Original subtitles

Come on, move the ball around a bit.

Pick it up Lukas, put it away.

Yes! Good one.

On we go.

PLAYMAKER

Everyone deserves a second chance. - Yes.

But I have to be honest.

In light of your past, we can't offer you anything. I'm sorry.

Thanks anyway.

JOB OFFERS

So, thing is ready.

- Thanks, boss. - Thanks.

- Ivo. - Yes?

Come on, give it here. - What do you mean?

No tips for trial shifts. - What?

No tips for trial shifts.

Bullshit.

What's that?

Listen up, Ivo. Your trial is over.

Fuck off.

Augsburg are running down the minutes.

Aaron Hunt wins the ball from Munich, finds space...

Aaron Hunt, over the bar.

Another hasty, desperate shot flying way past

Marwin Hitz's goal.

They're simply out of ideas on how to penetrate Augsburg's defence.

And there's the half-time whistle.

Hamburg 0, Augsburg 1. Back to the studio.

Fires up his boys again. Can they really come back?

Marwin Hitz has plenty of time. He's taking his time,

which the Hamburg fans aren't happy about...

A goal for Hamburg.

How much? - 600.

That Hamburg even have a chance to equalize is absurd.

Why didn't Augsburg seal the win much earlier

after dominating the whole game?

Baum cannot be pleased with all those wasted chances.

Shit!

A bit of movement, girls. This isn't in summer camp.

Come on, go, go, go.

Are you out?

I mean, like properly out.

Yes.

Good.

Very good.

The short one's really good.

Our number ten, a huge talent.

He plays like you used to.

Only better.

Lukas.

Come here.

What's up, coach?

You need to keep your head up.

Can you do better?

He has no chance.

But he used to be

the fox in the box. 42 goals

- in a B-youth season. - What?

That's still the club record. Where do you play now?

I don't.

Patellar tendon.

Permanent damage.

My mom's here.

Gotta go. Take it easy.

If I were 20 years younger...

A small advance.

No need.

For the treatment.

This old fart won't go down so easily. Got it?

GAMING BAR

Does it work well?

What? - Lucky betting at the last second.

It wasn't luck.

Are you a clairvoyant?

I just understood the game.

What's your name, clairvoyant?

- Ivo. - Ivo. Croatian?

- You're one of us? - Yes.

And you speak our language? - Yes.

Any thoughts on Duisburg v. Münster?

It's Münster's game. - Duisburg are

on a roll. - They've had two wins,

one lucky, and Münster are at home. - But Schmidt is injured.

Schmidt is overrated.

Riedle can replace him.

You're pretty confident.

- Yes, I am. - Me, too.

- Good for you. - Yeah.

I bet 5,000 on a Duisburg win.

I don't have that much.

How much then?

- Three. - The bet is five.

I'll lend you the rest.

Throw it in or leave it.

Not so sure, after all?

And today's referee is...

Volker Kempe, who's blowing the whistle

for the kick-off.

Lukas, are you coming?

Lukas, dinner.

No appetite?

I already ate salad.

The lettuce leaves on your kebab?

What kebab?

Breathe on me.

No way. - Come on, breathe on me.

What are you doing? Get off me!

I surrender.

I found you a job.

It's only an internship. In a sports editorial.

What is it?

I don't want to write about soccer, I want to play it.

We've been through this. - Yeah, and that you need a backup.

Even Thomas Müller graduated.

He's Munich scum.

The scout was back.

If I just get the chance to show them...

Stop kidding yourself.

And Volker Kempe blows the final whistle.

Fuck.

Don't dwell on it. Come on, let's celebrate.

This way.

Hungry?

I have a restaurant upstairs.

The best Croatian food west of Split.

I'm currently renovating.

Watch your step.

Up here.

Tonight's on me. Make yourself at home.

Having fun?

The waitress is cute.

My waitresses are always cute.

Where are you from? Your family, I mean? - Hvar.

When did they come here?

When I was six.

I fucking hated Germany.

I just played soccer.

For which team?

For Union, then RWE. - Regional league?

You must've been decent.

I was.

How come you stopped?

Cruciate ligament.

The god of soccer is a son of a whore.

