I originally got the idea for this post just after Petersen scored the equalizer, back then the post was a little happier. But of course that goal turned out to be meaningless and Freiburg lost yet another game. As disappointing as that is (and obviously losing to Stuttgart makes it doubly so) it takes nothing away from Nils’ goal, yet another work of art from him. The title of the post is actually kind of funny. I got the idea right after he scored and wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget, and then the commentator goes and says pretty much the same thing. Though as it turns out the commentator in question is an idiot. Not long after that goal he was musing about whether or not Freiburg could hold onto Nils in the summer. He obviously didn’t read what Nils said just the other month when he signed his new contract, that he’s very happy in Freiburg. And I know talk is cheap but he’s always proved to be a man of his word. Besides he’s 29 years old, even with his prolific scoring rate he’s not going to be getting a lot of offers at his age.
Anyway, back to Nils. Just what does he have to do in order to get on Jogi’s radar? He’s the highest scoring German in the Bundesliga with 13 goals, a fact that’s made even more impressive by Freiburg’s pitiful goal tally this season. They’re struggling yet he’s still finding opportunities and scoring. Which brings me to my main point. Before the game in his interview Jogi was talking about the importance of players and teams acting instead of just reacting, of creating chances rather than just waiting for something to happen. Well that’s exactly what Nils did tonight and what he did against Dortmund too. Nils is a reliable team player, often creates his own chances, scores a decent amount of goals and is useful coming off the bench too, being the all time Bundesliga top joker scorer. Even so I don’t actually expect him to be going to Russia this summer, I just think he deserves a mention is all. When asked about it he said that he’s already made his holiday plans, then again any other answer would have made him look arrogant. Realistically speaking being picked for the Olympic side in 2016 was most likely the closest he’s ever going to get to having an international career. It would certainly be ironic if Nils ended up overtaking Jogi as Freiburg’s best all time goal-scorer. Jogi has the record with 81 league goals, Nils so far has 53. It’s not impossible.
Nils Petersen goal – SC Freiburg v VfB Stuttgart 2017/18
