Germans on midnight run for Kazakh clash

Germany’s players will be going to bed at dawn and training just before midnight as they prepare for a World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan tomorrow.

With a five-hour time difference between Germany and Kazakhstan, the Group C leaders have been advised not to change their watches to local time once they arrive but instead stick with German time so as not to interrupt their rhythm on such a short trip.

“We have a five-hour time difference and that normally needs about five days to adapt,” said team doctor Tim Meyer. “We do not have that time and we have to go straight back to German time. Our clocks will be on German time, and the schedule with things like eating and sleeping also on German time. We have a kick-off which is good for German time but it is midnight in Kazakhstan.

“We will not check everyone’s watches but we advise them to do it and expect them to do it.”

The plan means the Germans will have a late training session in Astana (11pm local time) tonight. “The schedule then will be like we have after an afternoon training at 6pm in Germany,” team spokesman Jens Grittner told reporters. “Then sleep at 4am which is 11pm in Germany.”

Meyer also eased concerns over an ankle injury in training for Sami Khedira on Tuesday, saying the midfielder is fit to train again. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski also overcame minor injuries and are back in training.