Germany’s national team received an unexpected visitor at its training complex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as the squad prepares for its next World Cup match against Ivory Coast. The incident came after Germany opened the tournament with a statement 7-1 win over Curacao.
Captain Joshua Kimmich said the team saw a venomous snake the day before. "If you get bitten, you have to go to the hospital," he said. "I don't think it could lead to death, but it is definitely dangerous. I have a feeling that if you step on a snake like that, it could end badly."
Kimmich added that the players are trying to keep their distance from the local wildlife, joking that "in Germany there are fewer dangerous animals." The concern is not unique to Germany, as Switzerland recently warned its players about snakes near their San Diego training base.
The article notes that Swiss coach Murat Yakin’s team had already been alerted to an area adjacent to its camp that was said to be infested with snakes. Germany’s own experience now adds to the unusual hazards surrounding World Cup training sites in the United States.