Soccer is the whore,

and we're the sons.

Still have contact to your old clubs? - Sure.

I still watch the Union youth team.

That's good.

We should never forget our roots.

Ah, about your debt.

There's a little something you can do for me.

Take the ball from him! No! - Yes!

- Give me the ball! - No!

How did you find me? - I have work for you.

You know your stuff, you have good instincts.

But you have to know the right people.

Like the referee?

What's my job?

You scout the lower leagues and keep me up-to-date.

Use your contacts, talk to the players.

You work on the roots.

Know your way round the youth leagues and you're ahead of the game.

You give me information, players, and I'll give you a new life.

BETTING BULLETIN

Run Lukas, run, run, run.

Lukas, show him what a side-step is.

Don't watch the ball,

- watch my movement. - I'm trying.

Head up, then shimmy around me. Again.

Fuck! - Head up. Don't look at the ball.

Watch my movement. Now go.

A number ten has to see everything.

More than the others.

I know. Just like Messi.

- Messi is good. - Good?

He's the best player of all times. - Well...

Don't tell me you think Ronaldo is. - Not Ronaldo.

Then who?

- Zidane. - Zidane?

Messi scores more,

but Zidane is the most elegant player to ever grace the field.

Five, six players coming at him, he always finds a gap.

When he stepped onto the field,

it was like he was from another world.

As if he were playing just for himself.

I don't know.

Soccer's a team sport.

Don't be naive, Lukas.

If you want to get to the top, you have to put yourself first.

Soccer is a selfish game.

Just with lots of players.

- This is yours. - Thanks.

You earned it. You're a good man.

Get on it, boy!

Head up!

Nicely done.

Let's go. Sit deep.

- See you later. - Yeah.

40 goals, was it?

42.

Oh. Excuse me.

I've never seen you here.

Are you co-trainer or something? - No.

I used to play here.

I taught your son a few tricks. - He told me.

I'm Vera.

Ivo.

And what do you do otherwise?

Do you always ask so many questions?

That was only one.

I work in a bar.

Bartender?

Bookkeeping.

Yeah, right. You look the sort.

A bookkeeper.

What do I look like?

Like a firefighter?

No.

A train conductor?

Wrong again.

Like an astronaut.

An astronaut.

Tomorrow you go to Hamburg. To meet my contact man.

So...

Shame to waste good mayo.

What will it be, my boy?

Mayo or ketchup?

- What? - Am I speaking Chinese?

Do you prefer mayo or ketchup on your fries?

Mayo.

Mayo. Good.

Mayo guys are trustworthy. Ketchup is for wimps.

Don't want to count it? - What for?

If it's short, it's your problem.

- You're too late. - Traffic.

I'm never eating ketchup again. - His usual stunt.

Number six is our man.

What happens now?

We wait for the signal.

Our operations go through Hamburg.

Our man has contacts with the Chinese.

He vouches for us and places the bets.

Each year, 450 billion euros are wagered on sports betting in Asia.

Most of it in China.

Gambling is outlawed there, but you can't stop a billion gamblers.

It's part of their culture.

Most bookmakers operate illegally.

For us, this means higher odds. No restrictions and no surveillance.

And unlike in Europe, in China you can bet on amateur soccer.

The warning system doesn't cover lower leagues.

Everything slips under the radar. We place live bets during the game.

Red cards, penalty kicks, everything that's plannable and fast.

When the odds are high, we strike.

The Chinese benefit from our tips so they bet our money.

And theirs as well.

The stakes are split and divided across several betting offices.

The winnings pass through the Cayman Islands,

returning via Switzerland. Untraceable.

The Chinese win, the players win. We win.

There are no losers.

OK, it's on.

Now pay attention.

There you go.

Afternoon, coach.

Ivo. What a surprise.

Come in.

By the way, great job on training the kid the other day.

- He's a good kid. - Cheers.

Coach,

I have something for you.

And I thought you just wanted to drop in on the old fart.

And I do.

But I want to settle... my debt as well.

Did you rob a bank?

Extra shifts.

At last we can renovate our cubicles.

Screw the cubicles!

