Long before NBC Sports brought every game of the Premier League to American viewers, the idea of regular soccer on stateside TV verged on the preposterous. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the game was rarely broadcast — except for, somewhat unexpectedly, on PBS. There, budding American fans found "Soccer Made In Germany," a weekly hour-long program from German Educational Television that showed highlights of West German league games. Even now, soccer fans of a certain age get wistful when you mention Toby Charles, the commentator whose pinched British accent taught a generation of Americans to correctly pronounce "Borussia Monchengladbach."
This weekend, the Bundesliga makes its debut as a main pillar of Fox's soccer coverage. The network needed something to help replace the hole in the schedule when the Premier League rights, long a Fox property, were bought by NBC. The Bundesliga, which had been relegated to the highest channel numbers in the most obscure satellite packages, gets a chance to find the American spotlight once again.
Despite the longtime difficulty in watching the league, there are more than a few American fans who have long enjoyed the German league as a counterpoint to the glitz and glamour of England. German clubs are required to be majority-owned by members, and to allow the league to examine their accounts for potential financial problems. The combination has made Germany's teams more fan-focused, rather than profit-focused, and has kept out the super-rich owners that have heaped debt upon most of England's big clubs.
For many, the league begins and ends with Bayern Munich, its most famous team. The Yankees of German soccer are going for an unprecedented fourth title, and are the heavy favorites to lift another trophy. Coach Pep Guardiola, though, has the franchise unsettled with his refusal to commit to a contract beyond next summer. That saga, and the team's focus on Champions League success, might be all that can throw Bayern off.
Behind the champions are a group of exciting teams with question marks. VfL Wolfsburg is led by Belgian striker Kevin De Bruyne, but he might soon be off for greener pastures. Borussia Dortmund, after becoming the darlings of the league under talismanic coach Jürgen Klopp, flirted with relegation for most of last year and will start over this season under new manager Thomas Tuchel. Bayer Leverkusen loves to attack, but occasionally forgets to defend.
As for rooting interests, U.S. fans might want to keep an eye on Werder Bremen, which has acquired young American striker Aron Johannsson, or Borussia Monchengladbach, which features fullback Fabian Johnson. Otherwise, if you need some advice, maybe all you need to do is find a longtime American soccer fan. He, and Toby Charles, might be able to put you right.
Short takes
• Last SatÂurÂday, Minnesota UnitÂed's 1-1 draw with FC EdÂmonÂton soundÂed a faÂmiliÂar note, as UnitÂed scored first but couldn't hold on to the lead. UnitÂed's defense has just three shutouts in 17 matchÂes, which is a big reaÂson the team is still flounÂderÂing in fourth place in the standings deÂspite leadÂing the league with 30 goals. Coach ManÂny LaÂgos exÂperiÂmentÂed with movÂing cenÂtral midÂfieldÂer Aaron Pitchkolan into the cenÂter of defense and pushÂing cenÂtral deÂfendÂer CrisÂtiaÂno Dias out wide last week, but the comÂbiÂnaÂtion didn't apÂpear to be a long-term soÂluÂtion. UnitÂed needs a fix soon; they are alÂreadÂy an astonÂishÂing 10 points behind OtÂtaÂwa, their opÂpoÂnent SatÂurÂday, in the fall seaÂson standings.
• The U.S. Open Cup fiÂnal is set: SportÂing KanÂsas City will visÂit PhilÂaÂdelÂphiÂa Union on Sept. 30. Both teams have a hisÂtoÂry of takÂing the knockÂout comÂpeÂtiÂtion seÂriÂousÂly, which you can't say about every MLS team. K.C. last won the Cup in 2012, while the Union is seekÂing its first troÂphy but will have the exÂperiÂence adÂvanÂtage afÂter reachÂing last year's fiÂnal. With the MLS reguÂlar seaÂson someÂwhat deÂvalued due to 12 of the 20 teams makÂing the playÂoffs, it will be nice to see a meanÂingÂful game in SepÂtemÂber to whet our apÂpeÂtites for the MLS Cup later in the fall.
• This week, Stoke City anÂnounced it had signed Swiss midÂfieldÂer Xherdan Shaqiri from Inter Milan. If you want an exÂamÂple of how great the fiÂnanÂcial might of the PreÂmier League has grown, this might be the best one. It was not so long ago that the iÂdeÂa of Stoke, a mid-tier EngÂlish team, signÂing any playÂer from a famed IÂtalÂian club like Inter Milan would have been luÂdiÂcrous — nevÂer mind a young midÂfieldÂer who has been called SwitÂzerÂland's anÂswer to LiÂoÂnel Messi.
• France also kicked off its seaÂson last weekÂend, and if posÂsiÂble, the league might be even more of a foreÂgone conÂcluÂsion than the GerÂman league. Paris-St. Germain won the league chamÂpiÂonÂship and all three French cup comÂpeÂtiÂtions last year, and shows no signs of slowÂing down. PSG might trade it all, though, for Champions League glory; the club hasn't even reached the semiÂfinals for 20 years, and has nevÂer won the whole thing.
What to watch this weekend
Women's international: Costa Rica vs. United States in Pittsburgh, 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Fox Sports 1. Following their World Cup victory, the U.S. women start their victory tour against a familiar CONCACAF foe. The games will be presented mostly as a celebration of women's soccer — but ultimately, these are the warmup games for next year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
NASL: Minnesota at Ottawa, 6 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 45. Ottawa has won five consecutive matches, is on a 12-game unbeaten streak and has multiple goals in four of its past five games. Minnesota, meanwhile, is mired in a string of disappointing results. Climbing in the standings is one thing; having some indication that United could be a potential championship contender is another. A win in Ottawa would be huge.
Bundesliga: Eintracht Frankfurt at VfL Wolfsburg, 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Fox Sports 1. Fox, which planned to broadcast few games on its flagship Fox Sports 1 channel, expanded its TV schedule after much complaining from American viewers. Wolfsburg has its "maybe Bayern's only challenger" campaign to kick off, whereas Frankfurt will likely do what most Bundesliga teams try to do – outscore foes 6-3.
Premier League: Chelsea at Manchester City, 10 a.m. Sunday, NBC Sports Network. The phrase "title decider" gets applied to pretty much any game that Chelsea plays against a potential challenger, but Jose Mourinho's pragmatic approach to these games is part of the reason Chelsea was league champion last year. A 1-1 draw, with Chelsea scoring first and refusing to lose afterward is probably a pretty good bet.