. FC Köln striker Lukas Podolski wasn’t the only one impressed by the feats on show at the Red Bull Street Style German National Qualifying Final in Cologne on Friday night. The 22-year-old local hero Timo Löhnenbach from Cologne sealed victory and the golden ticket to the World Finals 2010 in Cape Town (South Africa) on 28 April 2010 as 32 freestyle football experts from across Germany fought it out in the “Bootshaus” in front of thrilled 600 fans.

"Even as a footballer myself I find it incredible what these guys can do,” commented an impressed Podolski, adding: “Looking at the control the competitors here have over the ball, any one of them would definitely be in with a chance of taking the title at the freestyle football world championship.”

The best freestylers in Germany battled it out head-to-head in Cologne on Friday night, with the judges looking for (ball and body) control, creativity and style. As the competition progressed to the quarter-final stage the men were separated from the boys, with eventual winner Timo Löhnenbach producing the performance of the evening in his semi-final to defeat defending champion Dominik Kaiser. “It is a dream come true to have qualified for the World Finals. Now I’m the prince – and in South Africa I want to crown myself king,” explained the local hero after narrowly defeating René Mathussek from Schwäbisch Gmünd in the final.

While competitors from Central and South American countries such as Brazil, Ecuador, Jamaica and Argentina seem to be born with a football at their feet and the spirit of freestyle running through their veins, the World Final 2008 proved that athletes from Europe, Asia and Africa will certainly have a say in crowning the world’s best. The defending champion at the freestyle football world championship on 28 April 2010 will be Frenchman Séan Garnier, with over 50 countries set to send delegations to South Africa. “I would like to be there in person,” commented Podolski, “but I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed for Timo from back in Germany.”