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News You Can Use – IFL Edition #3
So much has happened in Italian Football during the last month, as the Italian Football League has started its Silly Season and the Blue Team, both in Tackle and in Flag Football, has achieved great successes and points of departure at both youth and senior level.
There's as much meat on the fire in this issue as an Easter Monday or August 15th barbecue, so let's not waste any time and get into the third summary of Italian football brought to you by First Down Mag.
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Oct 10, 2025


The Championship Game – A Clash of Titans and a Fall from Grace
The Championship Game of the best league in European football wasn’t just a battle for the crown, it was a story of how a nearly unstoppable force fell at the final hurdle. Ladies and gentlemen, for the last time this summer, we gather to talk about our beloved football. So let’s do it justice.
Two of the finest teams in Europe faced off, but as we all know, sport can be a cruel affair, there can only be one winner. From the opening whistle, it felt like a balanced matchup.
Sep 12, 2025


From Four to Two: The ELF Semifinals Write the Road to Glory
The teams still standing in this incredible postseason weren’t just playing football, they were battling with heart, resilience, and sheer determination, each moment fueled by the dream of keeping their season alive. Every drive, every play, and every hit carried the weight of their ambitions, as they fought to make sure they would earn the right to step onto the grandest stage of them all: the ELF Championship Game...
Sep 5, 2025


Classroom of Champions: ELF Teams Get Their Grades
The curtain has fallen on the regular season, and as tradition dictates, the council gathers one last time. The grades are in, the exam papers have been marked, and it’s time to see which teams proudly move to the top of the class, which barely scraped a passing grade, and which will be stuck in detention until next year.
We could have done that division by division to hand out the grades, but here’s a little spoiler for the impatient: nobody really shone across the board. Ea
Aug 29, 2025


ELF Final Power Rankings
And just like that, the regular season of Europe’s premier league has come to an end.
It’s been one of the most thrilling campaigns yet, but before the playoffs begin, let’s take one last look back at everything that unfolded.
1st. Vienna Vikings 11-1
What a season, huh? In one of the decisive games, they completely crushed the Parisians’ ambition of reaching the playoffs. But it was far from an easy task, the battle went all the way to overtime before they could finally s
Aug 22, 2025


The Road to the Playoffs: Odds, Ifs, and Maybes
While everyone is wondering which teams still have a shot at the playoffs, we turned to ELFpedia.eu for some clarity, using math, not guesswork. ELF Pedia is a data-driven platform that provides valuable insights and up-to-date resources like current rosters, standings, and stats, which we often rely on for our coverage. Here’s how they broke down the playoff odds and who’s still in the race… and who’s not:
“We applied a probabilistic forecasting model using one million Mont
Aug 9, 2025


ELF Week 11 Power Rankings:
The playoff race is now well underway, with several compelling games already in the books. Which teams have climbed the standings, and which have lost ground? Here’s a closer look. Every next game is mentioned as “next-week” but obviously it’s after the league-around bye-week...
Jul 31, 2025


ELF Week 10 Power Rankings:
Another amazing week of action across European football fields has come to a conclusion. Some teams are charging full speed ahead, while others have seen their dreams come to an early end.
Is your team still in the running, or have they already been shown the door? Let’s break it all down together and take a closer look at who’s rising, who’s falling, and what it means for the road ahead.
1st. Vienna Vikings
Another dominant showing from the Austrian squads, further cement
Jul 24, 2025


ELF Week 9 Power Rankings:
From jaw-dropping plays to unexpected upsets, the weekend delivered all the drama and excitement fans could hope for. Now, it’s time to dive into the highs and lows, the standout performances and the surprising slip-ups. Are you ready to take a closer look at all the ups and downs from this past weekend on the gridiron?
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Jul 18, 2025


ELF Week 8 Power Rankings
Curious about what made headlines last week and what’s coming up in the days ahead? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you missed the action or just want a quick recap, we’ve got you covered. From standout moments and major upsets to what’s on the radar for the next few days, we’re diving into all the key highlights and upcoming stories you need to know. So sit back, get comfortable, and let’s take a closer look at the past week, and what’s waiting just around the corner
Jul 10, 2025


