Germany’s soccer team wants to focus on playing and not politics

By CIARÁN FAHEY The Associated Press

FILE - Players from Germany pose for the team photo as they cover their mouth prior to the World Cup group E soccer match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Ebrahim Noroozi]

BERLIN (AP) — No more heroes, Germany wants winners. The days of the Germany soccer team making political gestures appear to be over. Coach Julian Nagelsmann says he wants his players to concentrate on playing and to leave the political statements aside. Nagelsmann says “We saw in Qatar that too many political issues can harm a team.” Germany flopped at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a campaign overshadowed by criticism of the host country’s human rights record. Many German fans called for a boycott of the tournament. Players and politicians alike made gestures in support of equal rights and tolerance.