Instead of just yelling “Bad!” or “Exactly!”, we must admit that, honestly, no one knows how the damn wars are supposed to end.

Freiburg coach Christian Streich, 58, will leave SC Freiburg at the end of the season after 29 years Photo: Joeran Steinsiek/imago

I made a lot of bad decisions this week. The worst was clearly on Monday, when in Taz Panter FC's first game of the season against RTL I lost too much time and had the ball stolen, which led to the first goal of the year and finally the 2:3.

Coach Pascal “Xavi” Beucker was briefly sad, but reacted calmly. Because everything has its good side. Someone had to stop the significantly strengthened and rejuvenated Panthers from advancing to the championship as ruthlessly as Bayer Leverkusen with an unbeaten victory from start to finish. That would be rude. After all, the media league is about the fun of the game and not about important state goals like in real football. We don't have to boost the nation's self-confidence through a European Championship title or cultivate the “local patriotism” demanded by Robert Habeck wearing Adidas forever. Jako does it too.

What bothers me even more than my assist on the goal is that I didn't fight harder to honor Christian Streich with a cover photo on Tuesday and propose him as the next national coach.

The outgoing legend and moral authority of SC Freiburg definitely deserved it, but they could not prevail against the “election” winner Vladimir Putin and the taz's traditional distance from professional sport. Streich, with his sympathetic statements before an audience of millions at football press conferences, probably had more effect against the AfD than our appeals to those who were already convinced.

Furthermore, especially in these times of crisis, it would be important to shine a brighter light on bringers of hope like Streich instead of the same apocalyptic horsemen like Putin, Trump, Hamas and Netanyahu, who only cause suffering and helplessness. Unless you are clearly on one side, believe in their victory and stop listening to others' arguments, as more and more people do.

I envy everyone who always thinks they know exactly what to do now in the wars in the Middle East and the Near East. Who undoubtedly still want to supply more weapons, like Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, whom her FDP celebrates on the European election posters as “Grandma Courage”, unrelated to literary history, despite the fact that Brecht's mother was a speculator unscrupulous of war. But also those who want to “freeze” the front line in Ukraine, such as the leader of the SPD parliamentary group, Rolf Mützenich, without explaining why Ukraine should accept Putin's incursions.

But I actually wish other people's statements weren't always met with a “Wrong!” or “Exactly!”, but rather with the understanding that, honestly, no one knows how the cursed wars can be ended with as few casualties as possible. I don't envy those who have to make decisions at all. Taurus or not Taurus? Anyone who can say with certainty whether his handover will lead to Putin's defeat, a complete escalation or nothing decisive would immediately have a fixed seat with Markus Lanz.

But unfortunately, his regular guests were not always right in the refugee crisis (Robin Alexander) and the coronavirus crisis (Karl Lauterbach). As well as. Some of what seemed right then seems wrong now. And most of it remains controversial to this day.

Like the new pink Germany jersey, which I ordered in a spontaneous act of decision-making in the face of the growing, generally homophobic shitstorm. It arrived surprisingly quickly, size XL, it's made in Vietnam but it's still Adidas, how patriotic!

My naive hope that this would make me look ten years younger was immediately dashed by my younger roommates. “Forget it,” they told me coldly. “For that you have to go to the gym.” Well, I'm still putting off the decision.