Germany players stay loose, enjoying freedom at World Cup
MONTREAL — To ensure World Cup success, Germany is dedicating its time in Canada to game tactics, training and conditioning. Shopping is also on that list.
There are few teams who better prepare for the rigors of the World Cup than two-time champion Germany. That experience was on full display in the quarterfinals as the world's No. 1 team weathered France's flying start, rallying from a goal down to advance on penalties.
Germany will spend its off-days before Tuesday's semifinal against the United States ironing out all the details. The match promises to be memorable as it pits the world's top two teams with a trip to the final at stake.
But part of the preparation takes place off the field.
"We enjoy Montreal, we're not holed up in hotel and no one is allowed to go out," Germany coach Silvia Neid said. "To the contrary, I believe when you have fun as a group going out shopping, training, enjoying the time, that everything counts toward making the best performance on the pitch."
Germany must really be enjoying itself off the field because it has lived up to its billing as a tournament favorite on it.
Players have not been shy about taking advantage of the perks that an international competition taking place in a foreign country has to offer.
Striker Celia Sasic is among the most fervent users of social media, posting pictures of the team's excursions, from boat rides around Ottawa to daily walks in Montreal's historic old city.
France, meanwhile, felt right at home in Montreal where the players were able to speak their native tongue. The players posed for selfies at historic landmarks, and the coaching staff even led the team in a conditioning session in downtown Montreal's Dorchester Square, which sits under the shadow of the financial district.
"We stay close to a big shopping street, so we spend our time to go shopping, coffee, to meet someone. We get to see Montreal a bit," Germany forward Anja Mittag said. "People don't recognize us if we have our own clothes on, there's more freedom here. It's nice. But I wouldn't want to be a Canadian player and go out for a coffee, I wouldn't enjoy it."
Most teams enjoy enough anonymity to go out and experience a host city. That is unimaginable at the men's World Cup, which dwarfs the women's tournament in size and scope. So while the women actually do get out and interact with fans, the men are normally holed up at a base outside the city and away from the citizens of the city hosting it.
At the past two World Cups, Spain would rarely step foot outside of its training compounds, filled with all of the facilities the players needed. Apart from the banners lining the streets of Potchefstroom, South Africa, and Curitiba, Brazil, you would hardly have known the 2010 champions were in town.
"We don't go out too much, but when we have a moment we take advantage," Sasic said. "People are so friendly and excited to meet you when they find out who you are."
The United States, perhaps the most high-profile of the women's teams in the tournament, has also managed to get out and enjoy their surroundings en route to the semifinals.
Morgan Brian was spotted on an early morning stroll along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa ahead of Friday's 1-0 win over China. Hope Solo was seen taking in Byword Market with her husband, Jerramy Stevens. Carli Loyd watched an interview of some USA fans, found out where they were and was taken out to meet them in-person.
"We try to keep them busy, we will train and give them some time off," said U.S. coach Jill Ellis. "There are some fun things we will do for them, but everybody is so locked on to what we are doing, it is what it is."
Martin Rogers contributed to this report.
