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US Attorney General Jeff Sessions claims Nazis did not deport Jews The Nazis "were keeping Jews from leaving the country," Jeff Sessions has claimed. Meanwhile, US President Trump doubled-down on false claims about rising crime in Germany due to immigration. Thrice in two days has the administration of US President Donald Trumpmade misleading claims about Germany. Just a few hours after the president falsely stated that the crime rate in Germany had risen and that Germans were scared of immigrants, Attorney General Jeff Sessions mistakenly told an interview that the camps for migrant children at the US-Mexico border should not be compared to Nazi concentration camps because the Nazis "were keeping the Jews from leaving the country." The fact notwithstanding that many Germans find any comparison to the Holocaust anathema, considering it an event so singular and horrific that making analogies to it is disrepectful to its victims, the reaction in Germany is sure to be one of swift condemnation, just as it was to Trumpʼs tweet about crime on Monday.

Dutch police use DNA evidence to arrest 3 men with suspected links to Islamic State Authorities in the Netherlands have detained three men using DNA evidence found at a weapons cache in France. The arrests were linked to a Parisian apartment rented by a French jihadist. Dutch authorities said DNA traces of three men arrested on Monday had been found on weapons discovered at an Islamic State-linked hideout in Paris. The investigation dates back to the Brussels airport and metro bombings of March 2016which killed 32 people.

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European court rules Marine Le Pen must repay €300,000 in misspent funds The EU funds Le Pen has been ordered to repay relate to money she claimed for a parliamentary secret

Germany: Syrian man faces charges for kippah attack The attack on two men wearing kippahs — also known as yarmulkes — on a street in Berlin caused outrage in Germany. The suspect is in court on charges of hate speech and grievous bodily harm. The trial against a 19year-old Syrian man who attacked two men wearing kippahs, the traditional male Jewish head coverings also known as yarmulkes, began on Tuesday in Berlin. The attack, which wascaught on video, took place in April in the Berlin district of Prenzlauer Berg. The disjointed images show three suspects, one of which hurled verbal abuse and struck one of the victims with his belt. The man also yelled the word "Jew" in Arabic. The attackerturned himself into authorities days later. The victims, one of whom shot the video, were not in fact Jewish. One of them, who identified himself as Adam, spoke to DW in April about the incident and explained thatthe kippahhad been a gift from a friend who had told him it was "unsafe" to wear out in the open.

Death of a young girl wakes Japan up to child abuse The court said Le Pen "has not been able to prove that her assistant performed actual work for her." The European Unionʼs General Court on Tuesday upheld a European Parliament decision to recover almost €300,000 ($347,000) fromFrench far-right politician Marine Le Penfor misspent EU funds. Following an investigation by the EUʼs Anti-Fraud Office, the European Parliament complained that Le Pen, who was a member of the European Parliament between 2009 and 2017, had unduly claimed €298,497.87 for a parliamentary assistant. Le Pen is the leader of Franceʼs far-right National Rally party, until recently known as the National Front. A statement from the General Court said it "confirms the decision of the European Parliament" to recover the money from Marine Le Pen on the grounds she "has not been able to prove that her assistant performed actual work for her." Read more: Le Penʼs ʼoutsiderʼ politics move to center stage in France Le Pen told French news agency AFP that she

would take the case to the Court of Justice, the EUʼs highest court. "This ruling is based not on the substance of the case but on a procedural aspect. We are going to appeal against this decision," she told AFP. Le Pen is not the first politician to face allegations of misusing EU funds. In 2017, eight MEPs fromBritainʼs far-right UKIP party were accused of misusing funds. In January 2018, Nigel Farage was docked half of his pay for 10 monthsafter auditors found he misspent EU money when an assistant who was engaged to work with the MEP was found to have also been working with the anti-EU UKIP party as national nominating officer, with his salary coming from the EU funds. In June 2017, then French Defense Minister Sylvie Goulard resigned from government after a preliminary investigation was launched into claims her Democratic Movement party had misused EU funds.

Yua Funato was repeatedly beaten and starved, but the pleading messages she left her mother and stepfather have shaken a nation that used to pride itself on the importance of family and community. A heartbreaking case of child abuse has rocked a nation that has traditionally prided itself on the concept of family and taking care of the most vulnerable members of society. It forced the Japanese government to start drawing up a set of emergency measures designed to stop children from being harmed by their own parents.

