Germany’s World Cup preparations overshadowed by virus fears

BERLIN: Germany’s World Cup preparations have been disrupted by the coronavirus, forcing coach Hansi Flick to improvise for tournament warmup games against Hungary and England. Captain Manuel Neuer and his Bayern Munich teammate Leon Goretzka were forced to leave the team’s hotel Wednesday after positive tests for COVID-19, while Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt left with flu-like symptoms after testing negative for the virus. It’s an unwelcome reminder for Flick that the pandemic is not over and could yet play a role in Germany’s fortunes at the World Cup, which begins in Qatar in just under two months.

Flick wanted his players “get into tournament mode and be there from the start” this week as the team prepares for Nations League games against Hungary in Leipzig on Friday and England in London. But instead, there’s a fear of further positive cases. Midfielder Jonas Hofmann said “the alarm bells are going off.” Team training was scheduled for later on Thursday than it had been on previous days.

Players face increased checks in the wake of the positive cases. The squad were then to travel to Leipzig by train from the team hotel in Gravenbruch, near Frankfurt. Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann has been called up as a replacement for Neuer, though Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen is more likely to play against Hungary.

Wolfsburg midfielder Maximilian Arnold is also a late addition to the squad. Flick previously called up Leipzig’s Benjamin Henrichs to replace the injured Marco Reus. Flick is still aiming for top spot in Nations League Group A3 to ensure qualification for the finals next June.