First meeting in 34 years
First meeting in 34 years
On Sunday (19.08.12, 14.30 CET), Hertha open their 2012/13 DFB Cup campaign with a round one trip to Regionalliga Südwest side VfR Wormatia 08 Worms. After a shaky Bundesliga 2 start, new coach Jos Luhukay and his side are hoping for their first victory of the season, and safe passage into the hat for the second round draw.
Hertha's coach is without defensive kingpin Roman Hubnik. The gritty Czech Republic defender is suspended after being sent off for a second bookable offence at the quarter final stages of the smae competition last season. Hubnik will be replaced in the starting line-up by Maik Franz, who faces his first start for 260 days. The tough guy defender shattered knee ligaments shortly after joining Hertha and has been sidelined ever since. Daniel Beichler remains in his native Austria for "family reasons". It is not known when he will return to Berlin. Vice-captain Peer Kluge has trained with the team again following an ankle problem and could play some part against Worms. That decision will be made a day before the game.
Franz can't wait
Maik Franz (31) goes into the game full of elan. He told us: "I am still a couple of percent short of full fitness, but I can collect those through match practise so I am really looking forward to the game!" His coach is also looking forward to the comeback of the much-travelled veteran. Luhukay: "Maik has a long and painful road to recovery behind him. I am glad to have a further alternative in defence available again."
No-one is under any illusions as to the difficulty of the task facing the capital city side on Sunday. Luhukay expects: "An aggressive team prepared to give their all against us." The Dutchman is demanding a marked improvement from his team. He added: "We begin the game as the clear favourites, and must approach the game as a keen and determined unit. We are after all Hertha BSC, and want this victory for our superb fans."
Sprint in goal, Gersbeck on the bench
There will be a new face between Hertha's post on Sunday. After the sending off of number one stopper Sascha Burchert during the 1-3 league defeat at Frankfurt last weekend, the cup clash marks a rare start for 19 year old keeper Philip Sprint. The youngster joined Hertha at youth level from local outfit Nordberliner SC in 2006. Last season Sprint played mainly for the reserves and reached the final of the junior DFB Cup with the Hertha under-19s.
Srint's understudy in Worms will be 17 year old Marius Gersbeck, who is usually first choice in the reserve team. The lad has however tased success in the past. Under coach Andy Thom, the 1,86 m tall keeper won the German under-17 league title.
Last meeting over three decades ago
The man in charge of Sunday's opponents is no stranger in German football circles. Ronald Borchers (55) has been there since 2010. During his playing days he was capped six times by Germany, and won the UEFA Cup in 1980 and the DFB Cup the following year while at Eintracht Frankfurt.
The last time the two teams met in the cup was in 1978. The venue was not the EWR-Arena in Worms, where Sunday's clash is to be played, but the Olympic stadium in Berlin. Hertha beat Worms 2-0 that day and advanced to the next round. More of the same on Sunday please lads!
Possible line-ups:
Hertha BSC: Sprint - Ndjeng, Franz, Brooks, Schulz - Kluge, Niemeyer, Knoll, Ramos - Allagui, Kachunga
Wormatia Worms: Knödler – Böcher, Rösner, Banouas, Bauer - Abele, Himmel, M. Röser, Wittke, Toch - Jabiri