Deutsche Welle (English edition)

Euro 2020: Germany recreate Campo Bahia in Bavaria

Germany have moved into their base camp ahead of Euro 2020. Inspired by their location in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup, team manager Oliver Bierhoff wants the location's spirit to resonate.

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The small town of Herzogenau­rach would be unknown were it not for Adidas and Puma. The famous division of the Dassler brothers led to the birthplace of two now world-renowned brands and both still have their headquarte­rs in the Bavarian town.

This is also where Germany will call home for the next few weeks during the European Championsh­ips. Quite literally too given that their base camp is called "Home Ground."

Adidas' main slogan is splashed across the outside of the building: "Impossible is nothing." Germany fans hoping to see or meet their sporting heroes might argue otherwise. The team are very much hidden away in Adidas' headquarte­rs. High fences around the site have made it into a bubble.

Players are tested for COVID-19 every day, and journalist­s also have to have a negative test before the step on site.

"We are quite closed off, but at tournament­s you are in a tunnel," team manager Oliver Bierhoff said. "It is good that we have this focus though, and we are rarely distracted. I see the tunnel perspectiv­e as a positive."

There is a whiff of Campo Bahia, Germany's base camp in 2014, about it all but rather than sand and beaches, this is all trees, exposed wood and big windows.

"We have lots of nature around us and plenty of calmness," Bierhoff said of the camp. "We want to awaken a spirit," said the 53-year-old. "The spirt of Herzogenau­rach."

Ilkay Gündogan called the facilities fantastic.

Bierhoff was inspired by the model that worked in Brazil and wanted to retain the concept of a community feel. Short spaces to travel, whether to the canteen or

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