The German football team is living in fear of the presence of snakes at their base camp in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Germany started the FIFA World Cup campaign against Curacao with a massive 7-1 win and will play Ivory Coast on June 21. However, their preparations have been hampered by the presence of snakes near their base.
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said that teams usually worry about their tactics and injuries before World Cup matches, but the German team also have to think about what might be hiding in the grass. According to a report in BBC, the German team encountered a copperhead, a venomous snake commonly found in North Carolina.
“In Germany, you worry about tactics, injuries, and your next opponent. Here, you also have to think about what might be hiding in the grass,” Kimmich was quoted as saying.
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The skipper revealed that as soon as the team found out that the snake was venomous, it triggered panic in the camp.
“We saw a snake yesterday; we were told it was venomous. If you get bitten, you have to go to the hospital. I don’t think you’ll die, but it’s certainly dangerous. I have the feeling that if you step on a snake like that, it can end badly,” he said.
“That’s why we’re trying to keep our distance from animals here. I have respect for the people here. In Germany, I have the feeling there aren’t so many dangerous animals,” he added.
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The German captain said that the team the presence of snakes have made the players concious and concerned.
“Once you hear what kind of snake it is and what can happen if you’re bitten, it stops being funny very quickly,” Kimmich said.
“We’re here trying to prepare for the biggest tournament in football, and suddenly players are looking at the ground before every step they take,” he said.
The BBC reported that similar concerns have come from the Norway and Swiz camps as well.
Norway captain Kristian Thorstvedt said that he wasn’t pleased to learn that copperheads are common in North Carolina. “I’m not happy at all to hear that,” Thorstvedt said.