Germany’s living quarters for the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be in Vatutinki, in close proximity to Moscow. “The decision wasn’t easy for us, because we had a very good time in Sochi during the Confederations Cup. For success, everything needs to be right. In Moscow, we'll be able to work with concentration under the best training conditions and we have found a quietly located hotel where we’ll be able to regenerate after games and training,” said Germany head coach Joachim Löw.
Team co-ordinator Oliver Bierhoff continued: “We’re thinking game by game, but we’ve also got the whole tournament until the final in our sights, because our goal is to defend our title as World Champions. The accommodation near Moscow guaranties us short journeys to training, to the airport and to Luzhniki Stadium, where, we all hope, we will play three times. The prospect of not having to travel at the start of the tournament and in the last two decisive and most important games, is an important factor.”
The "Vatutinki Hotel Spa Complex", which is surrounded by forests, lies in a suburb to the south-west of the Russian capital. A completely new block is currently under construction there, which is scheduled to be finished by April 2018. 72 rooms will be available to the players, coach and staff, including an indoor pool with a spa, gym and regeneration area, as well as the necessary function rooms, which will be adapted to the needs of the team.
Close proximity to airport and training pitches
35 kilometres separate the hotel and Luzhniki Stadium, which would take the team 45 minutes on the coach. It is in that stadium where the team will contest their Group F opener against Mexico on June 17th 2018. If Germany win their group and get past the round of 16 and quarters, they could play there again in the semi-final and final.
The 25 kilometre journey from the hotel to Vnukovo international airport will take around 30 minutes, while the coach journey to CSKA Moscow’s training ground will take around five minutes. There, the players and coaching staff will find optimal training conditions and for spectators and media, a new stand is currently being built.
World Cup preparations to start on May 23rd in South Tyrol
The schedule for the World Cup preparations has been determined. During the visit to the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, head coach Joachim Löw, together with his assistants Marcus Sorg and Thomas Schneider and goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke, decided on the most important dates ahead of the start of the World Cup, which will be the frame work to their preparation.
On May 23rd 2018 in Eppan, the training camp and “tough phase” of preparations will begin. In the period from May 27th to the 31st, the U20s team will accompany the senior side and complete specific training sessions with them. On June 2nd, the team will contest a friendly against Austria in Klagenfurt. The training camp will come to an end with a second friendly in front of a home crowd a week later. The opposition, stadium, date and kick-off time are all yet to be decided. June 4th is the deadline for all of the teams to submit their official 23-man squad for the tournament.
The team’s journey from Frankfurt to the team base in Vatutinki is scheduled for June 12th. Five days later on the 17th, the DFB Team will face Mexico to kick off Group F and the defence of their title.
