adminBERLIN. — Germany’s World Cup soccer preparations have been hit by a week of turbulence in which a car crash, injuries, a scandal and a driving ban have all caused disruption. Head coach Joachim Loew took his squad to a luxury, five-star hotel in south Tirol’s St. Leonhard for 10 days to prepare his stars for their World Cup Group G campaign, which starts on June 16 against Portugal in Salvador.
Yet a series of unfortunate incidents have left some squad members seeking the services of the team’s sports psychologist Hans-Dieter Hermann.
Defender Kevin Grosskreutz caused a scandal just before the camp started by urinating in the foyer of a Berlin hotel after the German Cup final, the same match where captain Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer picked up worrying injuries.
Loew was also hit with a six-month driving ban as the German Football Association (DFB) daily press conferences became an exercise in damage limitation.
But the worst was still to come on Tuesday when a 63-year-old German was seriously injured after being hit by a car driven by professional touring car racer Pascal Wehrlein (19), with Germany centre-back Benedikt Hoewedes as his passenger.
A course steward was also hurt in the accident during the Mercedes-sponsored event, which included Formula One star and Monaco Grand Prix winner Nico Rosberg, on the grounds of the team hotel.
The product presentation, which had allowed Germany’s World Cup stars to hitch a ride with professional drivers, quickly turned into a public relations nightmare for both Mercedes and the DFB.
Team manager Oliver Bierhoff said Hoewedes and attacking midfielder Julian Draxler, who also witnessed the crash, had spoken to the team’s psychologist, while the DFB are set to review future sponsors events. — AFP.
Online Reporter