Camps move soccer stars

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This article was published 07/06/2012 (5209 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OSWIECIM, Poland — The Italy and Netherlands teams took breaks from their European Championship preparations Wednesday to make solemn and emotional visits to the former Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps.

All 23 Italy players, coach Cesare Prandelli and team staff toured the system that Nazi Germany operated during the Second World War. They were escorted by three Italian survivors of the Holocaust — Samuel Modiano, 81, and 84-year-old Hanna Weiss and Piero Terracina.

At Birkenau, Italian players sat on rail lines once used to bring prisoners in as the survivors explained their experiences of horror and survival after their families were exterminated. Moved to tears, players then embraced the trio one by one.

“The image that stuck in my eyes was when they showed us their tattoos, the numbers on their arms,” Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini said. “And the way they told us about being taken away from their families right there on those tracks. I think their stories touched all of our hearts.”

As Italy walked out, the Netherlands squad arrived for a similar visit. Wearing dark vests and coats, grim-faced Dutch players moved from room to room in a solemn procession. Some with hands stuck deep in their pockets, others snapping pictures of the austere surroundings as they were led around by a guide, the Dutch visit almost coincided with that of the Italians.

“I just wanted to go because it is a part of your education and I wanted to see it with my own eyes,” coach Bert van Marwijk said.

The contrast of the day could not have been sharper, as the team held a public training session in the heart of Krakow, drawing about 25,000 cheering and celebrating fans.

Even hours later, after the evening training, captain Mark van Bommel was reduced to just a few words.

“You can say a lot of things, but for me it was really impressive,” he said.

The morning stunned both Dutch and Italian players.

“It leaves you in shock. You can’t not come here,” Italy midfielder Riccardo Montolivo said. “It’s a time for introspection.”

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon deposited a bouquet of white, red and green flowers — the colours of Italy’s flag — at an execution wall and each player deposited a candle.

“Our generations are fortunate in that we’ve only seen these horrors in films and books,” Chiellini said. “But having it right in front of your eyes, where it happened, and hearing from those who lived through it, is really incredible.

“I told my brother, ‘If you come to see a match, you should go to the camps, too.’ “

— The Associated Press