we all pay with our taxes. I think that they should and must act, rather than try to form a government for months.

There and back again: Bayern Munich plan to get out of Istanbul as soon as possible (kicker)

There will be no sightseeing on this trip to Turkey: after the game in Istanbul on Wednesday evening, the team is heading immediately to the airport. Bayern have received special permission from Munich’s airport to land at 1:40 AM local time. On balance, the swift return home will give the team more time to recover by the weekend.

Thilo Kehrer plays on sporting a Loony Tunes shiner (kicker)

It’s a hard-knock life sometimes in the Bundesliga. Schalke’s young defender looked like a boxer on the bad end of a bout after an aerial duel in their game against Mainz. But despite a golfball-sized lump on his brow, Kehrer played on—and played well.

Claudio Pizarro and Thomas Müller have a racehorse named “Don Jupp” (Express)

Thomas Müller isn't the only lover of horses among Bayern icons: Claudio Pizarro loves racehorses. He recently revealed that he and Müller went in together on a young racehorse that they have lovingly named “Don Jupp.”

Pity for Hamburg? Did the ref put Hamburg out of their misery three seconds early?(Bild)

There was some debate in Germany when referee Christian Dingert blew the final whistle immediately after Robert Lewandowski’s successful penalty kick in the 90th minute. But some viewers on Sky noticed that the time was still 89:57. But Sky’s clock began two seconds after the second half began: hence on the Konferenz broadcast, the game still appeared to end a second early; on the individual broadcast, however, Dingert blew the whistle at exactly 90:00—which would then mean the game lasted exactly 90:02. Such matters are very, very important in Germany.

Thomas Müller training for his Olympic debut in javelin (Bild)

Or maybe just a debut at the Olympia Stadion... if they let him in.

Germans really, really hate Monday games

Just say nein.