Take the money for your treatment. - My insurance

ruled that out long ago.

I'll never be able to pay for it myself.

It is what it is.

Worry about your own life, Ivo, before you're too old.

Oldtimers all say that. - If a guy

wants to live a decent life,

he can damn well do it.

And you know I promised your father I'd watch out for you.

You shouldn't promise a quitter anything. - Your father never quit.

He just had to leave.

Because all this reminded him of her.

Understand, my boy?

Yes, I'll pay him a visit.

Stay here on the lookout.

Dejan! Hey, how... Take a seat.

Good.

How's it going?

You're looking well. I don't know how you do it.

You'll have your cash next week.

I promise.

I'll have it now.

What?

Dejan, Dejan...

Shit. Fuck!

Dejan, please. Fuck. Three days.

We can talk.

Three days.

- Three days. - Cut it off.

Hey! Get off him!

Stick it in your mom's dirty stinking cunt.

You motherfucker!

Look at me when I talk to you! Look at me!

I'll stick your fucking money up your ass...

until it comes out of your cake hole, do you hear me?

You wretched closet cocksucker.

Stick the shooter in his face. Stick the fucking shooter...

Shit.

I'll give you a chance. Let's make a bet.

Get up.

I bet I can do more kick-ups than you.

If you win, you leave here alive.

One attempt.

That's right, take your time.

One. Two.

Three. Four.

Five. Six.

Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.

Eleven. Twelve.

Thirteen. Fourteen.

Fourteen.

Not bad under so much pressure.

My turn.

Go ahead.

I'm out of practice. My knee is a mess.

Your knee will be fine.

Show us what you can do.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.

Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen.

Fifteen. Sixteen.

- Seventeen. - No.

That's not fair. You said who could do most.

That's not fair. I did more. I won. Tell him.

I did more than him.

Fuck. I knew it.

Please.

Please. Please.

No. No.

You saved our asses.

But you dropped the ball out of pity.

That's never good.

Never let your opponents get away.

But worse still:

You're a liar.

I'm no liar.

I don't like liars.

What the hell?

You were in jail.

I wanted to tell you.

But you didn't. Goran.

What are you doing?

Dejan!

Don't do it, Dejan.

Don't do it.

We don't tell lies here. - I didn't lie.

I'm sorry, Ivo.

Like I said, Ivo. I'm sorry.

There's no turning back.

You're one of us.

Brothers.

Paying your respects?

Me?

I'm just walking.

And you?

My father. He was an asshole.

So why tend to his grave?

Death levels the playing field. - Strange perspective.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

What's that?

I lost a bet.

Looks nasty. Wait a minute.

Are you a nurse or something?

Yes.

Now you don't look like a parcel.

And this is to ease the pain.

Lukas likes you.

What's with his father?

He doesn't have one.

We call him the procreator. He never wanted to be a father.

Also a soccer player.

They're the worst. Never take one home.

So that's where he got his talent.

Maybe from me.

He wasn't that good. He was just kidding himself.

Lukas won't make the same mistake.

What mistake?

Living in a dreamworld.

Lukas is good. He can make it.

He has the eye, a deadly pass. Not everyone has that.

You just have to trust him.

Don't you have any dreams?

None?

I'd like to go diving.

In the Caribbean or somewhere.

I need to sleep.

Sick.

And I can even get your names on them.

We've never had such cool shirts. - Nice!

- Thanks. - That wasn't necessary.

The up-and-coming need looking after.

See, a nice, suburban area. Nice and inconspicuous.

Those rich married women are lonely.

- So you're from Hvar. - Yes.

Did you know he proposed to me there?

- Ah. Is that so? - Yes.

He was a real gentleman. - Was? Aren't I still?

Are you also

- a nice man like Daddy? - Me?

Yes, I am.

- Want to cut some? - Yes.

Take the knife, hold it loosely. - She's sweet.

Now we slice the pig

very gently through the leg.

Cigar?

Help yourself.

Why were you in jail?

I signed my first contract.

Blew all my money.

Then I was in debt.

And suddenly this guy appeared.

He offered me money. He said,

if my team lost,

I'd get some dough.

Plenty of it.

So I played badly. And we lost.

