Cologne's new coach Kwasniok: First cup endurance test against Regensburg!

Cologne's new coach Kwasniok: First cup endurance test against Regensburg!

A very special day awaits 1. FC Köln! On August 17, 2025, there will be a first competitive game under the new coach Lukas Kwasniok that is really important. In the DFB Cup, FC will face third division team Jahn Regensburg. Some positions in the starting eleven are still unclear and the tension in the team is clearly noticeable.

The team prepared for almost six weeks in order to successfully overcome this challenge. The last test match against Atalanta Bergamo was a real mood booster: a 4-0 win provided a boost and should give the squad the necessary tailwind. Timo Hübers and Eric Martel in particular have proven to be indispensable, while Ron-Robert Zieler is scheduled to play in goal. As a cup goalkeeper he will give his team a feeling of security.

The likely lineup

FC could go into the game with the following lineup:

• Ron-Robert Zieler (Tor)
• Timo Hübers (Zentrale Abwehr)
• Tom Krauß (linker Innenverteidiger)
• Joel Schmied
• Kristoffer Lund (links)
• Sebastian Sebulonsen (rechts)
• Eric Martel (Mittelfeld)
• Isak Johannesson (Mittelfeld)
• Jakub Kaminski (hinter der Spitze)
• Jan Thielmann (hinter der Spitze)
• Luca Waldschmidt (Sturm oder alternativ Marius Bülter oder Ragnar Ache)

Luca Waldschmidt in particular was able to celebrate five goals in preparation and shows that he has the goal instinct that the team needs. Kwasniok himself also emphasized in his statements how important it is to show the necessary finesse in the final third in order to decisively crack the opposing defense.

A look outside the box

But what does it mean when you talk about FC? The club as an institution has a long, eventful history and stands not only for sporting success, but also for the community and the city of Cologne. It cannot be underestimated what a special place 1. FC Köln holds in the hearts of the fans. With the number 1 in its name, which symbolizes first place and a leading role, the club also shows its ambition to always be at the top - both on the pitch and in wider society.

It is not for nothing that the number 1 has great significance in culture and in many areas, from mathematics to philosophy. Whether as a symbol of unity or as a starting point in a series of numbers, the meaning of “1” could not be more varied - it is the beginning of everything, just as it is the start of the 2025 season for every FC Köln player.

The cup game against Jahn Regensburg could be much more than just a game - it is the start of a new era under Kwasniok and at the same time a chance for the players to prove their ambitions. With a good hand in the lineup and a strong performance, 1. FC Köln could take the first steps towards cup success. The fans are ready and behind their team - there is something in the air!

So we can be curious to see how FC Cologne will perform against Jahn Regensburg. A good deal could also be important for team morale. Maybe we can show early form and survive the first round of the cup together!