Germany players unhappy with World Cup base in Vatutinki labelled ‘a boarding school’

SO much for that old myth of “German efficiency” then.

And while it would be the shock of the World Cup opening weekend if Joachim Low’s side did not get off to another flying start against Mexico in the Luzhniki Stadium today, for once it is not all smooth.

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Low’s players are not happy with their austere base in Vatutinki, 25 miles south west of central Moscow, which has been dubbed “a boarding school”.

Rather than the luxury hotel they enjoyed in Sochi during the Confederations Cup last year — and where Low wanted to go again — Germany have been, quite literally, billeted in a former garrison town for the Red Army.

The German players are moaning about the threadbare carpets and Soviet-style decor of the Vatutinki Hotel.

Not all have running water in their rooms, although at least every room has been upgraded with new box-spring beds.

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Low also had a run-in with the head chef, criticising his failure to deliver the promised menu to order and watching him storm off with his face a shade of crimson.

Real Madrid star Toni Kroos said: “There is no point complaining about the hotel. We cannot use the ambience of where we are staying as an excuse. In any event, I had water in my shower, so I was happy.

“We’ll be looking forward to going on holiday after the World Cup even more. I’m not sure we’d be choosing to stay here again.”

Low was not too chuffed with things at the CSKA Sports Centre training ground, either, after Brazil bagged the sole official training ground and base in Sochi.

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German FA head groundsman Rainer Ernst was ordered to cut another three millimetres off the grass before training started.

Despite all that, anything less than a win would be a big surprise as Germany have not lost an opening match in the finals since the shock 2-1 defeat to Algeria in 1982.

Low knows it will be tough but thinks Germany can win a second successive World Cup after their triumph in Rio de Janeiro.

He said: “Brazil are much stronger than 2014 and we also have more arrows in our quiver.

But France have taken many steps forward, Spain are much better and self-confident, England too.”