But that son of a whore fucked me over.

I didn't get one cent.

I went to his home,

grabbed his head,

and smashed it on a rock.

He'd be dead if the guys hadn't held me back,

You know, Dejan?

I was really good.

I could have made it.

Let go of the past. Or it'll devour you.

You were with amateurs then. Now you're with pros.

You'll handle the next bet on your own.

So we meet again.

You've come a long way, Ivo.

What do you want?

I'm taking over next week. Nothing else has changed.

I paid off my debt long ago.

- What? - I paid it off

but the games keep coming.

One after the other. I'm out, man.

Then talk to him.

You tell him.

Tell him I want out.

It stays as it is.

Got it?

Careful.

Where are we going?

What now?

What is this place? - The Caribbean.

Careful.

Where did you learn to dive? - Croatia.

My mom taught me.

Do your folks live here?

No.

Dad went back to Croatia. I haven't seen him in years.

How come?

It just turned out that way.

And your mom?

Your dad and my mom kinda have something in common.

- You wanna go back there? - Sure.

But with you.

Don't promise what you can't deliver.

I've been through that too often.

But not with me.

How's promotion looking?

We're third. So we stand a chance.

That's why Brunner's pushing us hard.

Was he so tough with you? - Strict but fair.

Does he still give you the silent treatment?

Yes.

- That's the worst! - By the way,

the new shirts are so cool.

New shirts?

From your pal Dejan.

Didn't you know?

Yeah. He just didn't mention it.

I used to cook on one of those ships.

Now you can afford a yacht.

Yachts! The ketchup of the sea.

Why do millionaires even want them?

To do coke and fuck in the harbour. I can do that on land.

But sailing across the sea,

standing at the bow and marvelling at the horizon...

Isn't it all about making port? Having a home?

Maybe.

But how do you know where to anchor if you don't know all the harbours?

A change of players...

Do you know how much we lost? The Chinese, too.

You need to fix it, pronto. - OK.

You'd better make them a new offer. - Will do.

Good. Don't let them down again.

- You gave the signal? - Yeah.

And he saw it?

We had eye contact. - Why didn't he foul?

I told you. He got injured and was subbed off.

Ever heard of the hidden blade?

No.

Our Chinese partner's signature.

If you disappoint them too often,

they stick a knife right through here.

All the way.

So only the handle sticks out.

The blade remains hidden, as does their power.

What about the boy?

Youth games are off limits. - Anything goes with the Chinese.

Got a problem with that?

No.

Good.

You need to deliver.

That was his last game for France.

He ran rings around them all. Then the headbutt.

They'd have been world champions without the red card.

What a stupid move.

In sport terms, maybe.

What else is there? - Personal motives.

Materazzi insulted Zidane's family. There are lines you don't cross.

What would you do if someone insulted your mom?

Well, I still say it's a ballet shoe.

You're clueless, man. They're the best.

You're clueless, man.

Thanks, again.

Sweet of you.

These shoes will put me in the big league.

You'll stay put in high school for now.

- Were you a good student? - Me?

A good student?

I was good at math. - Math is so useless.

What do I need it for?

- To do arithmetic. - And count.

Extract a square root.

Curve calculation is crucial. - As is graduating.

You're such idiots.

Who's that?

A buddy.

Be right back.

Do you know him?

Sorry, I have to go.

I forgot I had a meeting.

I'll get it...

What's up?

That didn't bother you?

We're almost done anyway and it's nice of him to buy us dinner.

How about dessert?

I was subbed off, man.

I... was... subbed off.

Ivo, tell him.

Tell him we're friends.

What?

Is that true?

No.

Help me, Ivo!

The legs.

Help. Let go.

- Drop it. - Don't do it!

What separates men from boys?

- What? - A man makes a decision.

And faces the consequences.

Marco decided not to honour his word.

Now he's facing the consequences.

It's that simple.

What next? - We get to the bottom of it.

Literally.

Did you rip me off?

No.

How do you know each other?

We were teammates.

Why didn't you tell me?

I didn't think it was important.

Not important?

You don't think the deal of your life is important?

Did you rip me off?

No.

I never want to see you again.

That's the way.

