The Germany national football team is missing World Cup games, an unusual endeavor by Andreas Merkel, a writer and lifelong football fan. He writes about his experiences and the reasons why he decided not to watch the games. Andreas Merkel is also the head coach and goalkeeper of the authors' national team and has therefore decided to boycott the World Cup games. In his column, he describes how he struggles with the problems of a so-called tournament team. The game against the Ivory Coast would have been one he normally wouldn't have missed, but now he will consciously not watch it. Andreas Merkel takes a critical look back at what worked in the first week of the tournament and what didn't. The defense of not watching and not knowing in the inner defense was exemplary at first. Andreas Merkel and his wife avoided the public viewing areas where students in Germany jerseys cheered every goal. As the week went on, it became more difficult for Andreas Merkel to miss the World Cup games. The game against the USA would have been one he probably wouldn't have watched even under normal World Cup conditions. Andreas Merkel writes about his experiences and the effects of his boycott. He describes how he prepares for the first real challenge of this World Cup, the king's discipline, not watching Germany as a football fan. Andreas Merkel does not let himself be lulled by the euphoria and slight hubris, but sticks to his plan to miss the World Cup games.