Most physical league: German Bundesliga vs. English Premier League

[fútbolfan2003]

When I hear about characteristics of the english league one that always stands out is its physicality, which is, among other things, why some North/South American players find it difficult to adapt to. (Example: Adu's technical coach said of his possible transfer to Man Utd "Does Freddy want to have to go to Watford on a rainy Wednesday where he'll have 6-foot-4 goons on his back all night?"). Yet North/South American players seem to adapt well to the German league (with some exceptions), when that appears to be a very physical league too. I might just be wrong correlating player size to physicality, but Central defenders in the german league are commonly over 190 cm tall, but many english teams like chelsea have no central defenders that big, so why wouldn't the german bundesliga be considered just as physical, if not more physical a league than the english league?

[Clan]

When I hear about characteristics of the english league one that always stands out is its physicality, which is, among other things, why some North/South American players find it difficult to adapt to. (Example: Adu's technical coach said of his possible transfer to Man Utd "Does Freddy want to have to go to Watford on a rainy Wednesday where he'll have 6-foot-4 goons on his back all night?"). Yet North/South American players seem to adapt well to the German league (with some exceptions), when that appears to be a very physical league too. I might just be wrong correlating player size to physicality, but Central defenders in the german league are commonly over 190 cm tall, but many english teams like chelsea have no central defenders that big, so why wouldn't the german bundesliga be considered just as physical, if not more physical a league than the english league?

I don't watch a whole lot of german football, however, from time to time I often remark to myself that it does have some right big lugs tha twould fit right in back home.

The most glaring difference I see, and perhaps a better question, is that are refs more lenient with hard/rough tackles in the prem?

I believe they are.

[ForeverRed]

I don't think the Bundesliga is as physical as it once was but its still up there with England.

I guess the only way we'll know is to send Adu to Hannover for a tryout :p

[fathermaxi]

england

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Italian league

[gold.field]

I think both are about equally physical, but the pace in the premier league is a lot faster, which leads to harder tackles but also more space.

As for successful south americans in the Bundesliga, I think most of them are more in the Dunga/Jorginho/Emerson mold or at least somewhat hardy.

Overall if I were an english team I'd stay away from the Riquelmes and Tevezes and rather take Ronaldos or Kakas.

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

Italian league

Agree, there you can see some hard tackling,
but on the other hand also many puss...,
who dive and start crying, when they loose the ball.

I can´t subsribe the thesis with the South Americans,
some defenders from there, esp. from Uruguay and Argentine,
play very physical.

[RichardL]

the English league (premiership at least - it's far more open below) is physically demanding as players are shut down very quickly and given absolutely no space. The pace of the game is also much faster than other leagues.

For some reason, perhaps traditional, there appears to be a belief that it's also a dirty league where players are constantly victims of heavy fouls. I don't think this is the case any more, certainly not any more than other leagues.

[Milliano]

For some reason, perhaps traditional, there appears to be a belief that it's also a dirty league where players are constantly victims of heavy fouls. I don't think this is the case any more, certainly not any more than other leagues.

Yes in terms of dirty fouls... there are plenty in the EPL but most of the other top leagues have plenty of fouls that are dirty in different ways. Part of it can go down to personal opnion of what is more 'physical' than what. Compare a dirty ankle-breaker from behind to being rugby tackled... which is more 'physical' I do not know.


I can´t subsribe the thesis with the South Americans,
some defenders from there, esp. from Uruguay and Argentine,
play very physical.

I don't watch Brazilian football, but I read that at least earlier this decade, it had the highest fouls per match and cards out of all the big leagues in the world. South American defenders can be very physical, yes. Two obvious examples in Europe being Paulo Montero and Gabriel Hienze.

[blanc]

EPL is very fast paced and very physical, more so than German league imo

[pittsy1]

I watch English football all the time, and i feel that the football played is more fast, agressive and physical. However i would not know the velocity of German Football as i dont paticularly watch it. But i think English football is more physical, due to the amount of incidents that have happened; fouls, injuries etc.