Players from the national teams of Germany, Switzerland and Norway have expressed concern about the possibility of encountering poisonous snakes during their training camps.
“We saw a snake yesterday; they told us it’s poisonous. If it bites you, you have to go to the hospital,” said Joshua Kimmich.
The German captain reported that a venomous snake known as a copperhead had been spotted at their base in North Carolina. Its bite is usually not fatal, but it is considered dangerous.
In an interview with the BBC, the Bayern Munich midfielder complained: “We are preparing here for the most important football tournament and suddenly the players are looking at the pitch before every step.”
“We’re trying to stay away from animals here. I respect the people here. I have the impression that there aren’t many dangerous animals in Germany.”
A copperhead snake bite is usually not fatal, but it is a cause for concern in Germany, Norway and Austria, and medical attention is recommended for anyone affected.
Erling Haaland and Norway are also based in North Carolina and are on alert for the presence of these reptiles.
“I don’t find this pleasant at all,” said Norway captain Kristian Thorstvedt after learning of the copperhead’s presence.
In California, the Austrian national cycling team was banned from training on bikes at their base in Santa Barbara due to concerns about snakes.
Meanwhile, Switzerland, based in San Diego, has designated part of their camp as a snake-protected area.
