Florian Wirtz, di 23-year-old German international wey dey play for Liverpool, don get special gift wey go follow am go World Cup. Na new football shoes wey get di names of im family and friends for di sole.
Wirtz reveal dis during a PR event for Adidas for Herzogenaurach. E say: “I just get new football shoes for my birthday. Di names of all my siblings, my parents, and my friends dey for di sole.”
For am, dis one no be just small personal thing. E explain: “Na something wey I go carry go World Cup. E go remind me of my closest people and give me strength.” So when Wirtz dey play for USA, Mexico, and Canada, im family and friends go dey with am – at least under im feet.
Di German star bin celebrate birthday on May 3, and now dis special gift go follow am through di tournament. But before World Cup start, Wirtz no want put pressure for imself. E say e dey “more and more” happy for di tournament, but e no want too much pressure. Im motto: “Di most important thing na to dey happy and remember say we dey do am because of joy.”
During di event with teammate Nick Woltemade, Wirtz also answer questions from children. Dem ask about dia favourite players from childhood. Wirtz say: “My own na Lionel Messi.” Woltemade reveal: “My own na Neymar.”
If Germany reach later stages, dem fit meet Argentina with Messi or Brazil with Neymar. For Wirtz and Woltemade, dat one go be special matches against dia old idols.
Di German national team don start preparation on Wednesday for Herzogenaurach. On Thursday, dem do first training for di ‘Home Ground’. On Sunday, di team of coach Julian Nagelsmann go test against Finland for Mainz. Di final rehearsal go be on June 6 for Chicago against USA. After dat, di team go move to dia World Cup base camp for Winston-Salem for North Carolina.
Di tournament go start on June 14 for Houston against Curacao. Oda group opponents na Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
