MY ACCOUNT
Germany’s national team director Oliver Bierhoff has confirmed Niklas Sule is the player to have tested positive for coronavirus.
It was announced earlier on Tuesday that a member of Germany’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Armenia had returned a positive PCR test result and had immediately gone into isolation, though the player was not named at the time.
Four other players who were judged to have been close contacts also had to isolate, though no other positive results had been recorded within the camp.
At a subsequent news conference, Bierhoff confirmed Bayern Munich centre-back Sule was the player to have contracted COVID-19.
Sule is double vaccinated, and the earlier update stated he had not shown any symptoms.
His club-mate Joshua Kimmich, who has publicly confirmed he has not yet received either dose of his vaccine, is one of the other four players to have gone into quarantine.
Kimmich, 26, explained last month that he is not opposed to the prospect of getting vaccinated at some stage, but he wishes to wait for further research to be conducted.
Fellow Bayern players Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala have also been forced into isolation, given they were part of the same travelling party to the training camp, while Karim Adeyemi also has to quarantine.
“The squad is still strong, and we will prepare for the two games in World Cup qualification from noon today and make them successful,” said Bierhoff.
“The situation is not easy for the players, but there is no huge concern now.”
Asked about Kimmich, Bierhoff said: “It was clear that if someone in his environment tests positive, he would be put in quarantine.
“Of course, that’s difficult to accept when you have acted correctly and paid attention to everything.”
Bierhoff was joined at the media conference by Germany’s team doctor Tim Meyer, who explained the length of the quarantine will depend on the regulations set by the local health authority in Wolfsburg.
Asked if Gnabry, Musiala and Adeyemi were vaccinated, Dr Meyer said: “I won’t give you any information about that. The vaccination plays a role in the decision, but also how close the contact was.
“I have already given my personal opinion on vaccination against COVID-19. Joshua Kimmich’s opinion is also known. We have to accept that.”
Dr Meyer added that four other players have been classed as contacts, though will be allowed to remain at the accommodation and will be tested again in the coming days.
Germany have also lost Florian Wirtz and Nico Schlotterbeck to muscular injuries, with Kevin Volland and Wolfsburg duo Ridle Baku and Maximilian Arnold added to the squad.
