Süle scores on Kreisliga debut — but Tiefenbach still lose 7-2

This is what football looks like for Niklas Süle now.

The 30-year-old retired from professional football in May, at Borussia Dortmund, after hurting his knee against Hoffenheim and fearing a third cruciate ligament tear. The injury turned out to be less serious than he feared, but the scare was enough. He cited his health and time with his children. A Champions League winner, a Germany international, a man who played in the 2020 Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain — done, at 30, because his body had told him something he was not willing to ignore.

About three months later, he was heading in from a corner in 32-degree heat in front of about 500 people in the Kreisliga Sinsheim.

SV Tiefenbach's season opener was against SG Kirchardt — a neighbour who had just been relegated from the Landesliga, one division above. Kirchardt were not a powerhouse dropping down several levels; they were the local side coming down one tier to the eighth. They still won comfortably. Tiefenbach were 3-0 down at half-time and the match finished 7-2.

Süle's goal came in the 75th minute, a header from a corner that made it 6-2. He was not playing centre-back, the position he occupied throughout his professional career at Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich and Dortmund. Coach Jason Walzel used him in central midfield and attack. He had trained with the squad three times before the match.

Asked afterwards whether he had enjoyed it, Süle answered in German: „So viel, wie ein 7:2 Spaß macht." The translation is roughly: about as much fun as a 7-2 is. He was not saying he had a good time.

Walzel was measured. „Niklas ist ja noch nicht so lange da. Er muss auch erst mal wieder reinfinden" — Niklas has not been here long, and has to find his way back into it. The coach also acknowledged the circus around the signing: „Vielleicht lässt der Trubel auch langsam nach und wir können uns aufs Fußballspielen konzentrieren" — perhaps the fuss will die down and they can concentrate on playing football.

That is the situation plainly. A man who came on for Jérôme Boateng in the 25th minute of a Champions League final, who won the 2017 Confederations Cup with Germany, who spent his career at three of the biggest clubs in the country — he is now finding his feet in the eighth tier, three months out of the professional game, playing out of position, losing heavily, and not pretending otherwise.

He turned up. He played. He scored. His side lost 7-2.