Völler dismisses camp fever fears and addresses pitch quality for Germany's World Cup preparations

Rudi Völler, the German Football Association's sporting director, addressed several critical topics during his first public appearance at the national team's World Cup base in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He spoke about the quality of the team hotel and the potential for player restlessness, commonly known as 'Lagerkoller' (camp fever), and also commented on the condition of the grass at the training stadium.

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I have already said a few months ago, this is now not a luxury resort, but it is totally pleasant. We are among ourselves.

Völler sought to dispel concerns about the team's accommodation at The Graylyn Estate. While acknowledging it's not a luxury resort, he described it as "totally pleasant" and emphasized that the team is "among ourselves." He assured that measures have been taken to keep the players occupied between training sessions. A significant advantage, also highlighted by head coach Julian Nagelsmann, is the short distance between the hotel and the training facilities.

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So it will never be an excuse, no matter how far it goes, that perhaps the training ground or the training center were not good enough.

Regarding potential underperformance in the tournament, Völler stated that the quality of the training grounds or center would never be an excuse. He also dismissed the idea of 'Lagerkoller,' arguing that modern players, with internet and mobile phones, do not experience the same issues as previous generations who lacked such distractions. He recalled his own playing days when conditions were more basic, without amenities like pools, contrasting them with the current setup.

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We had no internet back then. We had no mobile phones. There was also no German television program. It was more complicated back then, believe me. So camp fever, as we used to know it, doesn't exist anymore today.

Völler also addressed concerns about the grass quality on the training pitch at Wake Forest University, which had shown signs of wear after the team's first training session. He acknowledged the need for water due to the temperatures but expressed confidence in the groundskeepers' work. "The people here are doing an incredible job," Völler said, indicating that the grass is being well-maintained for the upcoming World Cup matches.

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Yes, you need water. That is not only for drinking at these temperatures, but also on the pitch.