Dexter Lawrence, Giants hoping for a win in Germany —and not a ‘schnit’ show

MUNICH — This is not the first time Dexter Lawrence has visited Germany.

He was in the country last winter, after the Giants’ season, and recalls something he ate in Berlin that truly satisfied him. 

There was one slight problem. 

“It’s hard for me to pronounce it, so bear with me,’’ Lawrence warned an audience that mostly had never before spoken with him. 

And then he gave it his best shot. 

“Ah, sittt-sell,’’ he said, hesitantly, knowing that was not correct. 

He meant schnitzel. 

“Yeah, it’s hard for me,’’ he said. “That was really good, they almost got mad at me because we ordered so much and we almost didn’t finish it and they weren’t having that.’’ 

The Giants hope their performance Sunday against the Panthers at Allianz Arena in this NFL international game goes more smoothly than the elocution of their biggest and best player.

They departed Newark International Airport on Thursday night, arrived in the Bavarian capital Friday morning, got some rest, hit the field and then a few of their marquee players went inside to be asked questions from German and other European media. 

“It’s an honor for the New York Giants to be here and play in Germany and we look forward to it,’’ head coach Brian Daboll said.

Daboll, of course, is not really interested in new experiences on this trip.

He said he will approach the next few days “as normal as we can.’’

That means a regular late-in-the-week practice not long after the team arrived, followed by meetings, a walkthrough on Saturday and then a normal game day — it is a 3:30 p.m. kickoff locally. 

There was something unusual about the first practice in Germany, as it took place after dark and under the lights at the Bayern Munich soccer club facility.

And it was chilly — in the low 40s. 

“Obviously, back in New York it’s not this cold right now,’’ defensive end Brian Burns said. “I didn’t expect it to be this brick outside. But, it’s cool, though.’’ 

This game will be played at a famous soccer stadium but the Giants did not exactly ace the test when it came to whetting the international media’s appetite about the world’s most popular sport.

Malik Nabers was able to come up with the names Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

His teammates, not so much. 

“I don’t watch a ton of soccer,’’ Daniel Jones said. “I played a little bit of FIFA growing up.’’ 

If he was a soccer player, Nabers figured he would be a goalkeeper for a quite rational reason. “I’m pretty good at catching the ball,’’ he said. “I feel like when they be curving the ball, it’s not that hard to see where it’s going. They are overdoing it. But, they are pros at it and I’m not. So, I don’t know how hard it is, but I feel like I could be a goalkeeper.’’ 

Burns, who did not seem particularly well versed on the positions on a soccer pitch, figured that, too, was a good idea for him.

“I’d probably be a goalie, as well,’’ Burns said. “Aren’t they the taller ones? Because they have to cover a lot of … yeah, I’d be a goalie. Something on defense.’’ 

There was curiosity about Lawrence’s Sexy Dexy sack celebration and he was asked if he has any special German dance moves planned if he brings down Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. 

“I haven’t done my research on German dances,’’ Lawrence said. 

He was told, “Research Schuhplattler, please.’’ 

Lawrence gave a cursory attempt at repeating that and then said he would look it up. 

“OK,’’ he said. “I got to figure out how to spell it.’’