Imagine LeBron James and Stephen Curry running into each other in a hotel elevator the morning before Game 6.
It wouldn’t happen because the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors wouldn’t stay in the same hotel during the NBA Finals. And if they did, picture the awkwardness for a minute.
Or just ask the U.S. national team. It’s been staying in the same hotel as Germany this week ahead of the World Cup semifinal clash on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET on FOX). There haven’t been any joint-team breakfasts, but players and coaches do see each other in the lobby and occasionally squeeze into an elevator.
“It’s not up to the times,” Germany coach Silvia Neid said. “Two teams that are up to play each other shouldn’t be sharing a hotel.”
This isn’t a special situation for the semifinal. All 24 teams have been sharing hotels with opponents throughout the World Cup. Usually a team will reserve one or two floors, but they’re still in the same living space by being in the same building.
Neid said it was uncomfortable after Germany beat Sweden 4-1 in the round of 16. And again after defeating France in a penalty shootout in last week’s quarterfinal.
“It was pretty sad,” she said. “We still had to share an elevator with them. You play each other, but you constantly run into each other. It should be avoided.”
The USA and Australia’s meal rooms were next to each other in Winnipeg before the tournament opener, giving the teams no choice but to basically eat together before their match.
“We are very friendly,” Amy Rodriguez said. “We see them, we say hi. We don’t really mingle with them per se.”
It’s certainly not an ideal situation and this doesn’t happen in the men’s World Cup. When Jill Ellis was asked about it Monday, she appeared less than thrilled. But there’s no other option. This is how FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association planned it.
“You make it work,” Ellis said.
