“No circus” in South Tyrol: Löw wants top level

The gate to the team hotel immediately closed again. The around 200 waiting fans were denied a glimpse of Germany's football stars. Only the lined up employees of the five-star “Weinegg” hostel were able to watch up close as Joachim Löw casually stepped out of the team bus upon arrival wearing modern sunglasses. A little later, Oliver Bierhoff looked ahead in the inner courtyard of the luxury quarters in Eppan. “We are happy that it is finally starting,” said the manager on Wednesday: “Now we can try to conjure up this team spirit and work with concentration and detail.”

A first canter at the Rungghof Behind a long, white privacy tarpaulin with the inscription “The Team”, the preparation for the World Cup from June 14th to July 15th in Russia began “relatively relaxed” for Löw’s chosen ones, as Bierhoff revealed. A bit of setting up in the quarters, finding each other, then a relaxed training session in the afternoon. “A simple canter, then you will gradually push the players a little harder,” announced the manager. For now, 19 players will be working on their World Cup form in the large community of Eppan between the Montiggler lakes and the Gantkofel. US fitness expert is in charge “The goal is of course clear that as reigning world champions we want to defend the title,” said Bierhoff, underlining the World Cup aspirations. The time in the training camp is crucial for the company's defense of its title. “We need players who all reach a top level,” said Löw. The plans consisting of a mixture of stress and regeneration are individually tailored to the professionals. The American fitness expert Mark Verstegen, who was brought to the DFB by former national coach Jürgen Klinsmann in 2004, will again be in charge of the fitness program in the training camp. It's all about new things For Löw, other aspects are far more important than the emotionally discussed question of which four of the 27 players in the preliminary World Cup squad will not get a ticket for Russia. First and foremost, it's about the tournament suitability of captain Manuel Neuer and his Bayern colleague Boateng.

There is no World Cup guarantee for world champion Neuer, who did not play a game for eight months after his third metatarsal fracture. “Jogi has already said that he will only take a 100 percent fit Manuel Neuer with him,” confirmed Bierhoff in Eppan.

Bierhoff sees “optimal conditions” for the World Cup fine-tuning in the holiday region in Überetsch: “Everything is perfect there. It's a good mix of a certain looseness and focus. Not a circus, but still the opportunity to come into contact with people.” Kompatscher: “Competing with the best line-up” The former team boss Franz Beckenbauer had already prepared his team in South Tyrol in 1990 for the world championship title. Löw and his squad were already in South Tyrol in 2010 and 2014. The hosts, with around 100 volunteers and permanent employees, have set out to fulfill the world champion's every wish. There are also 80 employees in the team hotel. “We are competing with the best players and are turning our strengths into a tailwind for the DFB,” said Arno Kompatscher, Governor of South Tyrol.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

“No circus” in South Tyrol: Löw wants top level

The advantages of South Tyrol should help the national team to be successful again, according to the original sound in the DFB headquarters in Eppan, which was moved into early Wednesday afternoon. The team should stay away from public hustle and bustle.

Suggestions

Comments (0)