Mr. Brunner. Do you have a minute?

Maybe even two. Come to my office.

We have the final list for this year's trials.

The bar was set very high. - I know. So?

None of your boys made the cut.

Is that a joke?

What about Jakowski? Lukas Jakowski.

I'm certain none of them made it.

I'm only telling you so you can plan more effectively.

Look, it's dumb-ass.

Yeah, what's with him?

Hey Lukas, looking forward to the trial?

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Sorry about the trial.

But I've got a consolation.

- How about 5,000 euros? - What?

I know it sounds crazy, I don't usually do this, but...

there's a way for us to make cash.

If you get a red card on Sunday. - You're kidding, right?

No.

I can't do that.

If I get caught...

Lukas, you won't get caught. It's unlikely you'll win anyway.

No, promotion is still doable. And I can't abandon my team.

You have to put yourself first, not the others.

Think only about yourself and your mom.

Imagine what you can buy your mom with this.

5,000 euros.

That's a lot.

I know.

No one will know except us two. I swear.

And Ivo would understand. He did it himself.

What? I don't believe you.

Ivo was the club's best player, just like you.

But he couldn't support his family on the wage they were paying.

So he threw the game.

He didn't do that.

The team lost, but the family, Lukas, the family won.

Don't hold it against him. I didn't want to tell you, but...

I think you need to know.

Next season you can start afresh.

Who knows, you might even change clubs.

No one knows what tomorrow will bring.

Lukas, trust me.

Take your slice of the cake.

Like Ivo did.

Hermann?

Come here.

Should we take you to hospital?

Everything OK?

What do you want?

What did I do?

What did you do?

In the regional league.

You've been feeding me shit the whole time.

Buttering me up by fucking my mom?

Lukas.

Fuck Zidane.

I'm taking my slice of the cake.

Just like you did.

If I were 20 years younger...

I'll check in on you later.

How's it looking, coach?

Who'll be on the sideline tomorrow?

Lunkenheimer is stepping in.

God help us.

He can't tell the difference

between the ball and his own balls.

Coach, I have to leave town.

For a while.

Why's that?

I have to find a job and a woman.

Before I'm as old as you.

So you got wise after all.

Listen, boy.

Whatever else you do,

keep your nose clean.

For sure, coach. For sure.

What happened to your nose?

Soccer.

- Right. - Vera.

Wait a minute.

I've got something for you.

For us.

- Split. - Yeah.

You wanted to go diving for real, get away for a bit, with Lukas.

I don't know.

It's all moving too fast.

I have a strange feeling.

I get it.

If a guy gives you nothing, shoot him down,

if he gives you something, it's all moving too fast.

You don't need to give us anything, Ivo.

You can't buy us.

- I'm not buying you. - The shoes?

The PlayStation. Now the vacation.

PlayStation?

The one your pal gave Lukas.

I didn't know. - That's not the point.

Then what is?

You're not honest with me.

We do exactly as we planned. It's on.

We bet the whole amount on the red card.

Everything.

Exactly.

We're safe.

This'll satisfy them.

Wait a second.

I know I screwed up, OK?

Let's talk for a minute.

Remember when I told you to put yourself first?

Of course.

I'm not so sure anymore.

Maybe Zidane thinks the headbutt was the worst decision of his life.

Maybe he regrets letting his team down.

What do I know?

Who's heading for promotion today? - Union! - 03!

Union! - 03!

Where are you going?

To the game.

To the game? That's what you think. - No!

Go, Lukas.

How were you so sure the boy would pull it off?

Intuition.

I already took my cut.

Don't you want to count it?

If it's short, it's your problem.

Speaking of problems.

Someone wants to bid you farewell.

I took you into my family.

I made something of you.

And you?

You stab me in the heart.

Farewell, Brother.

He disappointed them one time too many.

But they'd be interested in you.

You could make a lot of money.

I'm done here.

Go home, boy.

So Messi is the best?

Messi is the best.

But Zidane faced the consequences.

He was red-carded, left the field

right past the world cup trophy and didn't look back.

Some decisions change everything for the rest of your life.

And you can only move forward. You don't look back.

Just like Zidane.