FIFA Museum

As of what I have heard, for many humans football is almost a religion. So today we will visit the Vatican of football - the FIFA museum in Zurich. 

In the first huge room you can admire the national teams jerseys. They are arranged by colours. With 209 members the display is truly impressive. Below comes just a selection: from orange to yellow ...

 ... from blue to green ...

... and a selection of all the shades of red. Actually, red is the most popular colour for a national team jersey.

In the museum you read about the highlights of FIFA itself and the rules of the game changing.

You can touch artefacts from the most prominent moments in the history of football. Well, you can touch the glass above them.

You can also see how the balls and shoes changed over the last century.

There are sections devoted to the referees ...

... to the players ...

... and to the winners.

You can visit the Maracana stadium ...

... and even literally take seats on the most prominent stadiums of the planet.

 You can meet in person the mascots from the FIFA World Championship finals.

There are exhibitions devoted to people who have impacted the way we perceive football today, even if they did not play themselves. Like Alfred Baloyi, the creator of Makarapa.

There is even a section waiting for those of us who love postcards and stamps. Football has been featuring on many stamps, all over the world.

But obviously the game itself is the most important part of the museum. You can watch it on huge screens ...

You can read hints from the best players (did you notice what the ball looks like after it got kicked by a professional player?

You can practice yourself on a small pitch ..

... try some table football ...

... or take a real ball and try to pass one of the many challenges built for the visitors.

I liked best this full-size pinball game!

Next to the exit a surprise waits for the visitors - a wall of wishes, there everyone can write their biggest football wish.

My human family put one as well ...

Well, it seems to confirm that, as Bob Marley said, football is a whole universe.

Allianz Arena

Last week we have enjoyed the Christmas period in Munich. Today I will take you to a very special place in Munich, a temple of the German-wide religion that is the dream of fans all over the world. (Ladies and) Gentlemen - welcome to Allianz Arena!

Allianz Arena is one of the most famous and most modern football stadiums in the world. I was built in 2005 in order to become the battlefield of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Today it is the witness of the matches of the German national team and of two local teams from Bavaria. The first one is called TSV 1860. The second one is a bit more famous. Alright, it is the most famous German club ever. High five to the wonderful team of Bayern Munich!

Let us get inside and discover this fantastic place.

The Arena is really huge and can accommodate almost seventy thousand viewers.

The seats are in three sections.

I am sure that you have notices the strange structures on the pitch. These are sunbeds for the grass which would otherwise not get enough sunlight to grow.

The seats are foldable but quite comfortable.

Those of you who prefer to have a bit more privacy can pay extra for seats in a separate sector.

It is located behind the press box. Yes, the press seats here. Looks quite modest in my view.

In front of the press seat the sponsors.

Their seats are also foldable but they are covered with leather. Pretty comfortable I must admit.

Those who cannot seat on the VIP seats can always see a closer view on the huge screens attached to the roof.

Let's go inside and discover what makes the red team so amazing. Well, they have a little gym ...

... they can get some massage ...

... and a shower that is far from being spectacular. No ladies, no sweaty men under the shower this time.

Look, here come the lockers. On top of which comes the picture of the player, a bit like in the kindergarden. I wonder if the players would otherwise have troubles to find their locker.

You may remember that the press box on the stadium was quite modest. Well, the press area inside is much more interesting. And apparently they serve free food and drinks during the matches.

This is where the press conferences after the matches are being held.

The coaches sit over there.

They said we are not allowed to sit on these chairs. Honestly - I am not sure if I would like to. They must be filled with so many dramatic emotions.

Would you like to go up to the pitch? Let me ask the guide. Yes! We can go there. Even more, we are allowed to use the same tunnel that the players use.

Can you feel this thrill? I almost hear the Champions League anthem.

And here we are. On the right, the seats where Bayern coaches and team is sitting during the match.

And in front of us the sunbeds.

I never thought that I could actually run on the same grass that Lewandowski and Ribery.

That was a great experience, I hope that you have enjoyed it as well. Those of you who are mega fans of Bayern can drop into their mega fan store.

The others can go with me outside to enjoy the facade that has in the meantime turned red to celebrate yet another victory of the German Masters.