Schruns lies behind them now, but there is still one task to be completed before the end of the second Werder Bremen training camp in preparation for the 2008/2009 season. On the way back to Bremen, on Wednesday, 30.07.2008, Thomas Schaaf’s men will make a stopover at the DKB-Arena for a friendly game against FC Hansa Rostock (kick-off 7pm).
Seven friendly games, seven wins! Werder can certainly consider themselves satisfied with their record in pre-season friendly games thus far. Most recently the Green-Whites beat FC St. Gallen 4-0, and now the plan is to throw a spanner is Rostock’s works. But it will be no easy task against a recently relegated side that has done almost as well as Werder in their pre-season programme. From seven friendly clashes, FCH have won five and drawn two. Following wins against Wacker Burghausen (1-0) and Arminia Bielefeld (2-0), the Rostock side most recently managed a 2-2 draw with newly promoted TSG Hoffenheim. The game against Werder Bremen though is the highlight of the pre-season campaign.
The friendly has a dress rehearsal character. The eastern German club’s competitive programme begins with a DFB Cup tie against Holstein Kiel on August 9th. After the game with Bremen, Hansa have just one final friendly against Danish second division side Naestved BK – which would imply that trainer Frank Pageldorf’s side are at the end of their preparations now. Basic training in Rostock was followed by an intensive training camp in Grassau to work on the finer details. The goal: To form as homogeneous a team as possible.