Zee Soccer Podcast: Recent Episodes
Julian Gressel & Fabian Herbers
Soccer, life in the US, and everything in between. Germans, Julian Gressel (DC United) and Fabian Herbers (Chicago Fire), first competitors now friends, share their weekly experiences on and off the field as they manage their way through the Major League Soccer season. Get an inside perspective of their personal lives, cultural challenges, and their German view of the beautiful game - pragmatic, honest & direct.
The last Zee Soccer Pod Episode of the year starts starts with some questions for Fabi to see if he would pass the civics test of the naturalization interview Julian just had to answer.
Obviously we cover some MLS playoff action, talk about the post season training plans for the Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps (and how we respectively feel about that), and to finish up give our Best XI of the MLS Season.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to all listeners for a fun year here and especially to all who donated to Zee Soccer Fund! We appreciate your support and will try and make it even better next year.. Ciao Ciao!
You can continue to follow and support the Michael Azira Youth Foundation here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
Out and over - no post-season play for ZeeSoccerPod. For the second year neither Fabi nor Jules were able to make the playoffs. In Minnesota, Vancouver couldn’t beat the “wonderwall”, and missed their last chance. The Fire played for the “golden pineapple” against New England in a 1:1 tie.
Fabi explains why Gazdag should have been the winner of the Golden Boot. We also pick our predictions for the MLS Cup and give a quick recap of Der Klassiker.
Non-soccer related, Gressel is on his way to becoming an American. He describes the process and how he studies for the test!
Lastly: thanks to everyone that donated to ZeeSoccerFund. Joe Ziemer you’re the lucky winner of a signed GaGa jersey. Enjoy!
The ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser is for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
More info on the foundation can be found here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
The Whitecaps are still alive and have everything to play for next week in Decision Day!! We recap how they got that chance and how Chicago put a bit of a dent in Cincinnati’s playoff hopes with a Win there. Congrats to LAFC on winning the supporters shield, we discuss how Philly’s season could turn sour really quick, and wish Gonzalo Higuain happy retirement! On a quite shocking note, we also discuss the newly released report of the findings regarding the abuse and sexual misconduct in the NWSL and USSF.
P.S. Donate to Zee Soccer Fund to win a signed Gaga Slonina jersey!!
The ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser is for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
More info on the foundation can be found here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
It’s international break, so we decided to do something different. Instead of us doing all the talk, we let you guys ask questions on social medial and we answered them on the Pod. Thanks to the listeners for all the spicy questions. Among the questions: What would Fabi change as a GM for the Chicago Fire next season? What do the players look out for when watching from the bench? And what is Jules‘ high/low point of the season…
These and many more will be answered!
P.S. Fabi‘s favorite Netflix show is "Selling Sunset"
The ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser is for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
More info on the foundation can be found here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
Successful surgery, 2 wins for the Whitecaps and a goal and an assist for Jules sounds like a pretty good week for our two pod hosts. Unfortunately, the Fabiless Chicago Fire couldn’t keep winning in order stay in the playoff race and are now eliminated from playoff contention. With 2 wins, Vancouver lives to fight another day and stays in the playoff races for now.
Besides winners and losers, we also discuss an incident including Taxi Fountas (DCU) and Damion Lowe (Inter Miami) that doesn’t have any place in sports or this world in general.
Jules’ opening story about him and his daughter is probably the best thing about this episode though!!
The ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser is for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
More info on the foundation can be found here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
With 30 games played the Fire (6pts behind playoff line) and the Whitecaps (9pts behind) only remain with small playoff chances. While the Fire beat Inter Miami 3:1 without Fabi (no he was not scared of Higuain), Jules and the Whitecaps lost 3:1 at Colorado including a questionable PK call. Jules gives some update about his contract situation and Fabi provides an injury update on his adductor. Don’t miss the winners and losers, and the difficult situation of Josef Martinez in Atlanta.
The ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser is for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
More info on the foundation can be found here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
Happy Labor Day! What does building a paper airplane and Fantasy Football have in common? Listen and find out for yourself.. of course we also speak about soccer and our respective games. An unbeaten but winless week for the Fire and a loss in San Jose for the Whitecaps make the playoffs look more unlikely by each game for both teams. Houston fires their coach, Nashville is on fire, Chicharito misses a Panenka and a few more topics around MLS conclude another episodes. Good luck to all fantasy football players out there!
The ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser is for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
More info on the foundation can be found here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
Fabi opens this week’s episode with a story about his frustrating process of getting passport pictures. Definitely worth a listen alone, but obviously we also speak about the Whitecaps’ loss to Nashville and the Fire’s loss to Montreal. As the playoff race is heating up, both teams are currently on the outside looking in, but hope to stay in the mix as the weeks progress. It’s certainly crunch time now!
Besides winners and losers of the week, we discuss the heated press conference of Cincinnati’s head coach Pat Noonan, where he is very critical about the referring not just in their past game, but throughout the whole league.
