Neuer wants to wear a One Love armband against Japan

Push-ups at 28 degrees, in the blazing sun, in a black long-sleeved shirt. This is how Manuel Neuer's working day began on Saturday morning. The captain trained with his fellow goalkeepers in the Al Shamal Stadium near the World Cup headquarters of the German national soccer team in northern Doha, and the field players joined them shortly afterwards.

After days of individual training, the intensive preparation for the first group game of the Germans on Wednesday against Japan (2 p.m., ARD and in the WELT live ticker) begins this weekend. In addition to the sporting, there are many social issues. After training, the 36-year-old Neuer came to the press conference and announced that he will wear the "One Love" captain's armband against Japan.

Although the world association Fifa surprisingly announced its own pad campaign on Saturday morning, just one day before the start of the tournament. A statement said: "Participating teams will be able to send messages during matches via the team captains' armbands."

On the first day of the game

The German Football Association (DFB) is not afraid of penalties. "First you have to say that none of us have had this experience yet, the whole tournament is an experiment," said Neuer. "But we have the backing of the DFB, we're not afraid. Other nations from the West, from Europe, are also supporting this. I like that. It is important that we are not alone.”

For DFB director Oliver Bierhoff, the German team at the World Cup in Qatar is “not the tournament favourite”, but nevertheless a candidate for winning the title. Follow the full length of the DFB press conference here.

Source: WORLD

National team director Oliver Bierhoff also came to the press conference after training. The 1996 European champion said about FIFA's binding decision: "The short-term nature is surprising. It seems as if FIFA does not have a clear stance on this. We assume that we can continue to wear the bandage. We have stated a clear stance on the issues. So I'll see what's coming. We coordinate again in the nations, that's important."

Even the One Love armband was a compromise and a replacement for the rainbow armband. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf defended it in Qatar on Friday afternoon: "The bandage starts exactly where we are concerned. I've always defended it, it's about human rights, a fight against racism and for women's rights." And made it clear what he would think of a possible ban by Fifa: "Personally, I would be quite willing to accept a fine take."

Captain Neuer also commented on the debate about the beer, which will now not be available around the stadiums after all. The World Cup hosts Qatar have enforced a ban on alcoholic beer around all arenas. "What annoys fans is the short-term nature," he said. “The spontaneity will annoy many. Communication right from the start would have been better.”