2025 Lithuania
Druskininkai, 11–14 September 2025
Die Lithuanian sports journalists federation had invited us to the EUROPEAN JOURNALISTS‘ FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP – the traditional International media tournament in football. Only this time as a EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP:
Around 50,000 storks live in Lithuania. The white stork has been a national symbol of Lithuania for centuries and was declared the national bird in 1973.
Since 2005, the Lithuanian sports journalists federation has organised a football tournament every year.
We have never had so many wins! Nor so many German goals. Still, only 11th place in the end – we were drawn into a strong group. At least we managed a draw against the eventual winners, Armenia.
Never has a larger group travelled with the German Media Team. At “Dvaras”, which means “manor house”, three young ladies were with us – that’s new, too. Martin Gresch was also back, waving in the background with his wife Heike. A wonderful evening.
Lithuanian cuisine is highly recommended. The cold beetroot soup šaltibarščiai and the “zeppelins”, cepelinai – hearty potato dumplings filled with minced meat or curd cheese, served with a sauce of bacon, onions and sour cream – are among the traditional dishes you really must try.
Reza with chips and black pudding. Why not.
The Memel – at least that’s the German name. The river, Nemunas in Lithuanian, flows through three countries and is known for its eventful history as part of East Prussia. For a short stretch of about 15 km it marks Lithuania’s border with Belarus, and on its lower course the border with the Russian Kaliningrad Oblast.
Martin and Romanas – old friends. Before the tournament (and afterwards, too).
A short speech before the tournament. Tautvydas Vencevičius is president of the Lithuanian Sports Journalists’ Association and chairman of “PRESSas”, a kind of sports club for Lithuanian journalists. He has organised the tournament in Lithuania since 2010.
The 14 teams before the tournament. The matches were played in a brand-new “stadionas” at the Druskininkai Sports Centre. The stadium holds 1,500 spectators; the Lithuanian women’s national team has also played there.
The team captains sing the Lithuanian national anthem before the tournament – at least those who know the words. For the teleprompter next time, here is the first verse: “Lietuva, tėvyne mūsų, Tu didvyrių žeme, Iš praeities tavo sūnūs Te stiprybę semia.” (Translation: Lithuania, our homeland, you are the land of heroes; may your sons draw strength from the past.)
The groundsman did a great job. The pitch was in perfect condition. It was a pleasure to play on it.
Three angels for Martin. From team manager to president with VIP fans: for the first time, the German team travelled with plenty of support. President Martin Gresch with Heike, Rebecca and Brigitte.
The German team had a certain turnover of goalkeepers. In the first group games Gogo Gonsirowski stood between the posts, then Reza came in, then Gogo again. In the end neither was fit to play. Then Miss Siegerland had to go in goal. (And made excellent saves.)
Philipp Mihajlovic is a really good player and an asset to the team. He was offered a ten-year contract during the tournament.
Andreas Reichenau contributed his experience in every position, even in goal, and played almost flawlessly.
Unlucky Reza. As an outfield player things went quite well. As goalkeeper he fell awkwardly on his shoulder and broke his collarbone.
Unlucky Musi: the bandaged knee already shows there were problems. The diagnosis: a torn meniscus with cyst formation and a damaged posterior cruciate ligament. Nevertheless, he bravely held out to the end and even scored a few goals.
Captain Klemmi in action. The team’s only German champion is a tireless driving force.
All the goals inspired Philipp and Guido to a waltz of joy.
We even danced with our opponents. The blond streak belongs to Jonathan Cilimba, playing for the team for the first time. Anyone that agile is definitely welcome back.
Slaloming through the tight ranks of the defensive-minded Latvians: ball artist Boris “Bobo” Mihajlovic.
Head up. Dribbling without looking at the ball. A strong technician: Boris Mihajlovic.
Guido Berghoff, with all his power, is a rock in defence and dangerous in attack. And here he shows how a ball can be played with great feel and elegance. His ambition, by the way, is definitely worthy of a European champion.