Internationally, Bayern had a million shots and could only score 1 goal, while Liverpool’s season seems to start now after a 9-0 win over the weekend.
The ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser is for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
More info on the foundation can be found here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
Fabi‘s birthday week didn’t turn out so well enduring a disappointing loss against an NYCFC team that missed a lot of key players. However, Julian (aka Miroslav Klose) got a birthday present for Fabi with his first goal for the Whitecaps. Gressel blending in nicely with the Canadian side talks about DC‘s struggles (6:0 loss) and how he has moved on from the past.
A big topic is also Leeds United who beat Chelsea over the weekend with 4 MLS products (including coach Jesse Marsch). Congratulations go out to Josef Martinez and Brendan Vasquez.
The ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser is for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
More info on the foundation can be found here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
Back down to earth again. Both teams were humbled this weekend against superior opponents. After recent highs the Fire lost at conference leader Philly & the Whitecaps fell short to a very strong Galaxy side. Both teams find themselves 3 points outside the playoff line with each 9 games to go.
Beside MLS winners and losers, we also talk about Kai Wagner (Philly Union‘s left-back) and whether he could compete in the Premier League after recent rumors about a potential transfer to Leeds United.
Lastly, we break down Man Udt‘s rough start and what they need to do to get back on track. Also, who would win in a fist fight? Conte or Tuchel??
The ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser is for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
More info on the foundation can be found here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
After a week off, ZeeSoccerPod is back and what a great few weeks it was with two wins and a Canadian Championship! The Chicago Fire are on fire (pun intended) and above the playoff line for the first time in quite some time after being investing for 5 games in a row. Jules’ move to Vancouver is going pretty well as his family was finally able to join him last week. On the field the Whitecaps are just outside the playoff line, but right in the mix after a late come from behind win agains Houston. We also wrap up the MLS transfer window and finally get to talk Bundesliga again. Spoiler alert: Fabi is nervous already!
The ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser is for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
More info on the foundation can be found here: https://www.aziramichealyouthfoundation.org
This week’s episode will be canceled due to the move of Julian and his family to Vancouver. A regular episode will come out next week. Thanks for understanding!
ZeePodDerby 3.0 (or should we say ZeeClasico?) is in the books and Fabi & the Fire win for the third time this season. Julian describes his experience as he wore the Whitecaps jersey for the first time. Despite the loss, the Whitecaps have a big week ahead as they face a revived Toronto side in the Canadian Championship final. Not an easy task with the recent big signings of Bernadeschi and Insigne.
Moreover, Jules gives his personal impression of the city and the club and what challenges he will face being in a different country.
ZeeSoccerFund 2.0 2022 fundraiser for the Azira Michael Youth Foundation: https://gofund.me/4f70180a
Zee Soccer Pod is going international! Two days after finding out he’s been traded from DC to Vancouver, Julian talks about all the details.
How he got told about the trade, his initial feelings, and what the process since then has been like. His wife’s reaction, what the plan is in the coming days/weeks, and even how his first interactions with Vancouver staff/players went. Certainly a great insight into how this trade unfolded and all the challenges that come up when a player gets told he has to move 3000 miles across to a new country within a few days.
After two devastating losses with their respective clubs, the players don’t shy away to talk about the games and analyze what went wrong.
Before that however, we talk about the Azira Michael Youth Foundation which will be the charity for ZeeSoccerFund. Thanks to Michael for taking the time, and please support his cause! Most excitingly, we discuss the breaking news of Wayne Rooney appointed as new DCU manager, and Gaga Slonina’s verbal agreement with FC Chelsea.
Lastly, don’t miss Josef Martinez’ quote bashing his teammates at Atlanta United.
The Azira Michael Youth Foundation: To use sports as a vehicle to give kids in Uganda access to education, nutrition and character development.
Website
Happy 4th of July everybody! Safe to say Jules had a better holiday than Fabi after DCU (finally!) picked up 3 points again in Orlando. Jules even overcame a bird attack and a some not very original heckling from Orlando fans. The Fire’s trip to California didn’t go as planned but they have a big home stretch coming up with a family visit for Fabi, too. We also discuss our winners & losers of the week and talk a bit more serious about America’s gun laws sparked by the sad shooting in Highland Park, Illinois that happened on July 4th. Have a great week everybody!
A big THANK YOU to the community for all the donations to ZeeSoccerFund. In total we came up to $1700 and the winner of the jerseys are Cecelia Stephens and Matthew Daversa.
To the negative: both DC and the Fire lost their respective games.
The players break down their games, and talk MLS: Philly vs NYCFC and their creation of an authentic rivalry. In addition, we talk about Gareth Bale’s move to LAFC and how Jules is doing extra sprint training to keep up with him in their matchup in August.
