Frankfurt / Main (dpa) – Hansi Flick’s assistant Danny Röhl can see good things in the tight World Cup preparation phase in November.
“I’m even happy when the time together before the tournament is short and compact. These endlessly long preparations aren’t always helpful,” said the 32-year-old in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
Due to the unusual date of the World Cup from November 21 to December 18 in Qatar, the national soccer team only has a few days instead of the usual three weeks to get used to the tournament. The last Bundesliga matchday before the World Cup ends on November 13th, just eight days before the opening game.
Before the first test match of the year on Saturday (8.45 p.m. / ZDF) in Sinsheim against Israel, Röhl gave an insight into Flick’s World Cup plans, which DFB director Oliver Bierhoff had only hinted at recently. “It will probably go like this before the World Cup: On Saturday there is another Bundesliga match day and on Sunday or Monday we will be on the plane together. A few days of training camp, possibly in the Arab world, will briefly activate the things you have learned , then another test match and then it starts,” said Röhl.
This stress phase in the middle of the Bundesliga season does not have to be a disadvantage for the national players, said the former video analyst from RB Leipzig and Flick confidante about successful times at FC Bayern Munich. “The competition is the highlight for the boys anyway. And maybe the unfamiliar rhythm will even give them new energy. They come out in the sun while it’s dark, wet and cold at home,” said Röhl.