Hard to get off the ball. Dangerous in front of goal. Lots of assists. Philipp Mihajlovic dances past a Lithuanian.
The Mihajlovic brothers in one picture.
Goalkeeper Gogo Gonsirowski and Bernd Huck are at least pointing in the same direction.
Team talk. As in Georgia, Boris was responsible for tactics and style of play – and once again did a very good job.
If you know the programme “Quarks” and associate it with serious science communication, that is also and above all thanks to Mustafa Benali, “Musi” for short. As head of the WDR Quarks digital team, he is responsible for “Quarks” achieving something other formats dream of in recent years: it has become the industry’s role model for digital transformation. Many millions of users use the Quarks platform – a strong achievement.
Our keeper Gogo did his job very well and saved whatever could be saved – until his body gave up. Hopefully he’ll have recovered by November.
Stop right there! Carrying on could hurt. The Siegerland-style Reichenau barrier is crystal clear and unmistakable. Even the Serbs respected it.
Reza, here still in the outfield and uninjured.
Hard to get off the ball: Philipp Mihajlovic.
Waiting for the Georgian goalkeeper.
Saved, no goal. Gogo has stopped it once again. A powerhouse in goal.
Jonathan Cilimba and Boris Mihajlovic on their way to the handshakes after the match.
Jonathan Cilimba strengthened the team and was a stumbling block for every opponent. At WDR he researches for the award-winning project “Stolpersteine NRW”, which won the Grimme Online Award 2023 in the Knowledge and Education category.
Many hares are the hunter’s death. Well, here there were only survivors. Boris, Klemmi and Jonathan in joint action.
The German team had never won three matches at a tournament. Nor scored more than 20 goals. Half of them were scored by these two – although the older gentleman on the left needed the balls set up very precisely. His teammates then had to drag him back into his own half.
Klemmi from Inter Berlin, strong in defence, likes to join the attack. Tough on his man, relentless in the tackle. And as always, he prepared the trip to Lithuania perfectly.
Group photo with our VIP fans and the president.
This trophy, quite a beast, now stands in the Armenians’ trophy cabinet.
This is what winners look like. The Armenians are European champions.
Hang on, an Egyptian at a European Championship? Mahmoud Ezzat, team manager of the Egyptian media team, was promoting the tournament in Alexandria in November 2025. We’ll happily be there.
In a good mood after the tournament. Top from left: Guido Berghoff, Jonathan Cilimba, Boris Mihajlovic, Bernd Huck, Mustafa Benali, Reza Parza. Bottom from left: Philipp Mihajlovic, Ralf Klemm, Jan Gonsirowski and Andreas Reichenau.
Three times Mihajlovic. On the left the WDR production manager legend Baja Mihajlovic, next to him his two sons. One is still missing: Mischa, the third and youngest. The goal: all four. In the team shirt.
Druskininkai is essentially a spa town; in Germany it might carry the prefix “Bad”. A cable car connects the spa park with the ski resort.
A beautiful venue: the largest indoor ski slope in Europe.
Traditionally, a deer is served in Lithuania. This year a particularly battered specimen.
Martin Gresch, confident at the microphone, found the right (English) words.
Philipp Mihajlovic presents a small World Cup trophy as thanks for the, as always, world-class organisation of the tournament.
Founder of the team. Former team manager. President. Three titles, one hairspray. Lithuania: the hair stays in place.
Captain Klemmi hands the signed gloves to our friend Tauti, currently press officer of the Lithuanian national football team – and, as a goalkeeper, a real penalty killer.
To say the Georgians sang a little song would be completely wrong. Singing in Georgia is a deeply rooted cultural tradition, characterised by polyphonic singing that is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is an important part of social life at festivals and celebrations, where the tamada (toastmaster) leads the songs. The music varies by region: western Georgian singing often features more complex improvisation and a free interweaving of voices, while eastern Georgian singing is characterised by deep drone-like bass voices. Listen for yourself.
Not only were lots of goals scored – they were even filmed. Unfortunately, the pictures struggle to convey the dynamism, power and speed of the German players.
2025 Egypt