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From poolside to the World Cup: Assan’s whirlwind summer
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- From poolside to the World Cup: Assan’s whirlwind summer
From poolside to the World Cup: Assan's whirlwind summer
Assan Ouédraogo had only planned to switch off for a few days.
After a long season and the squad's trip to South Africa , our midfielder went on holiday to Marbellawith friends. He had been looking forward to spending a few days unwinding by the pool. Then his phone rang.
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Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann was on the line.
Within days, Assan's holiday was over and he was heading to the World Cup. One moment he was relaxing in Spain, the next he was preparing to join Germany on the biggest stage in world football.
"Every child who starts playing football probably dreams of going to a World Cup one day. It was one of the most extraordinary moments of my career so far," the 20-year-old recalled.
From holiday to the World Cup
When Julian Nagelsmann's name flashed up on his screen, Assan had a good idea why he was calling.
"I had a feeling what the call might be about. I was obviously absolutely delighted and immediately tried to get hold of my parents."
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His first few calls went unanswered, but he eventually managed to tell his family that he had been added to the squad. He did not have long to take in the news, however, as he quickly had to turn his attention back to football.
The sudden change of plans was not as difficult as it might have seemed.
"It all happened very quickly. We'd only been in South Africa with RBL a few days earlier, so I hadn't completely switched off from football."
Before he knew it, Assan was packing his bags, organising his journey and flying across the Atlantic. He was soon back in Germany colours, although this was no ordinary international call-up. He was going to a World Cup.
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"It was a brilliant experience and completely different from anything you go through with your club. Those are memories I'll definitely carry with me."
First on his own, then part of the group
Assan may have been the last player added to Germany's squad, but he was the first to reach their World Cup base in Winston-Salem.That left him largely on his own at the complex for a day, with little sign of the World Cup buzz that was soon to follow.
"To be honest, the first day was pretty boring," Assan said with a laugh. "I spent almost all of it relaxing in my room and waiting for the others to arrive."
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Everything changed once his teammates began to turn up.
"As soon as the others arrived, it felt like a proper team straight away. You could tell that everyone was excited about the tournament and desperate to get started."
Our midfielder settled in quickly. He had already met most of the Germany squad during a previous international break.
"I already knew almost all of the players. There were maybe four or five I hadn't met before, so the group welcomed me straight away and I immediately felt part of the team."
"A World Cup has a different vibe"
Germany's World Cup campaign took them to Houston, Toronto, the New York area and finally Foxborough, with each stop bringing another impressive stadium.
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Walking into those grounds was when the significance of the occasion really hit Assan.
"The biggest moments of the tournament for me were all connected to the football. You walk into the stadium and suddenly realise that you're at a World Cup. Those are the moments that stay with you."
Many of the NFL venues were more modern and laid out very differently to the football grounds Assan knows from the Bundesliga. Their size alone did not leave the Mülheim-born midfielder overawed, however.
"I'm a big fan of German stadiums. There are some enormous grounds in the Bundesliga too.It still felt different in the USA because we sometimes played in NFL stadiums. They're designed differently and are often a bit more modern."
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For Assan, the atmosphere mattered more than the size of the venue. Once the teams were out on the pitch and the national anthems began, there was no mistaking that this was a World Cup.
"You might get the same number of fans, or even more, at some Bundesliga games. But a World Cup has a different vibe. The support inside the stadiums was often split pretty evenly between the two teams. It was an incredible feeling."
Still waiting for his chance
Germany's exit nevertheless brought huge disappointment. The penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay ended their hopes of reaching the next round and also denied Assan the chance to make his World Cup debut.
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"Going out was tough to take. It wasn't only hard for us as players, but for everyone who was there, including all the backroom staff and every single person in the group. At a tournament like that, one defeat can suddenly bring everything to an end. It takes a while to process that in the moment."
Back at RBL with more experience
Assan had time to reflect on the tournament after Germany's dramatic exit. His attention has now turned fully towards the season ahead.
"It was an extraordinary experience and I learned a lot. But the World Cup is in the past now. I want to focus on what comes next."
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His next major challenge is already waiting at RBL. After last season's successful campaign, the Red Bulls are back in the UEFA Champions League, while a new chapter has also begun under Micho.
Assan has already completed his first training sessions and has quickly learned how much the new head coach expects from his players.
"It's been tough and we're working hard," Assan said with a smile. He is clearly looking forward to the new season. "We made real progress last season and now we want to build on that and win as many games as possible again. There's a great spirit in the squad and everyone is highly motivated."
Assan's summer took him from a holiday in Marbella to a quiet first day at Germany's base and then on to packed World Cup stadiums. Now back at Cottaweg, he can reflect on a few weeks he is unlikely ever to forget.
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