The German squad has already been in their wellness hotel for two days and two nights, which ensures complete solitude from the outside world during the World Cup. The prisoners claim that getting acclimated to it didn’t take them very long. The five-star accommodations are luxurious, and the distance from the capital Doha—which is accessible 24 hours a day by powerful off-road vehicles—makes one feel even more at ease.
When Oliver Bierhoff, the quartermaster, praises the new house with the words “we found it very fantastic,” “warm hosts,” and “great ambience,” caution is advised because he said similar things in the past. The neighborhood in the Moscow suburb of Vatutinki, which is actually not at all cozy, is also mentioned in the article from four years ago. However, it is not necessary to cast doubt on the Germans’ ability to live quietly here at the northern tip of the peninsula in a coastal environment that is generally pleasant.
The local sports club’s practice facility is unquestionably the highlight of the travel plan. It is concealed behind the high walls of a towered and crenellated fortress built after the Norman design, most likely in Phantasialand’s workshop. Against industrial espionage by foreign football powers and covertly placed telephoto lenses from the photo press, the facility is the ideal bulwark. Closing the gates will suffice to protect against intruders instead of pitch and brimstone or armed archers (unfortunately there is no drawbridge with a corresponding ditch). There is no reason to be concerned about using unmanned aerial vehicles because Qatari law forbids their usage.
The German team lives in Qatar, which is almost to the coast.
Even while the crimson fortress on Al-Shamal Road adds an odd element to the desert environment, it ultimately merely houses a practice field. For the first practice session on World Cup grounds in Qatar, the German players gathered there on Saturday morning, but, of all things, without the player known as “Lücke.” 29-year-old Niclas Füllkrug suffers from a viral infection. The local press in Bremen has, at best, been interested in Füllkrug’s infections lately, and especially more so since the Werder center forward scored the game-winning goal in the friendly against Oman. The medics monitored his condition “from hour to hour,” according to Bierhoff, who added a concerning phrase.
But for the newly named national goal scorer, it doesn’t seem to be that bad. Tim Meier, the team doctor, determined that Füllkrug’s illness was “not that dramatic,” and he does not believe it would put his participation in Wednesday’s opening match against Japan in jeopardy.
The tournament’s preparations begin to take shape with the arrival of matchday minus four. Hansi Flick made the decision to rest the day after arriving in Qatar, and on Saturday afternoon he made the call for the following training session. Thomas Müller and Antonio Rüdiger both demonstrated their playing prowess while standing on the well-kept grass. Hansi Flick’s designation of Rüdiger as “defense chief” merits a spot in the starting lineup. Müller may need to exercise patience.
The political discussions surrounding the competition continue to dominate the German World Cup conversation and the DFB’s public relations efforts. However, when Manuel Neuer and Youssoufa Moukoko, the team’s oldest and youngest players, respectively, sat on the press platform on Saturday, the discourse shifted more toward sports and common topics.
Despite threats from Fifa headquarters, Captain Neuer confirmed his plan to don the armband, which is meant to serve as an example of social diversity. Why not? he questioned. The captains of other associations would also participate in the symbolic action, so he was aware of “the backing of the DFB” and convinced of the significance of the situation: “It’s wonderful that we have the power with other nations in western Europe and not alone.”
But first, it concerned a birthday that the national team had never previously observed at a competition. A player never reached legal age during the World Cup quarterfinals. Neuer recalled his birthday celebration for Moukoko, who turned 18, saying, “I was in Gelsenkirchen-Buer, invited my buddies, and we went bowling.” The latter “may get tough here,” he continued.
The upscale resort has no bowling alley; the most it offers is a table tennis competition. A cake that is “minimal in calories,” as Bierhoff underlined, and a serenade are given to Moukoko. Thanking him in advance, Moukoko highlighted that it was “not so normal to be here at the age of 17” one last time. The Dortmund attacker, however, is of the opinion that he wasn’t merely invited as a student: “A striker is there to score goals.”
Football games are all equally important, although the first game of a tournament is often seen as the most significant. According to Neuer, you can enter a favorable flow, as you did in 2014 (4-0 against Portugal), or a fatal whirlpool, as you did in 2018 (0-1 against Mexico). “Clean passing game, nice positioning, keep cool,” was his motto on Wednesday. Long-term retention of training in the Normannenburg is the aim.