German players at their FIFA World Cup base camp in Winston-Salem, North Carolina report seeing a venomous snake and have become more cautious as a result. Germany captain Joshua Kimmich is quoted saying players have to think not only about tactics and injuries but also about “what might be hiding in the grass.” The reports describe the snake as a copperhead, a venomous species found in the region, and note that team members were informed it posed serious risk if bitten. Kimmich says the concern increases once players know the snake is venomous and that any bite would require hospital treatment, even if death is not expected. He adds that the team is trying to keep distance from animals. Other accounts included in the coverage indicate similar concerns have been raised by additional teams, including Switzerland and Norway, with references to those squads marking areas as possible “snake areas” or discussing the danger of local venomous snakes. The articles do not report any player injury, but they describe heightened awareness among players during their tournament preparation.