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138/2018 • 20 June, 2018

Rapper XXXTentacion shot dead in Florida Rapper XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was shot dead Monday afternoon as he was leaving a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach. The Broward County sheriffʼs office said two suspects had approached him as he was departing the store. "At least one of the suspects fired a gun striking Onfroy. Both of the suspects fled in a dark-color SUV. Investigators say it appears to be a possible robbery," the sheriffʼs office said in a statement posted to its Twitter account. The 20-yearold was pronounced dead at nearby Broward Health North hospital. Despite — or perhaps because of — his grim and sometimes suicidal lyrics, XXXTentacion catapulted to the top of US charts just months ago. XXXTentacion released his first song on Soundcloud in 2014. His debut album, 17, came out last August. His second album, entitled ?, debuted at the top of the Billboard album chart in March, despite a lack of traditional promotion.

Yemen: Government forces storm Hodeida airport Troops loyal to the Yemeni government entered the airport in the city of Hodeida on Tuesday. The move is part ofa major offensive that began on June 13 to retake the Red Sea port. "With the participation and support of the Emirati armed forces, the joint Yemeni resistance (army) entered Hodeida airport," the UAE state news agency WAM said in a tweet, backing up the reports given to DPA. Capturing the airport would mark a crucial gain in the governmentʼs struggle against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as approximately 80 percent of imports andaid suppliesthat reach Yemen enter Hodeidaʼs port. Read more: Assault on Yemenʼs Hodeida will bring ʼfamineʼ and ʼdevastationʼ The airport is located around 14 kilometers (8 miles) from the cityʼs harbor. The city of Hodeida has been under the control of Houthi militia since late 2014, when the rebels overran Yemenʼs capital Sanaʼa. Capturing the airport would mark a crucial gain in the governmentʼs struggle against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as approximately 80 percent of imports andaid suppliesthat reach Yemen enter Hodeidaʼs port. Read more: Assault on Yemenʼs Hodeida will bring ʼfamineʼ and ʼdevastationʼ The airport is located around 14 kilometers (8 miles) from the cityʼs harbor. 2

Maligned Ronaldo statue replaced at Madeira airport After months of mirth, the airport in the starʼs hometown has replaced a bronze statue of its favori

Dutch judges dismiss UK expatsʼ post-Brexit rights case The Amsterdam appeals court on Tuesday ruled that a group of British expats were unable to continue with a case aimed at securing their rights after Brexit. The group had hoped to argue they had acquired independent rights as European Union citizens by living in the Netherlands for so long, but the court ruled the case was inadmissible in its current form. The expats, some of whom have lived in the Netherlands for decades, maintained that they should retain rights and freedoms, such as theright to free movementand residence. However, the court agreed with the Dutch government, which had argued at a hearing in April that the case was "inadmissible" and "groundless." In its verdict on Tuesday, the appeal court said the issues raised by the five Britons named in the case were "not concrete enough" and too vague.

The original work by a local artist has been swapped for a new likeness made by a Spanish sculptor. A widely-mocked bust ofsoccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldoat the airport in his home island of Madeira has been replaced, local media reported on Monday. The swap was made on Friday at the request of people close to Ronaldo. "This bust is much better than the other one, thatʼs what everyone thinks," said Ronaldoʼs brother Hugo Aveiro, to the Diario de Noticias da Madeira newspaper. The new work was made by a

Catholics protest priest killings in Philippines Father Richmond Nilo, 40, was at the altar preparing for church services in his parish in the province of Nueva Ecija, about 180 kilometers north of the Philippine capital Manila, when he was shot four times by two unidentified gunmen on June 10. He is the third priest to have been killed over a span of six months: in April this year, Father Mark Ventura, 37, had just finished celebrating mass when masked assailants shot him. Last December, 72-year-old Father Marcelito Paez was killed by unidentified assailants while he was driving home. Meanwhile, another priest survived an assassination attempt earlier

Spanish sculptor, he added. The original bronze statue was made by local artist Emanuel Santos. After an unveiling ceremony 16 months ago, the statue wasmocked around the worldfor its strange smile and lack of resemblance to the five-time Ballon dʼor winner. "The [Ronaldo] museum asked us to replace the bust in tribute to the athlete and we felt we ought to change it," airport director Duarte Ferreira said. this month. At religious services held for the three slain priests in the cityʼs financial district on Monday, June 18, Father Flavie Villanueva expressed his grief and anger. "Mad would be an understatement. We are enraged. The president has succeeded in instilling fear and a culture of killing in the country," Villanueva told DW, referring to President Rodrigo Duterteʼsviolent and contentious war on drugs.

