Germany's U17 women have two draws from two games in Group B at the European Championship in Belarus. Anouschka Bernard's team are therefore unbeaten and have qualification to the semi-finals in their own hands. Should they win tonight against the Czech Republic, they will secure their passage to the knockout stage, whilst a draw could also be enough depending on the result between Italy and Spain in the group's other game.
"It's a real final for us," said Bernhard. "We'll prepare a plan for the game." The coach doesn't want to hope for the other result going her team's way, but instead plans on winning the game. "We can live with two points from two games, but we'd obviously have preferred to have four," she summarised. She is also not ruling out team changes after the hard game against Italy: "We'll look to see if we need to change anything after this physical game. It depends on how well the players recover."
Caroline Siems: "I'm expecting a physical game"
Caroline Siems is also preparing herself for the game: "We need to try to be more clinical in the final third and take our chances better." The Turbine Potsdam defender is also wary of her opponents: "I'm expecting a physical game. The Czech Republic will sit back a bit, as Italy did, and be set up defensively. It won't be easy to create chances."
What will be the key to success? The 17-year-old explained: "Above all, it'll come down to our physical condition and how much we have left in us after two tough games. We need to battle and take our chances. If we do that, we have a great chance of making the semi-finals."
Germany's U17 women have two draws from two games in Group B at the European Championship in Belarus. Anouschka Bernard's team are therefore unbeaten and have qualification to the semi-finals in their own hands. Should they win tonight against the Czech Republic, they will secure their passage to the knockout stage, whilst a draw could also be enough depending on the result between Italy and Spain in the group's other game.
"It's a real final for us," said Bernhard. "We'll prepare a plan for the game." The coach doesn't want to hope for the other result going her team's way, but instead plans on winning the game. "We can live with two points from two games, but we'd obviously have preferred to have four," she summarised. She is also not ruling out team changes after the hard game against Italy: "We'll look to see if we need to change anything after this physical game. It depends on how well the players recover."
Caroline Siems: "I'm expecting a physical game"
Caroline Siems is also preparing herself for the game: "We need to try to be more clinical in the final third and take our chances better." The Turbine Potsdam defender is also wary of her opponents: "I'm expecting a physical game. The Czech Republic will sit back a bit, as Italy did, and be set up defensively. It won't be easy to create chances."
What will be the key to success? The 17-year-old explained: "Above all, it'll come down to our physical condition and how much we have left in us after two tough games. We need to battle and take our chances. If we do that, we have a great chance of making the semi-finals."
