I completely spaced on that they were holding the award before the WC. Benzema was a pretty obvious choice, IMO. Dominant league and especially CL season.
Still feel for Lewandowski. Would have won in 2020 and has a good argument for 2021 too.
So far, 5 (Barcelona, Juventus, Atletico, Manchester United, and Arsenal) of the 12 teams that tried to break away into the Super League will be playing in the Europa League, with two more (Tottenham, AC Milan) still at risk.
While I do have some schadenfreude about that, I also realize that this will just make some of them more financially desperate. The Super League isn’t going away – they just announced a new CEO last week – so, expect even more tumult ahead.
That’s great to see Jason Sudekis branching out and coaching Bayern now. 
Pique abruptly announced his retirement. He’s clearly out of favor and didn’t look interested in playing when he did get time due to injuries. Surprising only in the timing.
His legacy will be a bit complicated. Won everything with both Spain and Barcelona, but pretty rightly criticized for being a defensive liability even when being a very good ball playing CD.
Scary sight for this Canuck today seeing Jonathan David siezing up a run and clasping the back of his leg against Herta Berlin. Initially a ham tear, further tests are pending. Not the best timing. Now Jonathan David will pull a groin or something.
Davies went out of today’s Bayern match with a hamstring pull as well…I haven’t seen any updates. 
Really hope the Davies injury isn’t serious. I’d hate to see him miss the WC. Bad for Canada specifically but just in general it’s always depressing to see top players have to miss out.
Crépeau broke his leg in MLS Cup today too so he’s out for sure as well.
ACK, actually, my second reference to JD stood; the first - no, sure didn’t.
Yeah, and with Crepeau not looking promising…
Looks like Canada could end up getting destroyed even more than they were originally going to get destroyed in that group.
I think I have good news for our Canada fans. Kicker.de reports that Bayern officials declared that Alphonso Davies will miss the last two Bundesliga games before the World Cup, but that his participation in the WC is not in danger.
What a goal.
Great goal! Allow me to echo
Yesterday I saw a commercial with Lukas Podolski on German TV and asked myself “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard of Poldi. Is he still playing in the Polish league?” There’s my answer. Wonderful goal, and he scored a lot of great goals in his long career.
ETA: there’s a long running game (for over 50 years) on the major German football program “Sportschau” called “Tor des Monats”, “Goal of the month”, where the spectators vote for one of the five greatest goals of the month. Podolski already is the record winner with 12 goals of the month, and the November goal should be a slam dunk for him.
I had no idea he was still playing. I remember his time with Arsenal fondly (although probably with the happy haze of memory). Absolute hammer of a left foot.
I don’t know what it is about lefties, but the best of them can shoot harder and more tricky than any right-footer ever. Podolski is one of the best examples.
Pele might have something to say about that. 
I thought he was retired too. Last played in a top league 7 years ago. It’s funny that I was surprised he’s still around because his entire career was basically “being around.”
Barcelona just won a match with 9 men because Pique was sent off from the bench in his last Barca game. Hah.
*10 man. ESPN’s website said 9 man, and I turned it on late. Didn’t realize Pique was on the bench when carded.
A nitpick in the grand scheme of things, but Bayen Munich’s second goal against Werder Bremen today should have been disallowed due to offside early in that scoring sequence.
Huh? Bayern is playing Schalke 04 at the moment, with a 2-0 lead. I can’t watch it, but online live reporting mentions nothing about offside before the second goal.
ACK - that should have been last Tuesday - getting way too behind in my PVR viewing.
I’m almost giving the fuck up, now. Absolutely no clue as to why I’m constantly fucking up my footy posts like this.