Why Taliban wonʼt make peace with Kabul Just two days after the end of a threeday ceasefire between the Afghan government and the Taliban, the mili-

tant group attacked police checkpoints in northern Kunduz and Faryab provinces, killing at least 15 members of Afghan security forces. The assaults contradict the Afghan governmentʼs claims that peace with jihadists could be a real possibility. The ceasefire, which expired on June 18, had raised hopes that a pause in fighting could finally pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the Afghan conflict. Read more: Second suicide attack disrupts Eid ceasefire in eastern Afghanistan On the last day of the Eid ceasefire, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered to extend truce and once again urged the Taliban to join peace negotiations. Ghani also offered to recognize the Taliban as a political group and discuss amendments to the Afghan constitution to make it happen.

138/2018 • 20 June, 2018

Boris Beckerʼs diplomatic passport is ʼfakeʼ says Central African Republic The Central African Republic says the diplomatic passport Boris Becker holds "is a fake." But a copy of the passport obtained by DW seems to counter some claims by CAR. The Central African Republic (CAR) foreign ministryʼs chief of staff on Tuesday said the serial number on Beckerʼs travel document corresponded to a batch of "new passports that were stolen in 2014." Cherubin Moroubama also pointed out to the AFP news agency thatBeckerʼs passport-

Bayerʼs remorse? Über-acquisition brings überheadaches as Monsanto trial opens German chemical giant Bayer’s $63 billion purchase of US firm Monsanto is the largest ever by a German of a non-German company. But Bayer also takes on Monsanto’s problems, which the trial of Lee Johnson highlights. US citizen Lee Johnson claims exposure to glyphosate, the key ingredient in the Roundup weed killer made by Monsanto, caused his deadly cancer. As groundskeeper for the school district in Benicia, California, Johnson handled hundreds of gallons of Roundup and was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. He was given six months to live. His case, which started on Monday in San Francisco state court against Roundupʼs maker,Monsanto, is pivotal to the fate of German chemicals giant, Bayer, which paid $63 billion (€56 billion) for the US firm in May. The 46-year-old is the first to go to trial against the St. Louis, Missouri-based company, with thousands of others in the US also blaming the companyʼs herbicide for their illnesses and likely to litigate if the ruling goes against the company.

does not have the signature or stamp of the foreign minister, Charles Armel Doubane. However a copy of the document obtained by DW bears both. In an interview with DW, Doubane said that Becker was not an official diplomat of his country. The claim contradicts the testimony provided to DW by CAR ambassador to the European Union, Daniel Emery Dede, who had confirmed that Becker had diplomatic status, owing to a diplomatic passport from the CAR.

Lazy, lasagna-loving, Monday-hating Garfield turns 40

"I am hungry. Therefore I am." As the worldʼs favorite impertinent cat celebrates his 40th birthday, hereʼs a look back at Garfieldʼs story, some of his best quotes — and a few other fellow cult cats. "Fat, lazy and proud of it." Who would have thought that anyone could become a world star with such an attitude? Yet, thatʼs exactly what Garfield has achieved. The character created by US cartoonist Jim Davis debuted 40 years ago, on June 19, 1978, in a comic strip published in 41 newspapers. When a Chicago news-

paper tried to drop it after a test run, readersʼ complaints convinced the editors to reinstate the cartoon in their pages. ʼGood times are ahead! Or behind. Because they sure arenʼt hereʼ According to Paws, Inc., the company Davis launched in 1981, the daily comic strip is published in around 2,400 newspapers in 80 countries and translated into 40 languages, thereby reaching some 200 million people. These numbers led Garfield to make it into The Guinness Book of Records in 2002.

Credit crunch pushing sweeping changes in Ethiopia In a surprise move, Ethiopiaʼs government announced it would give up ownership of some state-owned companies, respect a decades-old peace deal with Eritrea and free prisoners. But whatʼs the catch? Sweeping changes that seemed unthinkable in Ethiopia just weeks ago are announced almost daily sincenew Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took control as Africaʼs youngest head of government. "The people have the full right to criticize its servants, to elect them, and to interrogate them. Government is a servant of the people," Abiy said in his inaugural speech in early April.