ELF Week 7 Power Rankings:
Each week is a better one and as our friend Matt Bressington said : It was the best ELF ball week we’ve ever seen.
1. Nordic Storm
Their scheduled matchup against the Mercenaries may have been postponed, but that doesn’t take away from their current form. Based on what we’ve seen so far this season, they’ve proven to be one of the most complete and dominant squads in the league. Alongside the Musketeers, they’ve clearly set themselves apart as one of the top contenders for
Jul 4, 2025


ELF Week 6 Power Rankings
What a week it’s been! The standings saw some serious shakeups, with several teams on the rise, and others starting to raise red flags. Let’s dive into who’s trending upward and, more importantly, who’s beginning to look a little worrying...
Jun 26, 2025


ELF Week 5 Power Rankings
Another week has come to a close, bringing with it yet another excellent opportunity to take a closer look at how each team is positioning itself and performing as the season continues to unfold.
1. Vienna Vikings
It was a bye week for this team. The real challenge of their season is just around the corner. Things will truly get going next week as they prepare to host the Rhein Fire in their highly anticipated Week 6 matchup.
2. Nordic Storm
The Storm completely dominated t
Jun 19, 2025


ELF Week 4 Power Rankings
Rising Powers, Fading Giants, and Everything In Between
Week 4 is in the books, and the weeks ahead are already shaping up to be just as exciting. With some powerhouse teams stumbling and others finding new life, the landscape is shifting fast. Let’s take a look at who came out on top — and who made the biggest statements — during an action-packed weekend of football.
1st. Vienna Vikings
Ben Holmes bounced back in a big way, leading the Vikings with authority after a tough
Jun 12, 2025


Munich Ravens vs Stuttgart Surge: Battle of Southern Germany and Special Teams
In a rivalry that ended up closer than anyone could have expected entering the 4th quarter there were two words that really made the difference: special teams, special teams, special teams.
This was truly the difference in this game between German teams. Sure you could point to
Russell Tabor’s inability to stick in the pocket and deliver accurately to his receivers. You could look at the lack of pressure put on Reilly Hennessey throughout the game, leading to his ability t
Jun 10, 2025


ELF Week 3 Power Rankings:
Here are our Power Rankings for Week 3 in the ELF: The Vienna Vikings take the top spot after a big defensive win over Rhein Fire, who drop to third. Nordic Storm stay unbeaten at #2, while Stuttgart Surge and Frankfurt Galaxy gain ground. Teams like the Musketeers continue to show both promise and concern, while others like Cologne and Fehérvár struggle to stay afloat. With every game counting more, the playoff picture is already starting to take shape.
Jun 8, 2025


ELF Week 2 Power Rankings
Another thrilling week on the field (and in the stands) brought plenty of excitement and some serious movement in the rankings. From unexpected upsets to dramatic finishes, this weekend had it all. We witnessed standout performances, rising stars, and teams stepping up when it mattered most. It’s moments like these that remind us why we love the game. So, who made the biggest statement this week? Let’s take a closer look at the teams that came out on top!
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May 30, 2025


ELF Week 1 Power Rankings: Stuttgart Surge Takes Control
The first week of the European League of Football (ELF) didn’t deliver many upsets, but it did show us where each team stands at the start of the season. Some franchises looked dominant, while others still have some work to do. Here's our updated Power Rankings after Week 1:
May 22, 2025


European League of Football - Power Ranking
As the European League of Football prepares for another thrilling season, we rank all 16 teams based on roster strength, coaching, and championship potential. No
1. Vienna Vikings
Last year's runners-up reloaded impressively, replacing departures with even better talent. Their professional structure and late off-season moves make them the favorites in the title contention. The key to this amazing team in 2025 is “improvement on continuity,” both between the player and the c
May 15, 2025


Revenge, Redemption, or Reckoning? A Hero’s Journey
The European League of Football is a breeding ground for some of the most competitive athletes in the world—men who, for the simple love of the game, are willing to sacrifice their bodies without the need for large contracts, full stadiums, or sponsorship deals. Most of the homegrown talent in the ELF double as teachers, doctors, tradesmen, and other working professionals, while the A-imports often hold part-time jobs during the offseason and find ways to coach and stay conne
Apr 17, 2025
OTHER NEWS