At the end, Fabi has some roommate rules and suggestions for a pleasant rooming experience on a road trip with the team.
ZeePodDerby is behind us and Fabi is over the moon as the Fire beat DC 1-0 and he actually scored the game winning goal. We discuss the game in some good detail and Jules is trying to find some answers to what is missing for DC to start winning games again. We also finally talk about Julian’s new vegan lifestyle and how the change has affected him so far. Other topics include MLS’ new TV deal with Apple, 2026 World Cup Stadium announcements, and Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich.
Lastly, make sure to donate to Zee Soccer Fund for your chance to win the match worn parley jerseys the guys wore a few weeks ago. Good luck!
Another great guest for Zee Soccer Pod. Brandt Bronico (aka BB13) from Charlotte FC and a former Fire teammate of Fabi. Incorporating the “grindset” lifestyle BB talks about defeating the odds and establishing himself as a Pro in MLS. He is a role model of how far hard work can really take you. He also talks about his commitment to the city of Charlotte and his experience with the expansion team. Also, don’t miss his exciting insights about Charlotte FC’s firing of Miguel Ramirez and his difficult relationship with the players.
Lastly, the hosts give a preview of the upcoming #zeepodderby and upcoming topics: Vegan-Jules, Covid-Fabi etc…
Stay safe and keep grinding!
The first guest who doesn’t play in MLS joins the guys for this weeks pod. Kevin Paredes, the former DC United and current VFL Wolfsburg player, hoped on during his summer break to reminisce about old times at DCU and talk about the last six months in Germany. His transition to life in a different country away from home, on the field differences, his changed attitude, and his outlook on the new season were all big talking points. Some good stories of Kevin and Jules certainly made it in the episode, as well, so make sure to give this one a listen!
The crew is on a break for the Memorial Day weekend and MLS international window as Julian briefly addresses the listeners and fans over the weekend's results and the crew's return next week.
After a disappointing week where both teams dropped important points, we try to find positives along the way. A big one was the new CBA agreement between the USWNT & USMNT with the US Soccer Federation which is a huge stepping stone in closing the pay gap between the genders. Talking about pay - the MLSPA released the players’ salaries with general increases for players around the league. At the end, we break down the Premier League drama, and Brendan Aaronson 30 million dollar transfer to Leeds United.
P.S. Don’t miss Julian’s new secret vacation spot!
Zee Pod Challenge was successfully completed as Jules recorded in his newest addition to the jersey collection - a Higuaín jersey. We talk about the unnecessary Fire loss to Cincinnati and DCU’s comeback tie in Miami as well as discuss the signings of young homegrown players vs. going to college. We also finish off the Bundesliga season with a little discussion about how and if Bayern should replace Lewandowski this year. Fabi is certainly licking his chops already as a Dortmund fan for next season.
In this week‘s episode we have a special corner talk with Julian. The DC players reveals the set piece secrets that lead his team to goals & wins. The Fire player meanwhile is back on the field, but could not help his team get a result in Atlanta. We also cover whether we think that artificial turf is the reason why Atlanta United’s Miles Robinson ruptured his achilles in tendon. Is Carlo Ancelotti a Master Mind? Fabi certainly doesn’t think so as he rants about Real Madrid‘s move into the UEFA CL final. Lastly, congrats to Seattle, Frankfurt, and Schalke. All amazing stories in their own ways.
Today’s episode is probably the most unprepared to date. Fabi has just landed from a day trip to Philly because of his injury and Julian is eating his sorrows from the last game with some (healthy) ice cream. We obviously talk about the Fire and DC United games that lead to both teams finding themselves at the bottom of the Easter conference table after this weeks MLS action. There is a a clear winner of the week, however, in Nashville SC. They opened a brand new stadium and signed their 2 best players to long term contract extensions, pretttttyyyyy good!
With the 50th episode we complete (not counting episode 0 or emergency pod) we have completed the half century. A frustrating week from Chicago with Fabi not making much progress with his injury, and the Fire losing in Open Cup as well as in MLS play. DC ended their losing streak with Taxi delivering in a strong 45 minutes. DC Fans however boycotted the game and we hear from a DCU supporters perspective (shoutout to Doug our producer!!!). Lastly, we cover Bayern coming to DC, and winning the 10th championship in a row for them.
The first ever Zee Soccer Pod Emergency Episode is here as DC United fired their coach Hernán Losada. Fabi is getting all the inside scoops from Julian in regards to what transpired leading up to the decision to let Losada go. He’ll also get an outlook on what the Chad Ashton era could look like in the coming weeks and months of the season.
Happy easter! 🐣 This week we cover DC’s losing streak as well as the Fire’s 4th 0:0 of the season. Fabi gives an injury update and expresses his frustration. On positive note though Jules contributed to Zee Soccer Fund with his first two assist of the season. Miami surprisingly won in a cross-country matchup in Seattle (secret tip: put your money on Inter when Higuain is not playing!!). We talk about how it is probably a blessing for the Earthquakes to part ways with Matias Almeyda after many losing seasons. Lastly, we discuss an interesting quote from Chicago Fire owner Joe Masueto regarding decentralization in money allocation for MLS teams.