138/2018 • 20 June, 2018

Bram Schot appointed interim chief of Audi, after arrest of CEO The German premium carmaker has moved rapidly to fill the gap left by chief executive Rupert Stadler, who was detained on Monday in connection with his role in Audiʼs emissions-cheating scandal in the US and Europe. Audi has named Bram Schot as interim chief on Tuesday, replacing CEO Rupert Stadler, who was detained on Monday on fraud charges, in connection with the emisssions-cheating scandal at Audiʼs parent company Volkswagen. The 56-year-old Netherlands-born manager was previously at the head of Audiʼs sales and marketing division. "The supervisory board of Audi AG has decided to transfer the duties of the board of management chairman (chief executive) to Abraham Schot on a temporary basis with immediate effect," the German carmaker said in a statement, adding that it had complied with Stadlerʼs request to be temporarily relieved of his duties. Stadler had headed Audi for 11 years and was the first senior executive to be detained in the Dieselgate scandal. On Monday, prosecutors in Munich said that Stadler had appeared before the investigating judge, who ordered him to be remanded in custody.

Teslaʼs Elon Musk slams ʼemployee sabotageʼ In an email to staff, Tesla CEO Elon Musk accused an unnamed employee of extensive and damaging sabotage that had harmed the companyʼs operations. Musk spoke ofunspecified code changes to Teslaʼs manufacturing operating systemand the sending of sensitive corporate data to unnamed third parties. "The full extent of his actions are not yet clear, but what he has admitted to so far is pretty bad," the CEO wrote. "His stated motivation is that he wanted a promotion that he did not receive." ʼMany want us to dieʼ Musk added the company would be investigating the matter this week, emphasizing that the firm needed to determine if the person had acted alone or in concert with "any outside organizations." "As you know, there is a long list of organizations that want Tesla to die," Musk wrote, mentioning Wall Street short-sellers, oil and gas companies and rival car manufacturers, but naming none. "As you know, there is a long list of organizations that want Tesla to die," Musk wrote, mentioning Wall Street short-sellers, oil and gas companies and rival car manufacturers, but naming none. 4

Donald Trump ratchets up China trade dispute with new tariffs The US president said he had asked officials to target $200 billion (€172 billion) worth of imports — and threatened to increase taxes on Chinese exports to the US even further should he meet resistance from Beijing. The proposed measures caused upset on global stock markets on Tuesday, initially weakening both the US dollar and the Chinese yuan. The Hong Kong bourse fell 3.1 percent, while Shanghai was down 3.8 percent, its lowest level since mid-2016. Tokyo was 1.8 percent lower while Seoul was down 1.5 percent. In early European trade London fell 0.8 percent, Paris 1.3 percent and Frankfurt was 1.5 percent down. Trump cited Chinaʼs imposition of charges on US goods — which came in response to Washingtonʼs opening salvo in a mounting trade dispute — as "unacceptable."

Hotel Moments Budapest H-1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 8. T.: +36 1 611 7000 reservation@hotelmoments.hu www.hotelmomentsbudapest.hu

Audi chief executive on his way out

Everyone who knows the smart and eloquent Audi boss personally may struggle to image a situation like this:The mighty Rupert Stadlermincing his words in front of prosecutors in Munich, who then sent him to jail for the alarming reason that he could suppress evidence when going free. This definitely marks a high point for the time being in the drama ofthe German emissionscheating scandal, in which the countryʼs entire automobile industry has completely failed to bring the truth to light. Apparently, it hasnʼt been only Volkswagen and its Audi, Porsche and VW brands, which have been lying to prosecutors and the public about their wrongdoings. As it turns out, luxury brands Daimler and BMW have been caught out, too.

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executive) to Abraham Schot on a temporary basis with immediate effect," the German carmaker said in a statement, adding that it had complied with Stadlerʼs request to be temporarily relieved of his duties. Stadler had headed Audi for 11 years and was the first senior executive to be detained in the Dieselgate scandal. On Monday, prosecutors in Munich said that Stadler had appeared before the investigating judge, who ordered him to be remanded in custody.

