On the terraces: German Cup finals special

In a weekly Newsletter, Matt Ford keeps an eye on the action off the pitch in the Bundesliga and German football, explaining what’s going on from fan protests to finances.

Now, we know that choreographies are often a good chance for readers to test their German language skills – but how's your Swabian? You'll need it to decipher the Stuttgart display at the DFB Pokal final on Saturday, as VfB won their first trophy since 2007. Two Stuttgart banners were written in standard German, however; one a dig at local rivals Karlsruher SC and another in solidarity with Arminia Bielefeld supporters after one of their number carried out an act of great bravery a week earlier. Against that backdrop, the Arminia ultras' cup final motto "Zusammenhalt triumphiert" (solidarity triumphs) is a lesson for all of us in difficult times.

Elsewhere, there were record crowds and spectacular displays at regional cup finals from Saxony to the Rhineland – although one of the latter was also overshadowed by tragedy.

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Matt Ford's "On the terraces" newsletter appeared every week throughout the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Previously, the newsletter featured exclusive and in-depth coverage of the Bundesliga's private equity plans and the political intrigues at VfB Stuttgart, among other things. If you like what you see, please consider taking out a paid subscription.