After a bit of golf talk, we start the week off with some not so fun news regarding Fabi’s injury and how difficult it is to sometimes handle the emotions that come with injuries. We then shift to some more MLS talk to discuss the Fire’s first loss of the season and some other things that caught our eye throughout the weekend of MLS action. That includes El Trafico, Higuain (duhhh), Philly, New England, etc etc.. Liverpool vs. Manchester City and Lewandowski’s transfer rumors are also on deck towards the end of the episode as we hope all of you have a great week!
Alright alright alright. Don’t miss to tune in into this week’s episode filled with personal stories and soccer stuff. The Fire are unbeaten and Fabi still feels bad for the fans. Jules too felt bad because he caught a 24 hour flu after DC’s last minute loss. Alright alright alright.
What’s going on with New England, and when will Miami win their first game this year? PRO Referees apologize after VAR controversy in Toronto - it doesn’t get NYCFC any points though. Lastly, we break down our body fats, and the world cup draw. Which is the group of death??
This week’s pod features a detailed description of the off weekend.. Julian had a child-free weekend with his wife and Fabi learned how to hate the game of golf. We also discuss the recent USMNT games as they are on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar while Italy missed out on the tournament after losing their playoff game to North Macedonia. We finish with some MLS talk and somehow get into questioning the calls up to the polish national team.
Today’s episodes starts with a classy discussion about farts and ends with elaborated penis talk. And yeah, in the middle the players talk about soccer as well. Fabi & Fire stay unbeaten while Jules & DC struggle to find momentum to get results recently. Don’t miss Jule’s rant on the schedule change against NYCFC. Lastly the two share their thoughts on Dax’ McCarty’s red card and his apology on twitter.
The first ZeePodDerby of ‘22 is in the books and Fabi was finally able to come out victorious! We break down the game and how much the cold and windy weather played a factor. Winners & Losers cover anything from tiny Championship Banners to finally getting a W after losing 14(!) in a row (congrats Cincinnati). We also discuss the outburst of Carlos Gil after their match in regards to the weather, and let’s just say Julian had a tough couple days against Fabi.. Ohh, we also had Breaking News for the first time EVER!
The busiest week for Zee Soccer Pod yet after Fabi’s comments on Gonzalo Higuain went viral. The news made it all the way to Germany, Spain, and Argentina, so Zee Soccer Pod is a global phenomenon now. In this week’s episode Fabi explains why he stands by his comments on the Argentine and what part he regrets. Later the players break down the Fire & DC game, and why Julian might be questionable for #ZeePodDerby next week. Congrats to Charlotte & the inaugural home game with 75.000 fans singing the national anthem acapella. Lastly, a break down of Jesse Marsch’ first press conference with Leeds United & what the German think about his approach in the Premier League.
Week 1 of the 2022 MLS Season is in the books and Zee Soccer Pod is still undefeated! Julian talks about their opening win against Charlotte, while Fabi describes their scoreless draw in Miami. ‘Winners and Losers’ of the week is back and we have a lengthy discussion about what a playoff format in the Bundesliga would be like and if it could improve the leagues perception around the world. We also reintroduce ‘Zee Soccer Fund’ for the 2022 season and Fabi makes a wild promise for their home opener next week. #hattrickwatch
As the first game of the season approaches the Germans have another guest on: For the first time not an active soccer player, non other than MLS Insider himself - Tom Bogert. Tom talks about his role as a journalist as how he became the “Adam Shefter” of MLS. Other topics include the crazy winter transfer window & Bogert’s expert opinion on DCU and the Fire.
Don’t miss this episode - it covers everything you need to know before MLS 2022 kicks off the following weekend.
This week the ‘Two Angry Germans’ are joined by ‘The Friendly Striker’, Kasper Przybylko. Fabi’s new teammate discusses his fond memories of Philly, his new teammates in Chicago, and we get a bit into how the big trade actually came about. As we get closer to the season, pre season updates are shared and some first predictions for the Fire are flying around. Also, we discuss the recent comments from Charlotte’s coach regarding their expectations and certainly can’t forget some Bundesliga talk to finish it off.
“Alright alright.” The sweet sound of another episode of ZSP. While Jules & DC are doing the ultimate physical and mental toughness training, Fabi got caught by the coaches ordering McDonald’s on his off day. Big transfer rumors are a big topic including Shaqiri and Tevez. Most importantly though: The NWSL got their first ever CBA ratified. Hear what Whashtington Spirit player Andi Sullivan has to say to this historic moment for the women. Lastly, don’t miss Fabi’s rant against his own club Dortmund as they lost 5:2 at home vs Leverkusen.