Merkel, Macron announce plans for new eurozone budget

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her French counterpart have vowed to introduce a single eurozone budget and emergency funding as part of far-reaching reforms. They also agreed to reduce the refugee flow to Europe. Germany and France have agreed to "open a new chapter" in European Union relations, after Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron met to finalize plans for sweeping reforms of the 19member eurozone, including a new parallel budget. Tuesdayʼs talks, at Meseberg castle, outside Berlin, have a lot riding on them; Merkelʼs political survival rests on her finding a European solution to prevent another influx of migrants to Germany, while both leaders have staked their reputation on further reworking the eurozone. The EU will set up a single eurozone budget to boost investment and promote economic convergence among all 19 member states.

138/2018 • 20 June, 2018

Tiny bees buzz to the rescue as elephants wreak havoc Can the tiny bee provide a last line of defense?

French author Edouard Louis: Why Macron will lead voters to the far right Edouard Louis: The world is currently saturated with fiction; itʼs already structured by lies and fabrications. One of the reasons why people like Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange are persecuted is because they have showed us that governments are lying to us. When the French government claims that we canʼt welcome migrants, itʼs a lie. Why donʼt they just say, "We donʼt want to welcome migrants," instead? That would be the truth. I am personally affected by the fact that these fictions are structuring our lives. Thatʼs why when I write, I believe it should be a space of resistance and therefore a space of truth.

Nicki Minaj and Future confirmed for Budapest Elephant numbers in South Africaʼs Kruger National Park are rising — which is good news. But the prominent pachyderms are destroying habitat for other animals. Project size: 100 beehives in total — 50 are inhabited, the other 50 are empty to act as a control. The test area including all the hives and trees measures about 30 hectars Elephant population: Kruger National Park is home to about 17,000 elephants. The population increases by nearly 600 animals every year Project partners: EMS Foundation South Africa, and the Elephants and Bees Project in Kenya Elephants are terrified of bee stings. As soon as they

hear the buzz of the tiny insects, the huge pachyderms will turn on their heels. That gave conservationist Robin Cook an idea. Heʼs been housing bees in marula trees in South Africaʼs Kruger National Park for a year. The elephants eat the trees clean and uproot them. And since elephant numbers have risen steadily in the past few years, more and more trees have been falling victim to a flattening — and birds such as vultures are losing nesting space.

A hat is a must: the posh tradition of the Royal Ascot The Ascot Racecourse, in the southern part of England and west of London, is not only the meeting ground of highly ambitious riders and fast horses, but also one showcasing sophisticated English tradition and culture. The prestigious event, taking place this year from June 19 through 23, is also one where people go to see and be seen. Visitors only show up wearing their finest attire, without forgetting the most important accessory: the hat. The Brits are renowned for their ex-

travagant and sometimes questionable hats — although nowadays, they only wear them for special occasions such as weddings and, of course, horse races. The Ascot Gold Cup takes place on the third day of the event. It is horse race for stayers, or long-distance performers, and itʼs seen as the most important race of the Royal Ascot. Inofficially, the day is known as "Ladiesʼ Day" since women present themselves in particularly exquisite outfits, and with truly extraordinary hats.

Queen of rap Nicki Minaj and influential American hip-hop artist Future are coming to Budapest. The singer of 2014 hit ‘Anaconda’ has just announced that the pair will be touching down in the UK and Europe as part of her NICKIHNDRXX tour, a global series of live shows kicking off in North America this September. The Budapest leg takes place at the Papp László Sport Aréna on February 25th, 2019. Tickets are already on sale. The tour will promote Nicki’s new album ‘Queen’, due for release on August 10th.

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Culture

Good Reasons to visit Budapest in summer 2018 Picnics on a Danube bridge, wild music festivals and a white-sand beach make Budapest the perfect destination for summer. With the city experiencing an all-time high in visitor numbers, there are still many lesser-known sites where you can hang out with the local crowd, even during peak tourist season. These include the riverside Valyo Kikötő chill zone, the hidden courtyards of ruin bars and the outdoor pools at the century-old Gellért Baths. Dive in to find out what’s hot around town. Chill at Budapest’s newest riverside hangout Visit thoughtprovoking international exhibitions Soak up sunshine at Budapest’s white-sand beach Attend mini concerts taking place around landmarks Lounge at the city’s most unique picnic spot Sample Hungarian treats made with a twist Explore downtown murals during walking tours Take a plunge at the alfresco wave-pool of 100-year-old Gellért Baths Celebrate freedom at music festivals Eat authentic Asian food at Budapestʼs Chinatown Hang out in hidden courtyards of ruin bars Indulge in one-of-a-kind sweet treats Party aboard a repurposed Ukrainian cargo boat, etc.

