Houston: Former world champions Germany are facing an unusual concern at the FIFA World Cup. Instead of focusing solely on tactics, injuries, and upcoming opponents, German players are also worried about venomous snakes lurking in the grass around their training base in North Carolina.
Germany, one of the leading teams in Group E, has established its base camp in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Team captain Joshua Kimmich openly spoke about the players’ concerns regarding the local wildlife.
ALSO READ: Cape Verde’s Discipline Denies World-Class Spain: Decoding The Tactics Of Cape Verde
“In Germany, we usually worry about tactics, injuries, and who our next opponent will be. Here in North Carolina, we also have to think about what might be hiding in the grass,” Kimmich said.
Germany, which defeated Curaçao 7-1 on Sunday, has become particularly cautious after learning about the presence of venomous snakes in the area. North Carolina is home to several snake species, including the copperhead, one of the most common venomous snakes in the region.
According to Kimmich, the team recently had a close encounter with a snake near its training facilities.
“As soon as we were informed that a venomous snake had been spotted in the grass near our training ground, we became much more alert. We saw another snake just yesterday and were told it was venomous. If it bites someone, a hospital visit would certainly be necessary. It may not be deadly in most cases, but it is definitely dangerous,” he said.
The German captain admitted that his biggest fear is that a player could accidentally step on a snake hidden in the grass.
“I am impressed by the people of North Carolina because they live alongside these animals every day. In Germany, you simply do not encounter venomous snakes in open public spaces like this,” Kimmich added.
Four-time world champions Germany will play their next FIFA World Cup match against Ivory Coast on June 20 in Toronto, Canada. The match is scheduled to begin at 1:30 a.m. IST on June 21.