- Uber Eats Order - 4:43
- SWAT Training - 8:33
- Transfer Rumors - 16:05
- NWSL CBA Intro - 25:15
- Andi Sullivan - 26:16
- NWSL CBA Discussion - 29:42
- Bundesliga Chat - 35:28
Zee Soccer Pod returns for the 2022 MLS Season. Fabian and Julian find themselves in sunny Florida for preseason. They talk through big signings across the league and the meanining of GAM and TAM and every other MLS currency. They discuss the Fire, DCU, Bundesliga relegation battle, and the current USMNT WCQ round.
Thank you to all zee loyal listeners. The first year is in the books. In this “surprise” episode, we announce the winners of the two jerseys - a special thanks to all who donated to Zee Soccer Fund. More than $1500 came together to help kick childhood cancer. Fabi played the Fire card to get his girlfriend a Visa for Germany. Meanwhile Jules, aka Matthew McConaughey, is getting ready to be the best thanksgiving host for his wife’s family. The Fire have a new unofficial head coach, which is discussed in this episode as well. Find out what other offseason plans the two MLS players have, and why Fabi will show up with a mask for preseason 2022. Happy thanksgiving. Happy holidays. Happy new year. We’ll be back soon.
Zee final episode of the year has us talking about the finish of the regular season in MLS. Fabi clarifies how the boycott in Chicago wasn’t really a boycott while Julian tries to explain why DC United missed the playoffs by one point. We will both start our off-season now, but we had to give our end of season MLS awards along with our Best 11s before going on numerous trips throughout the next few months. We also wrap things up with Zee Soccer Fund, giving the final tally and where we intend to donate the money to. We encourage everybody to join us in donating to a great cause!
Thank you for all the support throughout the year, it’s been a lot of fun and we intend to be back next year for some more content from your favorite Germans in MLS!
As the end of the regular season approaches the share some stories from the weekend. Julian hosted his first ever annual halloween party with all DC players and staff. Fabi shares his frustration with the German embassy in the attempt of applying for a travel visa for his gf. On the field, there was some frustration as well. DC’s playoff hopes shrink as they couldn’t get a result vs The Crew. Fire losing 1:0 at Yankee Stadium. Winners of the week are NYCFC who are taking care of business at the end stages of the season. A lot to play for next weekend. Stay tuned for Decision Day madness and keep rooting for DC!!
Thunderbuddies Freddy & Julian are joined by Fabi to talk about the horrible week for DC United and the very good week for the Chicago Fire. Yankee Stadium once again wasn’t nice to DC and Jules walks us through their big loss against NYCFC. Fabi on the other hand collected 6 out of 6 this past week and might have a couple reasons for why all of a sudden the Fire are playing better.
We debate about the vaccination status of Joshua Kimmich and how Germany compares to the US in regard to the COVID vaccine. Also, since they released some more salary data we ask ourselves if a salary cap structure would work in the Bundesliga or Europe as a whole. We certainly have some ideas.
At last, congratulations to the New England Revolution on winning the Supporters Shield!
First off, apologies for canceling Zee Pod last week! To make up for it, this week’s episode is packed news, inside stories, and slip of the tongues (see title) from Fabi.
Find out why DC players are having a halloween party in Jules’ backyard. Gressel also provided inside info on the new training facility and how it compares to other MLS teams. The Fire player is providing and injury update and in search for meaning in this last stretch of the season. Lastly, a Bundesliga update and how we think a bad team like Greuther Fürth would do in MLS.
Last week, the Chicago Fire relieved their head coach of his duties, strangely after a rare win. Fabi reacts to the news and tells us how he found out, how the locker room reacted, and what is next for the Fire.
In DC, Jules finally scored his first goal of the season and backed it up by scoring another the next game. They won one and lost one and are staying right in the tight playoff race.
It was a good week for Zee Soccer Fund and Bayern also lost, keeping the Bundesliga quite tight at the top. Also, we support you NWSL players!!
What’s up Soccer Pod Fans, we are back with another episode. Today you’ll hear all the details about Zee Soccer Fund (in support of childhood cancer), so keep cheering for us as that will contribute to the fund. For example, just this weekend Jules contributed with his stellar performance in the 4:2 victory over Cincy including 3 assists, man of the match AND team of the week $80 alone. Fabi tied 0:0 against Nashville, but maybe he can learn a bit from Jules as he played the same position. Also, Julian and DC is responsible for another coach being fired as Cincy let go of Jaap Stam. Moreover, we talk about the new Leagues Cup and give our opinions on stopping the season for a month long tournament. Lastly, the two players got into a bit of an argument because of some Bundesliga send offs.