The Italian Football League Kicks Off Its 2027 Season in Bologna
On October 4th, at The Social Hub in Bologna, the Italian Football League began preparations for the upcoming 2027 season with a press conference and a league meeting that offered a preview of the league's new year.
In the presence of the press and top figures in Italian football, the new season of the country's premier league was launched, featuring numerous new developments and the announcement of several partnerships.
What new developments and challenges will the IFL fac
1 day ago


Andrew Weidinger - The Head Coach of the London Guard
Starting his coaching career at The University of Arizona in 2000, Andrew Weidinger has been everywhere, and then some, on his path to becoming EFA London’s Head Coach.
"Like every kid who has ever put the pads on, all I ever wanted to do was play in the NFL. Then I managed to crack a vertebrae when I was in high school and couldn’t play anymore, which got me interested in coaching. I was very fortunate to have a lot of great opportunities and work with a lot of great people
3 days ago


UNION JACK CLASSIC
Wembley Stadium has staged just about everything football has to offer. On Saturday, it added another chapter to its history: College Football. Kansas and Arizona State crossed the Atlantic for a Week 3 matchup that brought the sights, sounds and spectacle of a fall Saturday in America to the heart of London.
LONDON BECOMES THE CENTER OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL
For one Saturday in September, London became the center of the College Football world.
The British capital is hardly a
Sep 24


The Pioneers: NFL Europe and the League That Dared to Cross an Ocean
Long before the NFL played regular season games in London, Munich, or Madrid, it tried something far bolder: building entire professional franchises on European soil.
In July 1989, NFL owners approved the creation of the World League of American Football, a genuinely transatlantic experiment and the first time the league had ever tried to plant a professional, developmental version of itself outside North America. When the WLAF kicked off on March 23, 1991, ten teams took th
Sep 23


Italian Football League News You Can Use #1
With the conclusion of the tackle football seasons in Italy, "News You Can Use" - the most beloved and imitated column - returns to First Down Mag, bringing you all the latest updates on Italian football.
From the first to the third division, and from North to South, here is everything you need to know about roster moves and the latest news from the world of Italian gridiron.
Here is the first batch of news from the Italian football scene. Enjoy the read.
Cameren Grodhaus
Sep 22


İTÜ HORNETS — INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH AHMET ÖZMEN
We've now won four championships in the university league, and in that arena we've long been a college team playing football at the very top level. In past years, though, as a club we struggled to carry that success over to the pro league. Even though the 2022 pro semifinal was a huge blow for us, I'd say it was the game that fueled our ambition and made us more determined than any other. But reducing the four championships won over the last two years — across both the pro an
Sep 15


2026 GFL Power Rankings — Week 18 Update
Biggest Takeaway
As the GFL season moves toward the postseason, the league has started to separate into clear tiers. At the top, three teams have consistently looked like the strongest championship threats.
Dresden Monarchs/Potsdam Royals/Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns
The Dresden Monarchs, Potsdam Royals, and Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns have separated themselves from the rest of the GFL.
These are clearly the three strongest teams in the league and the teams best positioned to ma
Sep 11


BELICHICK’S TAR HEELS WIN THE AER LINGUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL CLASSIC
DUBLIN DRESSES UP FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL AGAIN
Throughout the week, Dublin’s streets were dressed in TCU purple and unmistakable Carolina Blue, and long before kickoff it felt as though the Horned Frogs held a slight advantage in the stands.
Close to 10,000 fans had travelled from Texas, filling the pubs of Temple Bar and much of the city centre with TCU colours. In total, more than 14,000 supporters made the trip from the United States for this year’s Classic. Fewer than in
Sep 4


FLORIAN BIERBAUMER INTERVIEW - “Seikovits and I played rock-paper-scissors to decide…”
“Seikovits and I played rock-paper-scissors to decide…”
Florian Bierbaumer is one of the star players of the Vienna Vikings. The Graz native, who carries the nickname “Cheat Code”, recently had to take an enforced break due to an ankle injury but used the time to try out new things alongside his recovery.
The former NFL hopeful looked back on his AFLE season so far exclusively with First Down Magazine, spoke about his experience as a co-commentator, his collaboration with f
Aug 13
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