Hanover (AP) – Soccer world champion and second division goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler understands the reluctance of some professionals to criticize the World Cup host Qatar.
“Some players may only get the chance to play a World Cup once in their life. That’s why one or the other is probably more cautious,” said the goalkeeper from Hannover 96 to the German Press Agency.
From his point of view, it was “not Fifa’s best decision” to award the tournament to Qatar. Everyone has to ask themselves whether they want to take part in the World Cup. “The players didn’t choose the venue either,” said the 33-year-old, adding: “From a sporting point of view, the opportunity to be at a World Cup is the biggest thing that can happen to you.”
Qatar has been criticized for the human rights situation and the conditions for foreign workers. Zieler, who became the third goalkeeper with the DFB team in Brazil in 2014, is particularly interested in the sporting competition: “I’ll watch the German games, but I’ll probably follow the tournament as a whole with less euphoria.”
After his loan to 1. FC Köln, Zieler returned to the 2nd Bundesliga in Hanover in 2021. After a poor sporting season in 1996, he called for more humility in the club’s self-image. He himself wants to be there for “three, four, five years at a high level”: “I want to play as long as possible and I think I still have a few very good years in me.”