138/2018 • 20 June, 2018

Kevin Kuranyi: ʼJoachim Löw must find the right wordsʼ

Onto planes, off planes, flights here, flights there — Iʼve traveled a lot aroung Russia over the last few days. No matter where Iʼve been, be it Sochi, Moscow or St. Petersburg, Iʼve met locals who are proud of this World Cup. Everyone is happy that the games are finally taking place and that the Sbornaja (Russiaʼs national team) had such an excellent start with that 5-0 win against Saudi Arabia.

World Cup 2018: FIFA to investigate homophobic chants in Germany-Mexico game

FIFA, footballʼs governing body, announced on Monday that it has opened an investigation into homophobic chants from Mexico fans during their sideʼs match against Germany. Mexico topped Germany 1-0in Moscowʼs on Sunday in a match withplenty of Mexican support. An official antidiscrimination observer reported hearing shouts of "Puto" in the Luzhniki Stadium — a homophobic insult in Mexican Spanish aimed at opposition, usually at a goalkeeper when he takes goal kicks. The Mexican football federation, Femexfut or FMF, has urged traveling fans to stop using the chant, saying: "Think about the fact that you are a representative of the best fans in the world." 6

Aleksandar Kolarovʼs free kick stunner secures Serbia win over Costa Rica A brilliant second half free kick from captain Aleksandar Kolarov led Serbia to a deserved win over Costa Rica. Serbia were wasteful in front of goal but did enough to secure three vital points in Group E. Another World Cup day, another sublime freekick. If Cristiano Ronaldo’s ice-cold effort tosnatch a point against arch-rivals Spain on day two was the current goal of the tournament frontrunner, the Portuguese may have just met his match. Aleksandar Kolarov, take a bow. A combination of poor finishing and sublime goalkeeping had kept the scores level until Serbia’s no.11 produced his moment of magic. Kolarov’s powerful left foot is no secret, but few inside the stadium would have expected such a thunderous strike when the Roma defender stood over a free kick midway through the second half. His shot was unstoppable; a side-footed missile which screamed into the top corner of the Costa Rica net. Kaylor Navas, who kept his team in the game with several crucial saves either side of half time, was nowhere near it.

A wunderkind turns 40 Dirk Nowitzki:

Germanyʼs biggest basketball star is currently out injured, but despite having just turned 40, he intends to be back on the court for the Dallas Mavericks this year. DW looks back on his illustrious career so far. Dirk Nowitzki wears No. 41 for the Dallas Mavericks. Germanyʼs biggest basketball star and probably its Dirk Nowitzki, whose mother played basketball for Germany and whose father was a second-division handball player, was born in Würzburg on June 19, 1978. He didnʼt pick up a basketball until he was 13, but it was clear from the start that he had talent. It was while he was playing for Würzburg of Germanyʼs second division, that the then 19-year-old first

drew the attention of several NBA scouts. The Milwaukee Bucks made Dirk Nowitzki the ninth overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft. Milwaukee then immediately traded Nowitzki to the Dallas Mavericks, meaning he never actually wore a Bucks jersey. Nowitzki got off to a slow start with the Mavs in his first season, which was shortened by a lockout. However, it wouldnʼt be long before Milwaukeeʼs management would regret their mistake.

Germany full of reflection ahead of critical Sweden game Germanyʼs captain revealed on Tuesday that Germanyʼs players have been doing a lot of talking to each other. This team must get better, but the most encouraging thing for Germany fans is that the players know it. Having been late to almost every ball in their opener against Mexico, it almost seemed fitting that Manuel Neuer was nearly an hour late to Germanyʼs press conference on Tuesday. The reason for the Germany captainʼs tardy arrival though, was more telling. "Sorry. We

just had a team meeting that lasted a little longer than planned," Neuer said. "We are our own toughest critics and we are disappointed and angry over our performance against Mexico." Since the defeat, Germany have closed the doors somewhat — a scheduled press conference with Philipp Lahm on Monday was scrapped and the teamʼs training sessions have largely been recovery-focused. Even the sessions in front of the media have been limited to 15 minutes, which makes true impressions hard to come by.