Several international soccer teams have recently been on high alert after a venomous snake was spotted at a training area in North Carolina. This comes amid the World Cup.
According to BBC Sport, soccer players are "looking at the ground before every step they take." Joshua Kimmich, captain of the German Men's National Team, spotted a copperhead snake at the training area in Winston-Salem. The team spotted the venomous snake at W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium at Wake Forest University.
"We saw a snake yesterday, we were told it was venomous. If you get bitten, you have to go to the hospital," Kimmich said, per BBC Sport. "I don't think you'll die, but it's certainly dangerous. I have the feeling that if you step on a snake like that, it can end badly. Once you hear what kind of snake it is and what can happen if you're bitten, it stops being funny very quickly."
Venomous Snake at World Cup Area
With the focus on the World Cup, several soccer teams have expressed fears of snakes and local wildlife. Players don't want venomous snakes to bite them or impact their training. Kimmich is worried that fears about the snake will distract from the World Cup training that they're taking part in. W
"In Germany, you worry about tactics, injuries, and your next opponent. Here, you also have to think about what might be hiding in the grass," he said, per BBC Sport. "That's why we're trying to keep our distance from animals here. I have respect for the people here. In Germany, I have the feeling there aren't so many dangerous animals."
"We're here trying to prepare for the biggest tournament in football, and suddenly players are looking at the ground before every step they take," he also added as well.
