Football Bundesliga - Union Berlin continues preparations with EM- players
Berlin (dpa) – Union trainer Bo Svensson can call upon his full squad again. For the first team of Bundesliga side Berlin, Svensson was able to welcome back all Euro championship players for the first time in Kopenick. This increased the squad by four players.
Goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow (Denmark), defenders Josip Juranovic (Croatia) and Andras Schafer (Hungary), midfielder Laszlo Benes (Slovakia), and goalkeeper trainer Michael Gspurning (Austria) were all present. In the past week, defenders Leopold Querfeld (Austria) and Tymoteusz Puchacz (Poland) had already joined the squad.
A total of 31 players took part in the public training session, which was attended by around 250 fans. Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow and defender Jerome Roussillon were also present, both having worked individually due to a calf and thigh injury respectively in the training camp. Only striker Kevin Volland, who is still recovering from several knee surgeries, was absent.
Next test match for Union is on Saturday (17.00 Uhr). Scottish Vice-champion Glasgow Rangers will be the guests at Stadion An der Alten Foersterei. Around 18,000 tickets have already been sold for the first home game of the Iron.
The next training camp begins on July 28 in Neuruppin. Union will stay there until August 3. The first mandatory game is scheduled for August 17 in the first round of the DFB-Pokal against Greifswalder FC. The Bundesliga opener is against Svensson's former club Mainz 05 on August 24.
- Frederik Rönnow, the Danish goalkeeper, returned to Union Berlin's squad after the Euro championship, adding strength to their goalkeeping department.
- During the training session in Kopenick, Union coach Bo Svensson was joined by Josip Juranovic from Croatia, Andras Schafer from Hungary, and Laszlo Benes from Slovakia.
- Michael Gspurning, the Austrian goalkeeper trainer, also joined the team during the training camp, boosting Union's coaching staff.
- In the past week, 1. FC Union Berlin's squad was further strengthened by the addition of Leopold Querfeld from Austria and Tymoteusz Puchacz from Poland.
- Despite the return of several players, Union's squad still lacks Kevin Volland, who is recovering from multiple knee surgeries and missed the training session.
- Alexander Schwolow and Jerome Roussillon, both with calf and thigh injuries respectively, attended the training session but were unable to participate fully due to their injuries.
- Union Berlin's next test match is against Glasgow Rangers, the Scottish Vice-champion, on Saturday at Stadion An der Alten Foersterei.
- In a political context, Union Berlin's home city of Berlin is governed by the CDU/CSU (Christdemokratische Union/Christlich-Soziale Union), two center-right political parties in Germany.
- The team will depart for their next training camp in Neuruppin on July 28, where they will stay until August 3, preparing for the DFB-Pokal first round game against Greifswalder FC on August 17 and the Bundesliga opener against Mainz 05 on August 24.
