Written by Sibylle Dorndorf

The start of a wonderful friendship: the centenary Tipp-Kick game, a Tipp-Kick DFB (German Football Association) Classic with bordering, brings the European Championships right into your living room. The classic Tipp-Kick game in the design of the German national football team contains everything you need for exciting games during the European Championship: A playing field with DFB logo, goalkeepers and figures in the home and away jerseys of the national team, as well as goals and balls. 

Speaking of the DFB ... 3 questions for Fritz Frank, DFB Head of Licensing: 

When did you first play Tipp-Kick and when did you last play? 

Fritz Frank: As a child, I often played Tipp-Kick with friends and I was a pretty good player. And actually, just a few weeks ago I played with the new DFB edition with a colleague in our kitchenette at the DFB campus. 

Is Tipp-Kick a sport or a game? 

For me, it's a game with a high fun factor - but I take my hat off to the professionals who play Tipp-Kick as a sport. 

Is the "Tipp-Kick DFB-Classic" anniversary edition the start of a wonderful friendship? 

I hope so! To be quite honest, it was high time that Tipp-Kick and the DFB joined forces and put the national team on the Tipp-Kick pitch. The product has turned out fantastic. I'm very excited to see what our fans think of the DFB edition and what else Tipp-Kick will come up with in the coming years... 

A through ball: Mathias Mieg on the counterattack

Mr Mieg, in Germany, Tipp-Kick is the generic term for table football. A direct hit, a poacher’s goal or a hat-trick?

Mathias Mieg: A direct hit, of course! A game that has been on the market for 100 years can only be a direct hit.

Today Tipp-Kick is cult. How do you feel about that? 

I think it's great that so many people know what you’re talking about when you say Tipp-Kick. We’re really happy about that and hope it stays that way for many years to come.

How many versions of Tipp-Kick are there?

There are currently twelve different versions - including one each for France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland.

How about an app?

It's all been done before. But in our opinion: getting together to play is the best. Tipp-Kick works purely mechanically and that means there’s a lot of "movement" in the game.

Why does the Tipp-Kick ball have corners? 

It has to be able to stay on one colour because that decides who gets to kick next.

What do you need to be a good Tipp-Kick player? 

Playing Tipp-Kick looks easy at first: just push the red button gently and the player starts kicking the ball. But to perform precise, targeted movements, you need a steady hand and a great deal of concentration and skill.

Do kids or kidults kick more? 

In "professional" Tipp-Kick, it tends to be the adults. But Tipp-Kick is intergenerational and we often see grandads explaining Tipp-Kick to their enthusiastic grandsons.

Who would you like to see on the Tipp-Kick perimeter advertising? 

Just like in real football, there are countless possibilities. I’d be happy to hear from any interested companies. 

What does the future hold in store for Tipp-Kick? 

Good question: a design competition would be a great way to celebrate our centenary year.

Half-time chat: Could you explain the offside rule in a few simple words: 

I feel free to pass on that one. There is no offside in Tipp-Kick. But a lot of other football rules apply.

What is your favourite club? 

A lot of Bundesliga clubs are really good, but my heart beats for VfB Stuttgart.

Is the man versus man principle still politically correct these days? 

Tipp-Kick has always had a lot of female players. Woman versus woman, woman versus man or vice versa - the best player wins, it's as simple as that with our game.

What is your most successful Tipp-Kick fan item? 

That’s a difficult question. We actually only have one real fan item - a T-shirt with the logo from the 60s. 

Which company was the first to order a Tipp-Kick game as a promotional gift? 

That was long before I joined the company. I think it was a pharmaceutical company at the end of the 1960s.

What can women do better than men when it comes to football? 

Tipp-Kick is not about being better but having fun - everyone together!

How many Tipp-Kick clubs are you in? 

None. I always remain neutral. The German Tipp-Kick Association has been independent since it was founded.

Do you play football yourself? 

I used to be a very passionate and committed player, but now I'm an enthusiastic spectator.

Who will win the European Championship? 

I'll be happy if the German team plays well in the European Championship and if the atmosphere in Germany is as good as it was during the 2006 World Cup Summer Fairy Tale - and finishing third would be quite ok!

And who will lift the trophy at the Open German Tipp-Kick Championship on 8 June 2024 in Schwenningen? 

The best way to find out is to ask our co-organiser, Peter Funke. 

The ball is in your court, Mr Funke. As a former long-standing board member of the German Tipp-Kick Association, where are you placing your bet? 

Peter Funke: Just being there is enough. People who play Tipp-Kick aren’t looking for trophies and fame, and there's no money to be made either. The fascination that the game has exerted on me for 50 years is almost indescribable. It demands a very high level of concentration, skill and inventiveness. No two games and no two opponents are the same. You have to be "on the ball" right up to the final whistle.

About the author Sibylle Dorndorf 

Sibylle Dorndorf has been covering the toy industry for almost 30 years. Most recently, the trade journalist was editor-in-chief of the TOYS magazine family at the Göller Verlag publishing house, Baden-Baden, Germany. Her passion: companies that reinvent themselves, brands that position themselves credibly, people who have something to say and products with a future.