Müller & Co. are introduced to the railway system. - German football team members held up on train journey to Euros camp.
The European Championship training camp in Blankenhain, Thuringia, for the national team came to an end on Friday. Following that, it was time to move on to their "home base" in Herzogenaurach, but not without a few hiccups along the way!
Even the DFB's traveling group couldn't escape the delays. Instead of leaving the Erfurt main station at 3:32 pm on the ICE 707 train, they boarded 17 minutes later. This was due to an oncoming train blocking their path.
Further disruptions began around 4:45 pm near Erlangen. The DFB delegation's train ground to a halt for two minutes, creating panic among other passengers as the train's exits were shut for everyone else.
Lots of excitement was already in the air at Erfurt's main station - multiple fans waited to see their stars cross the bridge and enter the station. Police officers surrounded the players, offering them protection as they headed to their reserved train wagons.
Wagons 12 and 14 on the incredibly crowded ICE train were reserved for the DFB delegation. The officials even blocked off a staircase, forcing other passengers to take the long detour through the station.
The organizers of the EM aim for a "green EM" and plan to use the transport medium train. UEFA and tournament chief Philipp Lahm (40) have a goal of making this the most sustainable EM of all time. While this seems promising right now, only the group stage transportation plans have been finalized. If the DFB team makes it to the knockout games, they may need to travel by plane. Their opponents could potentially be facing them in Berlin or Dortmund.
The DFB's travel plans have caused controversy in the past. For instance, in 2020, they flew to Basel (240 kilometers) for a Nations League match against Switzerland, despite train or bus options being available at the time. The association claimed the plane was the only option because of Corona hygiene regulations and recovery reasons.
In the end, the day concluded positively, with the team expected to be greeted by swarms of fans in Herzogenaurach. However, any potential celebration might be jeopardized due to the forecasted heavy rainfall in the region.
Read also:
- Winners announced at Cannes.
- Furor surrounding Sylt scandal footage
- BVB trails 1-0 against Paris, with Füllkrug leading them towards the final.
- The degree of challenge in the manga undertaking is described here.