9 games to go in MLS and the race for the playoffs in the East is very tight! Unfortunately, the Fire couldn’t find a way into the mix this past week with two losses while DC United is right in the thick of it. We cover all of our games this past week, including ZeePodDerby and an emotional return to Atlanta for Jules! Most importantly, we created ‘Zee Soccer Fund’ to start giving back to the community through this platform (more details to follow). At first though, we spoke a little bit about Formula 1 racing, especially about Michael Schumacher and how his documentary made us think back to our youth. Lastly, the Bundesliga stays tight with Ws from both Bayern and Dortmund, while Leipzig is a bit slacking behind.
What’s up folks! Exactly 20 years after the tragic terror attacks from 9/11 Jules headed to New York to play the Red Bulls. The two share their stories of how they experienced and remembered the day as little boys in Germany. In a typical “Red Bull game”, DC managed to steal a point on the road after a slow start. An even slower start had Fabi with the Fire that lost 2:0 in Kansas City. The playoff race is tightening up with Miami and Atlanta’s strong performances over the weekend. In addition, the players describe a how the team travels and how much money Fabi usually loses playing cards with his teammates. Lastly, Zee Pod Derby is coming up, so find up why Jules is going to call at 2pm on Wednesday right before the game. Thanks for the loyalty guys. We appreciate it!!!
Happy Labor Day! Slower week in terms of MLS play, but that didn’t slow us down. We were both able to enjoy our off weekend, which in general is a big sacrifice for us pro soccer players as well as our families. However, Fabi actually skipped a game in the past to attend his sisters wedding (Shoutout Jim Curtin!!). Obviously some on the field talk can’t be missing, so we give our take on the start of World Cup Qualifying for the US Men‘s National Team, the craziness that went down in Brasil vs. Argentina, and Germany‘s return to its old self (maybe?). Oh, MLS was worth maybe 2 minutes, as well. Enjoy!!
Happy off-days! A successful weekend needs to be celebrated. Jules with a dominant 3:1 victory over Philly did a wine tour with his friends; Fabi went to a concert after breaking the 20 away game winless streak with a 1:0 win at the Red Bulls - Ironically after the worst travel day that the Fire had experienced in the past 2 years. The Germans talk American sports and what other sports they enjoy watching (Jules all, Fabi none). Furthermore, the two talk about how the Premier League has gotten more attractive than the Bundesliga over the past years, and how the Blockbuster signing of Ronaldo to ManU could change the dynamic in the Prem. Even Jules prefers watching English football over his FC Bayern…
We are back, even after a terrible week for both the Chicago Fire and DC United on the field. We speak about all those Ls, how Fabi didn’t ask for Higuain‘s jersey again, and what Julian thought of seeing some of his old teammates. We certainly didn’t agree with some of the players selected for the All-Star game! We question how much it really is about the best performing players or if it’s getting almost too political. Meanwhile in the Bundesliga, Fabi is scared Dortmund is on the same path as the past few years while Julian had other things to worry about on Saturday morning. Finally, don’t be German and spread positivity people!!
Late night chats with Fabi and Jules. Just hours after their respective games, zee two Germans sat down to talk about their efforts. The Fire player, aka Man of the Match, put in a shift for the Fire to beat the Crew while the DC player noted another assist to his account at tough 5:2 loss in Nashville. Other MLS topics include late game penalty drama for the Red Bulls, evolving quality striker for NYCFC, and blasting Sounders past Portland. Also, don’t miss Julian trying to give Fabi advice on how to win away games… Moreover Bundesliga started and the two give not so surprising predictions of who will be Champion this year. Lastly, will Messi win the Champions League with PSG? Fabi says NO.
P.S. Wanted: Marketing intern to help us out on social media and uploading Zee Pods.
What a great week for the pod going undefeated in a total of 6 games. 5 points for the Fire and 7 for DC United has us in a good mood for the quick recap of our games. However, today’s episode is all about the USMNT’s Gold Cup star, Miles Robinson. Listen in to find out why this win against his former coach (Tata Martino) means a lot to him, and how he thinks those years (‘17 & ‘18) being a backup in Atlanta actually helped him accelerate his development in the last couple years. We talk about how Frank DeBoer trusted him from the start, which gave him all the confidence for an impressive 2019 season. He also gives a good look into what itu was like to be coached by Gabriel Heinze on & off the field. In terms of what’s the next step in his career, he said one thing: “Dream big, they might just come true."
Congrats to the US Men’s National Team on winning the Gold Cup! Getting their 2nd trophy in as many months against Mexico is certainly worth celebrating. We obviously also speak about our two very similar ties, both the Fire and DCU ultimately coming away with a good point on the road each. Fabi shares a little how traveling with a ‘world-famous’ Bastian Schweinsteiger turned out to be and some other funny team related travel stories creep into the episode, too. In the end, the olympics got us to Simone Biles and from there we talked a bit about our own experiences with mental health and the issues that still remain in locker rooms regarding that topic.
What’s up everybody! Another Pod - today with mixed feelings.
