Departure for Canada: Germany Women begin World Cup mission

DFB Women had a huge goal in mind as they boarded the plane following goodbyes with family and friends. “We’re dreaming of getting that third star,” said manager Silvia Neid prior to Germany women departing for the World Cup in Canada on Sunday afternoon (6th June until 5th July), “but we know it will be tough.”

The selection of players by the German Football Association had plenty of time to dream during their eight-hour long flight over 6000km from Frankfurt to Ottawa via Montreal on the Lufthansa-Airbus. Their opening game of the World Cup this coming Sunday (7th June) against the Ivory Coast will give a first indication of whether this dream can become a reality.

“We want to acclimatise as quickly as possible and then stay in the tournament as long as possible,” said Neid, who felt “pure anticipation” ahead of her final tournament as Germany head coach. It was also the same for the players. “We all have the huge vision of World Cup victory and we’re of course among the favourites but it’ll be decided by fine margins,” said captain Nadine Angerer, who will hang up her boots at the end of the tournament. But: “I’m not thinking about that really. I’m approaching it like I always do.”

Sasic: "We have it within us to win the trophy"

According to goalscorer Celia Sasic, the final will be as more exciting than ever before. “With the quality we have here, we have it within us to win the trophy,” said the forward. “A lot of other sides have it within them too though.” The German national team’s headquarter wills be based in the noble Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel in the Canadian capital. Contrary to the men’s World Cup, not every team searches for their own accommodation, the teams share accommodation allocated by FIFA at the game locations.

The two-time World and eight-time European Champions will also play their second group game in Ottawa, when they take on Norway on 11th June in a repeat of the 2013 European Championships final. The day after, the DFB team head west to Winnipeg, where they will face Thailand, another World Cup debutant, to conclude the group phase on 15th June.

Vancouver is the goal

In the best case scenario, Germany will play seven games – the final will take place on 5th July in Vancouver. There are two further new aspects of the first World Cup with 24 teams competing: It’s the first finals, which will be played entirely on artificial pitches and is also the first occasion, when goal technology will be used for women’s football.

The Germany national team have put the finishing touches on things for the finals in North America during a ten-day training camp in Switzerland. After a successful run-out with a 3-1 win over Switzerland last Wednesday in Baden, the team had two days to recuperate until the departure flight. The break is now over and the only thing left to do is ‘Mission Canada.’