Saskia Bartusiak is one of the few players in the current Germany women’s squad who picked up a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In an interview with DFB.de, the Germany captain talks about her memories and expectations.
DFB.de: You are one of the most experienced players in the squad, and one of the few who has already been to an Olympic Games. All this, despite the fact that you started playing international football quite late. Why was that?
Saskia Bartusiak: I was just a late bloomer. (laughs) At the age of 15 or 16 years old, I wasn’t ready to travel and be away from home so often. I did play for the U18s team a few times, but then I stepped back again for a while. I started playing again for the U21s and the U23s, and I made my debut for the first team when I was 24. Everyone goes at their own pace, and for me that was the right way to do it.
DFB.de: What was your debut for the Germany women’s team like?
Bartusiak: I can’t remember exactly. I had been invited to training courses before that, but I had never played a full international match. It was in Wattenscheid, in April 2007. I was on the bench. We went a goal behind but ended up winning 4-1. In the second half, I was sent to warm up with other players, and then I heard my name. My heart was in my mouth, and my pulse was probably around 200. I was then brought on for Renate Lingor and played just ten minutes, but that memory will stay with me forever. It was a great moment and was something really special. After a couple of touches of the ball, my nerves had all but disappeared and I really enjoyed it. I was obviously very proud of such an unforgettable experience.
DFB.de: And then it just kept coming. First the World Cup, then the Olympics…
Bartusiak: Yes, my debut came only three months before I travelled to China for the 2007 World Cup. The time flew by faster than I realised. I really enjoyed playing for Germany and gave it my all. Then the squad was named and I had been picked. I never expected that. I phoned home and was so excited to tell them that I had done it. I really could not believe it and I was so proud. And to become the world champions was just like one big dream come true. I took a lot away from that tournament, and it is a time I will never forget.
DFB.de: And then you went back to china just one year later for the 2008 Olympic Games. What was that like?
Saskia Bartusiak is one of the few players in the current Germany women’s squad who picked up a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In an interview with DFB.de, the Germany captain talks about her memories and expectations.
DFB.de: You are one of the most experienced players in the squad, and one of the few who has already been to an Olympic Games. All this, despite the fact that you started playing international football quite late. Why was that?
Saskia Bartusiak: I was just a late bloomer. (laughs) At the age of 15 or 16 years old, I wasn’t ready to travel and be away from home so often. I did play for the U18s team a few times, but then I stepped back again for a while. I started playing again for the U21s and the U23s, and I made my debut for the first team when I was 24. Everyone goes at their own pace, and for me that was the right way to do it.
DFB.de: What was your debut for the Germany women’s team like?
Bartusiak: I can’t remember exactly. I had been invited to training courses before that, but I had never played a full international match. It was in Wattenscheid, in April 2007. I was on the bench. We went a goal behind but ended up winning 4-1. In the second half, I was sent to warm up with other players, and then I heard my name. My heart was in my mouth, and my pulse was probably around 200. I was then brought on for Renate Lingor and played just ten minutes, but that memory will stay with me forever. It was a great moment and was something really special. After a couple of touches of the ball, my nerves had all but disappeared and I really enjoyed it. I was obviously very proud of such an unforgettable experience.
DFB.de: And then it just kept coming. First the World Cup, then the Olympics…
Bartusiak: Yes, my debut came only three months before I travelled to China for the 2007 World Cup. The time flew by faster than I realised. I really enjoyed playing for Germany and gave it my all. Then the squad was named and I had been picked. I never expected that. I phoned home and was so excited to tell them that I had done it. I really could not believe it and I was so proud. And to become the world champions was just like one big dream come true. I took a lot away from that tournament, and it is a time I will never forget.
DFB.de: And then you went back to china just one year later for the 2008 Olympic Games. What was that like?
Bartusiak: It was very special from the start. The games were scheduled very close to one another, and so there wasn’t very much recovery time. We had to do a lot of travelling because the football tournament took place all over the country, not just in Beijing. That was really exhausting. I can remember that we had to pack our cases so many times. After every game, everything had to be packed away, because we were heading to a different city the next morning to play another game. But I look back on that tournament with very fond memories. You could never imagine what it is like in the Olympic Village. There were huge food tents and a McDonald's, and it is really difficult to explain the sheer scale of it all. The houses in the village were all decorated in different ways, depending on the nation that was staying there. There were flags all over the place, to show which team lived where. It was a really incredible sight.
DFB.de: What sort of things happened in the village?
Bartusiak: We still stayed in the German house, even after we had picked up our bronze medals. That was also brilliant, to go back and celebrate there with the other German athletes, some of whom had also just won a medal. It felt like one big community. Dirk Nowitzki was there at the same time as us. He is an amazing athlete and a real role model. It was great to meet him and we all had photos taken. There was a feeling of total euphoria after putting the medals around our necks, and everyone came along to cheer us on and celebrate with us. There was a great atmosphere and it was the perfect place to stay during the Olympics.
DFB.de: How much would you love to experience that again?
Bartusiak: So, so much. Just talking about my great memories of the Olympics gives me goosebumps. It is so special to me and we were so proud of what we achieved. Standing on the steps for the ceremony with the medal around your neck was unforgettable, and you can only get that from the Olympics. It would be incredible to achieve that once again, and hopefully we can even bring back a different-coloured medal this time.
DFB.de: Do you often tell the young players about these experiences?
Bartusiak: Yes, all the time. There are currently six players in the squad who were at the Olympics in Beijing - Annike Krahn, Anja Mittag, Melanie Behringer, Babett Peter and Simone Laudehr. Once we had qualified after the World Cup last year in Canada, the anticipation was huge. We had some food with the team, then a free afternoon, and then we found out that we had made it. The first few questions came our way immediately. (laughs) And they are still coming today! But the six of us don’t mind at all.
DFB.de: After this World Cup in Canada and the retirement of Nadine Angerer, you were named as the new captain. What has that changed for you?
Bartusiak: When Silvia Neid came to me to tell me that I would take over this title, I was obviously extremely proud and I was looking forward to it. I felt very honoured because it is something very special. There is a lot of responsibility though. I was very keen to take on this role and I have tried to do well as captain and fulfil what is expected of me. I hope that I have done it well. For me personally, not much has changed. You have a few more conversations with the coaching staff and the management, and you have to do a bit more organisational tasks, but I tried to do this beforehand anyway, alongside Natze. There are players in the current squad who also do that. This is great for me, but also very important for the team to have so many big personalities who take on a lot of responsibility.
DFB.de: What are the features of the current team?
Bartusiak: We have a very good character and team spirit, which is very important for the Olympic Games. The matches are very close together, and so it is very important that you can rely on one another. Not just the players, but the management too. We are one big team and we are all together. You have to look after and support each other. This can be a very decisive factor, alongside team spirit, in how successful you are. Our players are very eager to learn, they want to develop further and they are hungry for success. We also show this in our unity on the pitch. We fight together and we are there for each other.
DFB.de: You are up against Zimbabwe, Australia and Canada in the group stage. Then you will be up against world-class opposition in the knockout round. How do you adjust to that?
Bartusiak: The Olympics is a top-class tournament in women’s football. We will face three difficult opponents in the group, but then we could come up against a real cracker, like the USA or France. It is important to be in good physical shape, because you have to get through a number of important matches in a short period of time. Then you have to try and get used to the different climate. We need a squad of 18 players, who are all at a very high level. Eleven is not enough, and everyone has to be ready to play at all times. Especially as the squad is so small and the games are so close together.