While DC is picking up points with Julian’s stellar performance the Fire are struggling and Fabian is raging about Toronto’s time wasting. Gressel - aka Mr. Man of the Match - talks how he has been confronted on the field during Zee Pod Derby. The two reveal their favorite cleats of all time in today’s fan question (keep questions coming!!!). Lastly, on a more serious note, Julian has lost his friend Owen who suffered from cancer. We encourage you all to donate what you can to help eradicate Childhood Cancer. F**k Cancer!
What’s up Pod-Fam! #ZeePodDerby is coming up and we got another friendly bet. Like always we talk about our past games and all around MLS. Do not miss the ALL inside stories from Atlanta United. Where did Heinze turn wrong? Why did he limited water intake for players? And what did Tata do differently back in the days to get the best out of Atlanta United and Josef Martinez. Don’t miss the radical rule changes that the Fifa is testing at a youth tournament in Europe. We break them down for you. Lastly, find out why Fabi is the angry German and Julian the nice one.
Ciao Bella! Italy are champions and Julian won the bet. There is your EURO 2020 recap…. jk! Obviously we dive into the EURO a bit deeper and talk about our positive and negative standouts. In MLS, the Fire added another W while DC only played some soccer golf. However, Fabi had 3 days off where he decided to be very spontaneous. He even (kind of) ditched his girlfriend, while Jules was left extremely jealous. Messi FINALLY won his international trophy, the Gold Cup has started and we keep on rolling into a busy month ahead. Any lawn tips, please reach out to Julian. Thanks!
Happy 4th of July. In celebration of the holiday weekend in the US, Jules and Fabi decided to give back: 10 combined goals, 6 points for zee Pod, and two happy Germans in front of the mic. The two discussed their respective celebrations and other memorable games in the past. Let’s not forget about Canada though. The players talk about Montreal nights out, and Chris Armas parting with Toronto FC. What do the two Germans have to say about the disappointing loss vs England? Who has impressed the most from the Germany squad? And are Bonucci and Chiellini the best center back duo in the world?
The weekly therapy session commences as we talk about the past 2 games for the Fire and DCU. Combined we managed to pick up 2 out of possible 12 points, then you add a flat tire and missing some crazy EURO games to the mix and that certainly doesn’t help the overall mood. We pushed through, however, and certainly discussed good & not so good performances throughout MLS, as well as EUROs top stars that already exited the tournament. Also, AUF GEHTS DEUTSCHLAND!!
Another week, another pod. It could have been a 3 for 3 on Saturday with Germany winning, DC United winning, but the Chicago Fire disappointed with their 2:0 loss at Columbus which sealed the last game at historic Mapfre Stadium. We break down two new things that start in 2022 - the new MLS development league AND the new Chicago Fire logo. Get excited for another segment of Judging with Jules, and find out why Fabi disagrees on the Germany performances with the DC United player. We cover everything around the Euros and don’t miss Julian’s emotional reaction to the Christian Eriksen incident.
Another guest in Chris Mueller joins us to chat about the good start Orlando City had to this season and in general how he prefers the Florida heat over the Chicago climate. He takes us through his college days and how those years helped him make an immediate impact once he got drafted 6th overall in 2018. Fabi’s trivia questions reveal some interesting stats about the 3 of us while Chris’ off the field approach has helped him emerge as one of the best players in MLS in the 2020 season. He takes us through his well deserved first call up to the USMNT and reveals some really exciting news about his ‘Be The Best’ project.
We are BACK!! After missing to record an episode last week due to Fabi’s love vacation, we are back with a new CONCACAF Nations League Champion. The USMNT showed fight, spirit, grind, and most importantly cojones as the Mexicans would say. Don’t miss our newest rubric - “Judging with Jules” (insert playful music here) where the DC player (and future GM) rates international transfers during the summer window. Learn how Fabi won a bet that was worth nothing and how he just placed another bet with Julian to feed his betting addiction. Lastly: Joe Biden, open the boarders please, we want to see ur families. Thanks.
This week‘s episode takes us through the first win for the Fire and another tough loss for DC, so happy days for Fabi! He wasn’t so successful in getting Higuain‘s jersey though, and it seems like Jules is beating him in the jersey collection game overall, too. Julian did his homework regarding player salaries, we talk final Bundesliga standings, and give our predictions for the Champions League Final. Also, Zee Soccer Pod needs a slogan so DMs are open!
Another week, another Pod. This week we closely analyze the DC United vs Chicago Fire game this past Thursday, and reveal what Fabi’s first words were when he saw Julian during the warm up. Find out why the Fire player wears his socks so low and why shin guards are the most overrated piece of equipment in his opinion. In addition, we discuss the public release of the MLS players’ salaries and why Jules might have to pay dinner next time he sees his golf buddies. Winners of the week are in Seattle; Losers are in Ohio. Lastly, even though Fabi’s favorite team Borussia Dortmund won the German Cup final he will be posing in a FC Bayern jersey this week on social media. Wanna know why? LISTEN.
