Berlin: Germany's World Cup preparation has been hit by a week of turbulence in which a car crash, injuries, a scandal and a driving ban have all caused disruption.


Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer warms up during a training session yesterday. Pic/AFP 

Head coach Joachim Loew took his squad to a luxury, five-star hotel in south Tirol's St Leonhard for 10 days to prepare his stars for their World Cup Group G campaign, which starts on June 16 against Portugal in Salvador.