There are just a few days to go until the start of the European Championship in the Netherlands. The Germany national team open their campaign on Monday (20:45 CEST) against Sweden and it is the first time that head coach Steffi Jones will be on the sidelines for a major tournament. The 44-year-old speaks about her objectives, the pressure of expectation and the transition that her Olympic-winning team is currently undergoing.
Interviewer: Steffi Jones, you have been in charge for ten months and you are now approaching the European Championship. How has your first preparation for a major tournament with the team been going?
Steffi Jones: My assessment is only filled with positives. We are definitely on the right track. We have been focusing heavily on our build-up play so that we can be more versatile. We play with several different systems and the players need to have the ability to recognize themselves how to play it out from the back based on how the opponent is attacking. They have always understood that excellently. It is only a matter of fine-tuning things.
Interviewer: Are any nerves starting to set in as the start of the tournament nears?
Jones: We are desperate to get going. The excitement has slowly been building since our final friendly ahead of the tournament and with that also comes anticipation and nerves. But above all, I am confident and convinced that we will handle it well.
Interviewer: You have still been keen to stress that the team are in transition and that the tournament has perhaps come too soon for the squad.
Jones: Yes, because we only had a few training sessions with the full squad before our official preparations began. Now we can finally work on tactics all together. What we are demanding of the players is a complete transition and we have not had that continuity to be able to test that enough. A team like this has to find itself first and then grow together but we do not have the time for that. The players now need to click immediately. But they are showing me that they are very intelligent footballers and can do that well. They are looking very good on the ball and that is enjoyable to watch.
Interviewer: How big is the pressure on the team after the U21 lifted the European title and the first team won the Confed Cup? The Germany women have won the last six of these tournaments on the trot…
Jones: People certainly want us to become European champions again.
Interviewer: And what will happen then if you don’t manage it?
Jones: The world is not going to end (laughs). We are going there with a clear objective and that is to become European champions. The players also say that themselves. This is not something we are pretending to be aiming for. They are all convinced of that and have a certain swagger about them, which is what I wanted. But I still say that this tournament has come too early. But I have the backing of the team, who think we are going about things the right way. The DFB have also signaled to me that we as a coaching team should continue down this route. I’m not putting my feet up, the aim is and remains the same.
Interviewer: Who in your view are your biggest challengers to winning a ninth European title?
Jones: England, France and Spain. Of course you can never underestimate countries like Sweden or Norway but in terms of playing compact and versatile, these three teams for me are the strongest. Spain have a lot of good players and have been very impressive in the youth tournaments. I would back them to cause a surprise.
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There are just a few days to go until the start of the European Championship in the Netherlands. The Germany national team open their campaign on Monday (20:45 CEST) against Sweden and it is the first time that head coach Steffi Jones will be on the sidelines for a major tournament. The 44-year-old speaks about her objectives, the pressure of expectation and the transition that her Olympic-winning team is currently undergoing.
Interviewer: Steffi Jones, you have been in charge for ten months and you are now approaching the European Championship. How has your first preparation for a major tournament with the team been going?
Steffi Jones: My assessment is only filled with positives. We are definitely on the right track. We have been focusing heavily on our build-up play so that we can be more versatile. We play with several different systems and the players need to have the ability to recognize themselves how to play it out from the back based on how the opponent is attacking. They have always understood that excellently. It is only a matter of fine-tuning things.
Interviewer: Are any nerves starting to set in as the start of the tournament nears?
Jones: We are desperate to get going. The excitement has slowly been building since our final friendly ahead of the tournament and with that also comes anticipation and nerves. But above all, I am confident and convinced that we will handle it well.
Interviewer: You have still been keen to stress that the team are in transition and that the tournament has perhaps come too soon for the squad.
Jones: Yes, because we only had a few training sessions with the full squad before our official preparations began. Now we can finally work on tactics all together. What we are demanding of the players is a complete transition and we have not had that continuity to be able to test that enough. A team like this has to find itself first and then grow together but we do not have the time for that. The players now need to click immediately. But they are showing me that they are very intelligent footballers and can do that well. They are looking very good on the ball and that is enjoyable to watch.
Interviewer: How big is the pressure on the team after the U21 lifted the European title and the first team won the Confed Cup? The Germany women have won the last six of these tournaments on the trot…
Jones: People certainly want us to become European champions again.
Interviewer: And what will happen then if you don’t manage it?
Jones: The world is not going to end (laughs). We are going there with a clear objective and that is to become European champions. The players also say that themselves. This is not something we are pretending to be aiming for. They are all convinced of that and have a certain swagger about them, which is what I wanted. But I still say that this tournament has come too early. But I have the backing of the team, who think we are going about things the right way. The DFB have also signaled to me that we as a coaching team should continue down this route. I’m not putting my feet up, the aim is and remains the same.
Interviewer: Who in your view are your biggest challengers to winning a ninth European title?
Jones: England, France and Spain. Of course you can never underestimate countries like Sweden or Norway but in terms of playing compact and versatile, these three teams for me are the strongest. Spain have a lot of good players and have been very impressive in the youth tournaments. I would back them to cause a surprise.
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