After England defeated Germany 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup third place play-off, the two will play each other again in a friendly in Duisburg tomorrow (18:00 CET). After that result, they sparked an all-time high interest in women’s football in the UK.
After the third place finish, the England women’s national football team celebrated with a number of people in high places, including prime minister David Cameron and David Beckham who they met at Downing Street and Wimbledon, respectively. Even before the competition, they received a visit at their training camp from Prince William.
"Success in the World Cup can bring our sport to new levels"
Numbers of fans at league matches, which resumed just one week after the World Cup, soared, with attendances rising 47% on average. The cup final between Arsenal and Notts County, which ended 4-1 to the former, was the first to be held in Wembley – in front 30,000 spectators.
"The success at the World Cup can promote our sport enormously," said record national cap holder Fara Williams. "We are obliged to put in top performances so that we can persuade the fans to watch women’s football and to generate further interest in it."
Germany continue with their European Championship qualification on the 29th November against Bosnia. The friendly in Duisburg will be a good pointer as to where the national team stand, but one is for certain: England will be trying to establish themselves as a world elite team.
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After England defeated Germany 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup third place play-off, the two will play each other again in a friendly in Duisburg tomorrow (18:00 CET). After that result, they sparked an all-time high interest in women’s football in the UK.
After the third place finish, the England women’s national football team celebrated with a number of people in high places, including prime minister David Cameron and David Beckham who they met at Downing Street and Wimbledon, respectively. Even before the competition, they received a visit at their training camp from Prince William.
"Success in the World Cup can bring our sport to new levels"
Numbers of fans at league matches, which resumed just one week after the World Cup, soared, with attendances rising 47% on average. The cup final between Arsenal and Notts County, which ended 4-1 to the former, was the first to be held in Wembley – in front 30,000 spectators.
"The success at the World Cup can promote our sport enormously," said record national cap holder Fara Williams. "We are obliged to put in top performances so that we can persuade the fans to watch women’s football and to generate further interest in it."
Germany continue with their European Championship qualification on the 29th November against Bosnia. The friendly in Duisburg will be a good pointer as to where the national team stand, but one is for certain: England will be trying to establish themselves as a world elite team.