Happy Mother’s Day! Today’s episode features us talking about the last two weeks of on field action for the Fire and DC United and why Ice Cream Nachos are actually quite good according to Fabi. We also discuss the rebrand of the Columbus Crew (or Columbus SC ??) and if celebrating after scoring a goal against your old club is fine to do. Obviously, we cover both Champions Leagues, some Bundesliga, and our winners & losers of the week. We also had to make a little bet regarding our first direct matchup of the season.
CJ Sapong - this man does it all. As the second guest of the podcast we talked about his time in Sporting KC, Philadelphia Union, Chicago Fire and now in the city of music at Nashville SC. He touched on his personal growth as a player in the league and how he negotiated his latest deal as his own agent. We talked about his work with Black Players for Change in the wake of George Floyd’s death and dealing with racism on and off the pitch from an early age. Don’t miss his inspiring story of a premature birth during a global pandemic and how he has become a proud father against all odds.
The anniversary episode features a look at what Week 2 of the MLS season was like. The question about how much caffeine we consume before a game sparked ;) some old memories for Fabi and how Ice Cream Nachos are apparently a thing in Chicago at sporting events. Freddy (Julian’s dog) gave him a scare on his birthday and we obviously included some Bundesliga talk, too. Listening past the awkward small talk in the beginning is definitely worth it!
It’s GAMEDAY!!! MLS is back; the fans are back; Gresselmania is back - with his first win and assist of the year. Chicago meanwhile plays beautiful soccer but can’t hold the lead. We talk match day routines and how Julian managed to lose 4% body fat in 6 weeks. Furthermore, we give our opinion on why the Superleage might not be so super and Gressel declares FC Bayern as the loser of the week. Yes, Fabian was present as well in this week’s episode, but mainly to wish his mother a happy 60th birthday.
Finally, it’s Week 1 of the 2021 MLS season and we look ahead to the first week of action. We are also recapping the good performances of MLS teams in the CONCACAF Champions League, the UEFA Champions League leg 1 results, and DC’s new General Manager. Fabi even brought up golf with the Masters (Yes, Julian was as shocked as you are). Oh, and Fabi tells quite the story about him almost causing quite the traffic accident right in front of a police car.
Happy Easter Everybody! As Fabi is getting back to Chicago from preseason he FINALLY gives an update about his dating life. Julian talks about DC’s preseason games and changes to body weight and fat percentage protocols under the new coaching staff. With the CONCACAF Champions League coming up, the season officially starts for 5 MLS teams, and Jules provides insides on difficulties playing internationally. Also, the two cover the controversial MLS concussion substitution rule and expose how to trick it. Lastly, happy retirement to Jeff Larentowicz!
Another competitive tournament will be played without the US, as the U-23’s didn’t qualify for the summer Olympics. We talked about what that could mean for this generation and US Soccer as a whole. We also gave an update on preseason, discussed some interesting games on the 2021 MLS schedule, and talked some European World Cup qualifying matches.
In this episode we talk about the not so fun part about our job - injuries! Unfortunately, that topic is currently affecting one of us so we thought to share our mindset and what it's like to go through a difficult period like that. We also cover the NCAA and their horrible treatment of the Women's basketball teams compared to the Men, the quarterfinal draw of the Champions League, and Jogi Löw's decision to step down.
For our first guest of the pod we invited Keegan Rosenberry (Colorado Rapids) and talked to him about his time at Georgetown University, how he wouldn't have been able to get off to such a great start to his pro career without Fabian, and how he found himself amongst World Stars at the All-Star game. We also spoke to him about why he's work PJs to the golf course before, why he's always had the title of team barber, and he gave us a glimpse of what his coming years could look like on and off the field.
This week we jump into Fabi’s Orlando bubble and talk about how positive Covid cases can change and disrupt everything at any moment. We also cover Inter Miami’s salary cap investigation, how eating dinner in a Kangaroo costume could happen to anybody, and Bayern’s clear win over Dortmund in ‘Der Klassiker’. Oh, and we also have an update on Fabi’s Valentine’s Day story from a few weeks ago...
As we talked through our first day of preseason, we stumble upon why Fabian hates fitness tests (who doesn't?) and discuss how different coaching styles have different effects on players. We also gave our take on new MLS kits, Chicago Fire's rebrand, and the Zlatan v. LeBron saga.
We talk all things CBA negotiations from the perspective of two bargaining committee members, how we managed through the looooong off season, the return of the Champions League and some other topics including the Valentine’s Day story you didn’t know you needed.
We go back in time and cover topics like how we met, what it was like in Germany during our youth days, why we decided to go to college in the US, and a few more stories that get the ball rolling. We also cover why Fabi’s nickname is ‘Fußballgott’ and how that kind of sparked an idea in Julian to start a podcast with him. Learn about that and more in Episode #0 of the Zee Soccer Podcast.