Toni Kroos, midfielder for Germany and Real Madrid, - Soccer celebrities' accommodation during the European Championships
The European Football Championship kicks off in Germany on Friday. The host country, captained by Real Madrid sensation Toni Kroos (34), will square off against Scotland at the Munich Allianz Arena in the first match. Over the course of the following days, the 24 participating teams will arrive at their respective EM quarters. But where will some of the tournament's biggest names enjoy their stay in Germany?
Germany's Toni Kroos
The German squad, comprising of Kroos, Neuer, Mueller and Co., camps out in Bavaria, specifically Herzogenaurach. As it turns out, this choice is strategically sound: The city is home to Adidas' main headquarters, a leading global sports brand. The team trains and resides at the "HomeGround - adidas World of Sports" complex, which includes 15 villas and a multitude of practice fields.
France's Kylian Mbappé
The flamboyant French superstar Kylian Mbappé (25) and his fellow Frenchmen have selected a similarly low-key accommodation: Bad Lippspringe in North Rhine-Westphalia. Conveniently located near Paderborn, their quarters are at the "Best Western Premier Parkhotel & Spa", where they can train and rest with ease.
England's Harry Kane
Top Bayern star Harry Kane (30) and company have made their way east, settling in Thuringia along with their "Three Lions" team. They have rented the "Weimarer Land" spa and golf complex, ensuring a focused environment that places priority on their sports preparation. A potential royal visit may be on the horizon, as Kane hinted that Prince William (41) could drop by. We'll have to wait and see whether it's in the stadium for a match or in Thuringia itself.
Croatia's Luka Modrić
Another former Real Madrid star, Luka Modrić (38) and the Croatian national team, also set up camp further east. They've pitted their tents in Neuruppin, opting for the "Resort Mark Brandenburg." This 4-star hotel boasts a natural healing oasis with indoor and outdoor pools as well as a floating sauna, making it an ideal location for recovering from intense games. Neuruppin is only about an hour's drive northeast of Berlin.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo
Signs point to this being superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's (39) final major European Championship as a player for the Portuguese national team. Ronaldo and his Portuguese mates are holed up at the "Klosterpforte" hotel in Marienfeld. It's a rather private location in North Rhine-Westphalia, situated southwest of Bielefeld and close to Guetersloh. Last-minute reports indicate that a public training session with the team sold out within minutes, with 6,000 tickets snapped up. A whopping 50,000 people apparently sought tickets.
Poland's Robert Lewandowski
Ex-Bayern striker and current Barca forward Robert Lewandowski (35) will not be staying close to home for the tournament. Instead, Poland prefers to be in the bustling hub of Hanover, where they've reserved the Sheraton Pelikan hotel in the city centre. The Eilenriede city forest is just a short jog away, providing an opportunity for some recreation.
The heyday of Spanish national teams may be behind us, but Rodri (27) and co. remain front runners for 2024. They've chosen to make Donaueschingen, Baden-Württemberg, their base camp, with the renowned 5-star luxury hotel, "Öschberghof" accommodating them. This secluded hotel is a great place for the team to get ready for their upcoming battles.
Finally, the Italian contingent, spearheaded by midfielder Jorginho (32) from Arsenal FC, has based themselves in North Rhine-Westphalia as well. They've chosen to stay at the "Vier Jahreszeiten" hotel in Iserlohn, only to strengthen their position as title defenders.
See you at the games!
(Source: Inside Germany's Euro 2024 base camps (German))
