Aerial view of the immense estate. -DR
“The Belgian Union wanted to wait for the draw to choose the ideal location. The best hotels were already full at that time, which favored us,” Mr. Sommerrock bluntly admits. UEFA had set the month of December as the deadline, Belgium therefore only reserved in January. Our leaders wanted a place that was “quiet,” “easy to access” and “sufficiently spacious.” Three conditions met: the area is huge and will be closed to the public during the Euro, all close to the motorway.
One of the hotel’s 77 rooms. -DR
77 rooms and 144 beds, all reserved for the Belgian delegation
On the other hand, we are far from the luxury of resorts in Brazil, Russia and Qatar. The resort was built in 1969 and it shows. Has it changed much since 1988, when it hosted the Italian national team for Euro 1988? “Our heating system was really obsolete and unjustifiable from an ecological point of view. We are in the process of installing a brand new one. There will be air conditioning in all the rooms,” insists Mr. Sommerrock.
The gym is not very big. -DR
The 77 rooms for 144 beds, all rented by the Belgian Federation, were also entitled to a small boost in costs. “The members of the Belgian Union were satisfied in themselves but we want everything to be to their liking. So we give it a lick of paint and renovate where necessary. » The beds are, according to the director, of “exceptional quality”. All rooms, although not very large (maximum 6 by 8 meters) and with a cramped balcony (2 by 1.5 m), are equipped with a shower and a bathtub, with a separate toilet. “The Belgian Union had only one requirement: new televisions. Ours were thirteen years old and had no HDMI port. And it was needed so that the Devils could plug in their PlayStations. »
The famous new televisions. -DR
A swimming pool under construction: “De Bruyne will be able to swim here in a month”
What about common facilities? The gym is too small (15 m x 5 m) to accommodate 23 to 26 Devils at the same time. Golf fans, including Jan Vertonghen, will be able to enjoy the large greens. There is a wellness area – with sauna and Turkish bath – which offers a beautiful view of the gigantic garden and, currently, a… large hole. This is where the -not very large- swimming pool is being built, which will mainly be used for recovery. “The municipality has released funds to help us finance it. This was not an obligation for your Federation, unlike others. It wasn’t easy to pull off everything, but Kevin De Bruyne will be able to swim here in a month,” smiles Mr. Sommerrock.
The swimming pool is under construction. -DR
The meeting rooms and restaurant are clean and well finished but nothing flashy. “The Devils will eat in the large room next door. There could be more of them at each table, Domenico Tedesco thinks that is important,” explains Marcos Agnas, the vice-president of the complex.
The wellness area with sauna and Turkish bath. -DR
Everywhere, the “Tedesco touch” is felt. His visit a few months ago made an impression. “The first contact was made through him. He was passing through the region (Editor’s note: the coach grew up in the Stuttgart region and his childhood home is located 35 km as the crow flies from Schlosshotel Monrepos, and he was married at Ludwigsburg Castle) and came to take a look. His enthusiasm for our establishment was quickly felt,” concludes Felix Sommerrock while the Belgian flag is already flying at the entrance. Will he still be there on July 14, the day of the final?
“UEFA even counted the toilets”
If there’s anything missing at Schlosshotel Monrepos, it’s training grounds. To kick a ball, the Devils will have to go five kilometers further, to the facilities of SGV Freiberg, a club in… the fourth German division. Where they won’t even set foot on the main field! The reason ? The surrounding houses are located 30 meters higher and give stunning views. For a session open to the public, this would not pose a problem, but it would be impossible to secretly prepare tactics. Head to the training ground which may be completely closed.
The complex of SGV Freiberg, German D4 club. -DR
There remains one problem: the quality of the lawn. The Belgian Union noted this during the first inspections. “A Belgian gardener took care of everything,” recognizes David Rieck, the site’s caretaker. “The lawn was dug, perfectly leveled and reseeded. »
2024-05-15 04:00:00
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