DFB coach Horst Hrubesch was allowed to select three over-age players for his Olympic squad and he immediately remembered two of his former men: Lars and Sven Bender. The twins have already helped Hrubesch's U19 side win the 2008 European Championship and now join the Olympic squad as seasoned national team players.
"It's simply a great occasion. We really look forward to playing with each other again after several years," revealed Lars Bender. His 12-minute younger brother Sven added: "This opportunity only presents itself once in a lifetime. We want to play a good tournament and challenge for a medal."
This is exactly the attitude that coach Horst Hrubesch wants to see in his players and also the reason why he opted for the 27-year-olds to be part of his squad at the Games in Rio. Experience clearly also played a role: Lars Bender has made 197 appearances in the Bundesliga and Champions League for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and was capped 19 times in Germany's national team while also taking part at the 2012 European Championships. Sven has made seven appearances for Die Mannschaft, competed in 178 Bundesliga and Champions League games and won two Bundesliga titles and a DFB Cup with Borussia Dortmund.
"We all know what's at stake"
The Bender twins and Nils Petersen are the oldest players in a squad that is dominated by U21 players. But they will not require a lot of time to adjust, according to Lars: "We all know what's at stake and how we want to present ourselves. Our coach will prepare us for each task and we want to win the games together. At this level we will get to know each other really quickly." Mistaking one brother for the other will also not be a problem, as Sven adds with a smile: "Those who don't know us yet, just have to be patient as it will work out eventually. We may look alike, but our personalities are very different."
They both have a very strong opinion of their new coach: "Horst Hrubesch is a straightforward type of person and always honest. They way he deals with the players is outstanding, he always finds the right mix of fun and hard work." The 2008 European title forged a bond between the Bender twins and their coach and now they are looking to add another successful chapter at the Olympic Games in Brazil.
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DFB coach Horst Hrubesch was allowed to select three over-age players for his Olympic squad and he immediately remembered two of his former men: Lars and Sven Bender. The twins have already helped Hrubesch's U19 side win the 2008 European Championship and now join the Olympic squad as seasoned national team players.
"It's simply a great occasion. We really look forward to playing with each other again after several years," revealed Lars Bender. His 12-minute younger brother Sven added: "This opportunity only presents itself once in a lifetime. We want to play a good tournament and challenge for a medal."
This is exactly the attitude that coach Horst Hrubesch wants to see in his players and also the reason why he opted for the 27-year-olds to be part of his squad at the Games in Rio. Experience clearly also played a role: Lars Bender has made 197 appearances in the Bundesliga and Champions League for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and was capped 19 times in Germany's national team while also taking part at the 2012 European Championships. Sven has made seven appearances for Die Mannschaft, competed in 178 Bundesliga and Champions League games and won two Bundesliga titles and a DFB Cup with Borussia Dortmund.
"We all know what's at stake"
The Bender twins and Nils Petersen are the oldest players in a squad that is dominated by U21 players. But they will not require a lot of time to adjust, according to Lars: "We all know what's at stake and how we want to present ourselves. Our coach will prepare us for each task and we want to win the games together. At this level we will get to know each other really quickly." Mistaking one brother for the other will also not be a problem, as Sven adds with a smile: "Those who don't know us yet, just have to be patient as it will work out eventually. We may look alike, but our personalities are very different."
They both have a very strong opinion of their new coach: "Horst Hrubesch is a straightforward type of person and always honest. They way he deals with the players is outstanding, he always finds the right mix of fun and hard work." The 2008 European title forged a bond between the Bender twins and their coach and now they are looking to add another successful chapter at the Olympic Games in Brazil.
