GERMAN football fans have given ‘Die Mannschaft’ a whole new meaning with their own naked national team.
And they are challenging 11 brave English souls to strip off and face them as Mother Nature intended in a one-off match during Euro 2024.
Germany’s ‘Nacktionalmannschaft’ - or ‘naked team’ is run by photographer Gerrit Starczewski.
He will be at England’s opening game in Gelsenkirchen today looking for hardy players to form a starkers Three Lions squad willing to bare all in a game next Sunday.
Starczewski, 37, told SunSport: “Our dream is to play England. And this is the best moment to challenge Germany. We are waiting.
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“I am driving to Gelsenkirchen and will be handing out leaflets to see if the English are up for it.”
Germany’s naked team was set up in 2015 by a group of fans growing disillusioned by the growing commercialism within the game.
Their last match was in May and it drew a crowd of around 1,000 fans.
They also played against Holland - or the appropriately named ‘Nether’ lands in 2021 and they held out for a ballsy draw.
The team includes women. Squad numbers are painted on the players’ backs and the only kit worn is socks.
Starczewski said: “Maybe the England players can wear red and we will wear black or white. We don’t mind.
“To us football should be natural, simple. Not all about money, money, money. So this is why we play naked.
“And it is fine for men and women to hug each other when a goal is scored because we are about body positivity too. There is nothing sexual in it.
“I know it is funny to see people play naked but honestly, after about one minute the fans forget that nobody is wearing any clothes.
He joked: “And in a normal game you get booked for taking your shirt off to celebrate. With us, you get booked if you put one on.”
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Germany are rumoured to be experts at dead-ball situations but Sarczewski reckons his team is just made up of eager fans trying to make a point.
He added: “Most England fans go to games almost naked anyway with their shirts off so why not take everything off?”
Starczewski even has a pitch ready and waiting. A field near Cologne, where England play their last group match on Tuesday week, has been earmarked to host the unique game.
He said: “On the flyer will be a QR code for all the details to play in the match. It will be great.”
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