AUT v TURKEY 6-1 (1-1)
Goals: Schlager, Gregoritsch (3), Baumgartner, Entrup; Çalhanoglu
England v Belgium 2-2
Germany v Netherlands 2-1
France v Chile 3-2 (international friendlies)
Wales v Poland 0-0 a.e.t. Poland win 5-4 on penalties and go to the Euros, together with Georgia and Ukraine (Euro play-offs)
Six seconds
Christoph Baumgartner on Saturday scored after six seconds to record the fastest ever goal in international football in Austria’s 2-0 win over Slovakia in Bratislava.
The 24-year-old RB Leipzig midfielder skipped past three challenges from the kick-off and fired a low shot past home goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
His goal was a second quicker than Lukas Podolski’s strike for Germany against Ecuador in 2013, and two seconds quicker than an other goal scored by Germany: it also was yesterday that Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) scored the 1-0 against France after just eight seconds in Deutschland’s 2-0 away win.
West Brom striker Andreas Weimann scored another goal in Bratislava to confirm Austria’s victory for Ralf Rangnick’s side. Austria, who host Turkey in Vienna on Tuesday, have now won four consecutive matches (including a 2-0 win over Germany) as they build for this summer’s Euros in Germany. The Austrian team was without injured David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic.
Austria will play in Group D against France, the Netherlands and the winner of the playoff games Poland v Wales. They will kick off their Euro campaign against France on June 17th in Düsseldorf.
Hugh Southon 1944-2024
Hugh Southon, founder of website Claret & Hugh, has deceased yesterday. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
Hughie has not only been journalist, supporter of West Ham United, and former ghostwriter for Bobby Moore, but also a big fan of the Rolling Stones (especially of Keith Richards) and a firm believer in Jesus Christ! On his website Claret & Hugh which Hugh founded in 2013, he was able to provide a lot of information on West Ham Utd., some of it relying upon sources from inside the club. The website has more than 250,000 followers.
I never met Hughie in person, but occasionally chatted with him via Facebook, not only about West Ham Utd., but about music and our faith, too. In his later years the Stones fan also appreciated The Beatles. He never hid his personal views on things going on at West Ham Utd., and openly talked about his Christian faith and about Jesus having been his personal saviour.
Some years ago, when we stayed in Brighton on holiday, I asked him which church we should go to on Sunday. His recommendation to attend the Sunday service at St. Peter’s was spot on.
RIP, Hughie!
— Tribute by ExWHUEmployee: www.thewesthamway.com/2024/03/24/i-will-miss-you-tribute-to-hammers-fan-and-claret-hugh-founder/
— Tribute by Gonzo: https://www.claretandhugh.info/rip-hughie-southon-founder-of-claret-hugh/
Tough Draw For WHU
Quarter-finals (Thursday 11 and 18 April):
AC Milan v Roma
Liverpool v Atalanta
Bayer Leverkusen v West Ham
Benfica v Marseille
Semi-finals (Thursday 2 and 9 May):
Benfica or Marseille v Liverpool or Atalanta
AC Milan or Roma v Bayer Leverkusen or West Ham
The Telegraph called the draw a tough challenge for West Ham against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in 37 matches in all competitions this season under their highly-rated coach Xabi Alonso.
Liverpool and West Ham cannot meet until the final in Dublin after the semi-final draw also kept the Premier League teams apart.
West Ham have faced Leverkusen just once previously, in a pre-season match played at the BayArena in August 2023, which Leverkusen won 4-0. Manager Moyes and his players will hope for a far better result this time around!
What we got tonight…
…was more than we expected. West Ham was massive!!!!
West Ham recorded the biggest European win in their history as they swept aside Freiburg to overturn a first-leg deficit and march into a third successive quarter-final.
This latest victory at the London Stadium on a European night, over a Freiburg side that was overpowered from the first minute, was West Ham’s 11th consecutive home win in European competition. It has been an impressive and thrilling run, featuring 30 goals, and one which has delighted a fanbase that comes out in full force under the midweek lights.
The latest of those great Thursday night flourishes came deep into the second half against Freiburg, when Mohammed Kudus seized possession in his own half and set off on a run that ended with three defenders in his wake and the ball in the Freiburg net. Truly, this 4-0 was one of the most electrifying goals that will be scored this season, in this or any other continental competition.
Irons!!!!
👉🏻 Match report
What we expect tonight…
… or let’s better say “what we hope for this afternoon“, because West Ham’s second leg tie against SC Freiburg kicks off as early as 5:45 GMT at London Stadium.
Two years ago West Ham beat highly rated Sevilla 2-0 aet and overcame the 0-1 deficit of their first leg defeat away in Spain. The goals were scored by Tomas Soucek and Yarmolenko, and the newspapers said that in this brilliant European night West Ham supporters made the London Stadium a fortress and proved it is home for the Hammers.
Let’s hope today will be an other day to remember and West Ham gift us a “European evening” to celebrate and the Hammers proceed to the quarter finals of the Europa League again!
“Though if I’m honest,” fellow supporter Barrie said, “I fully expect Freiburg to score first and West Ham to huff and puff but sadly fall short.”
Well, it can go either way.
Come on you Irons!
Bemerkenswertes im DFB Cup
Während die Reform der europäischen Cupbewerbs ab der kommenden Saison noch mehr Spiele, noch mehr Geld für die großen Klubs und vielleicht weniger Sponsorengeld und Interesse für die nationalen Bewerbe bringen wird, wie die Fankurven befürchten, wird soeben von den „Kleinen“ im deutschen Fußballcup der Aufstand geprobt!
Drittliga-Klub 1.FC Saarbrücken hat am Dienstag Abend nach Bayern München und Eintracht Frankfurt den dritten Bundesligaklub aus dem Bewerb geworfen: mit 2:1 besiegte der Klub aus dem Saarland Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Damit ist de FC, wie die Blau-Schwarzen auch genannt werden, neben dem 1.FC Kaiserslautern und Fortuna Düsseldorf als dritter Nicht-Bundesliga-Verein im DFB Cup-Halbfinale, wo man am 2. April auswärts gegen Kaiserslautern (2. Bundesliga) auf dem Betzenberg antritt.
Der einzige Klub aus der 1. Bundesliga im Bewerb ist der aller Voraussicht nach künftige deutsche Meister Bayer 04 Leverkusen, der im Viertelfinale den VfB Stuttgart besiegt hat. Die derzeit 10 Punkte vor Bayern München liegende Mannschaft von Xabi Alonso wird im Semifinale zu Hause gegen Zweitligist Fortuna Düsseldorf spielen und hat, wenn man ins Cupfinale kommt, die Chance auf ein historisches Double.
Ab 2012/13 hieß der Erste der Bundesliga immer Bayern München, Leverkusen war noch nie Meister, gewann aber 1993 den DFB-Pokal und 1988 den UEFA-Pokal.
Saarbrücken war zuletzt 2020 im DFB Cup-Halbfinale, deutsche Meisterschaften oder Cupsiege stehen bei den Saarländern nicht zu Buche.
Erfreulich und bemerkenswert, dass diesmal drei „Kleine“ den Sprung ins Halbfinale des DFB Cups geschafft haben! Und Harry Kane wird voraussichtlich auch beim FC Bayern keinen Titel gewinnen…
EXTRA TIME 
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