November 09, (THEWILL) – Tuesday’s training session for the German national football team was cancelled after a player tested positive for COVID-19.
The squad had been arriving at the national team’s headquarters to prepare for forthcoming matches against Liechtenstein and Armenia, the first of which is set for Thursday.
However, the positive test dealt a major setback to preparations by German manager Hansi Flick, with the DFB announcing that four more players have been forced to quarantine as a result.
“The number of [COVID-19] cases has risen sharply across the country,” said team director Oliver Bierhoff. “Therefore, we will continue to implement the hygiene and behavioural measures in place for the final international game of the year, in order for us to handle the current situation as responsibly as possible.
“This news coming so soon before the final two World Cup qualifiers is very tough, both for the coaching staff and the whole team, but health and welfare is our top priority, of course. I hope the player who tested positive recovers soon and that he remains asymptomatic.”
There is no official confirmation of which player tested positive, but some reports have it that it is Bayern Munich centre-back Niklas Sule, who also contracted the virus last year.
Jonathan Tah of Bayer Leverkusen was added to the squad on Monday, although no reason was offered for his late inclusion.
Germany has already qualified for the 2022 World Cup and finished first in their group, so being without a handful of first-choice players will not be a major issue for Flick’s team.
Liechtenstein will face Die Mannschaft in the penultimate World Cup qualifier on Thursday evening at Wolfsburg’s Volkswagen Arena.
They will finish the break with a trip to Armenia, whom Germany beat 6-0 in early September.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
