They have met for six intense training courses since June 22. On Wednesday, they had travelled to Finland – first by plane, then continuing their journey with a two hour busride to Tampere, where their three matches of the group stage will be played. Germany’s women, the reigning European champions, feel well-prepared for the tournament. It all starts on Monday with their game against Norway (4 P.M., live on ARD and Eurosport), certainly an early highlight of this championship.
In an exclusive DFB.de-interview with Niels Barnhofer, Silvia Neid talks about premises and expectations.
Question: With the opening game of the tournament within sight, do you feel well-prepared?
Silvia Neid: We concluded our final course a week ago. The players participation was satisfying and pleasing, to say the least. As far as I can tell, we are well-prepared for the stresses and strains ahead of us.
Question: How about the health of the team?
Neid: My biggest concern is Simone Laudehr, who had sprained a ligament in her right knee during the game against Russia. She had therapy throughout the week, which showed good results. She’s much better now and should be able to return to practice soon. Melanie Behringer had problems with her heel, resulting from her games in the Champions League qualification on some hard pitches. Inka Grings sufferred a head laceration last Wednesday, but nothing to worry about.
Question: Since you have your team assembled since June 22, and the EURO in Finland will take another three weeks, don’t you worry about cabin fever?
Neid: No, we allowed them to return home in between the different preparational phases. We have learned from the past. We have a good chemistry on this team, a perfect mix of young and experienced players. I don’t see any groups, any divisions within this team. We supported this team building with some initiatives. We went fencing with the team, we cooked a meal together, and we did a spin race. All thought out by our motivational coach Dr. Arno Schimpf.
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They have met for six intense training courses since June 22. On Wednesday, they had travelled to Finland – first by plane, then continuing their journey with a two hour busride to Tampere, where their three matches of the group stage will be played. Germany’s women, the reigning European champions, feel well-prepared for the tournament. It all starts on Monday with their game against Norway (4 P.M., live on ARD and Eurosport), certainly an early highlight of this championship.
In an exclusive DFB.de-interview with Niels Barnhofer, Silvia Neid talks about premises and expectations.
Question: With the opening game of the tournament within sight, do you feel well-prepared?
Silvia Neid: We concluded our final course a week ago. The players participation was satisfying and pleasing, to say the least. As far as I can tell, we are well-prepared for the stresses and strains ahead of us.
Question: How about the health of the team?
Neid: My biggest concern is Simone Laudehr, who had sprained a ligament in her right knee during the game against Russia. She had therapy throughout the week, which showed good results. She’s much better now and should be able to return to practice soon. Melanie Behringer had problems with her heel, resulting from her games in the Champions League qualification on some hard pitches. Inka Grings sufferred a head laceration last Wednesday, but nothing to worry about.
Question: Since you have your team assembled since June 22, and the EURO in Finland will take another three weeks, don’t you worry about cabin fever?
Neid: No, we allowed them to return home in between the different preparational phases. We have learned from the past. We have a good chemistry on this team, a perfect mix of young and experienced players. I don’t see any groups, any divisions within this team. We supported this team building with some initiatives. We went fencing with the team, we cooked a meal together, and we did a spin race. All thought out by our motivational coach Dr. Arno Schimpf.
Question: Is there much competition to get nominated for the starting line-up?
Neid: Everybody wants to play, but it’s all handled with sportsmanship. Nothing to complain about.
Question: The team faces a very strong Norwegian team on Monday. Do you have the starting line-up set?
Neid: We know how we want to play against Norway, against France and against Iceland. And we also know almost to a player, who we want to play in each game. But that will not keep us from experimenting. We should not abandon the element of surprise. And we have to have a contingency plan.
Question: How did you determine the line-up?
Neid: We'll field the strongest possible team on Monday. We want to win the championship, we want to win the European title for the seventh time. But there are no guarantees. There are no subscriptions for the title.
Question: The biggest obstacles along the road?
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Neid: A number of teams. I see six teams with a valid shot at the title. Sweden is a huge favorit, they did brilliantly at the Algarve Cup this spring. They have a very homogeneous team. Norway has some extraordinary individual talent, just to mention Ingvild Stensland. France has been improving for years, the players receive the best tactical schooling in Clairefontaine. England is on the rise. And Denmark has assembled a strong cast.
Question: Germany won the bronze medal in Beijing. How does the current team compare to the 2008 version?
Neid: Renate Lingor and Sandra Smisek retired since then, and they were team leaders. But with Kim Kulig and Bianca Schmidt, we have found some new very talented players. In my count, we have improved since Beijing.
