After a successful 2014, Germany are hoping 2015 will be just as kind. The Women’s World Cup takes place in Canada and sees them face the Ivory Coast, Norway and Thailand in the group stage. The tournament’s marketing days take place this month. Ahead of the tournament the team will have a training camp in Marbella, take part in the Algarve Cup and play friendlies before heading to Canada, where there first match will be against the Ivory Coast on 7th June.
Silvia Neid will be taking part in her seventh World Cup – she has played and managed in the tournament. She spoke to DFB.de about the tournament, the favourites, expectations and dreaming of picking up a third star.
DFB.de: In your opinion how was 2014?
Silvia Neid: Positive. We played 13 games and only lost one, we won the Algarve Cup and comfortably qualified for the World Cup.
DFB.de: What challenges did you face in 2014?
Neid: For teams like ourselves it isn’t as easy as you think. Things don’t always go as expected. The players always needed to be mentally strong. If you don’t concentrate fully, surprises can happen. We also needed to deal with injuries throughout the year – continuity was difficult.
DFB.de: You ended the year top of the World Rankings. What does that mean to you?
Neid: We’re happy as it is a reward for our hard work throughout the year. It gives us further motivation ahead of the World Cup.
DFB.de: Does that mean expectations are higher ahead of the tournament?
Neid: Not really – they’re always high when we head into a tournament because of our previous success at this level. We’ve worked hard going into the tournament so are in a good position, however, you can take nothing for granted. Things can change in the blink of an eye. Every tournament is a new challenge.
DFB.de: Are there any specific challenges for this World Cup?
Neid: Games take place in five different time zones, which is a logistical issue. The games are due to take place on artificial turf, so it remains to be seen how that will influence the game and what burden it will bring on the players. Our preparation period for the tournament is short: The Allianz Frauen-Bundesliga ends on 10th May, the Champions League final is on 14th May; our preparation period starts on 18th May ahead of our first game on 7th June.
DFB.de: What does the short preparation period mean for the players?
Neid: The players need to take responsibility for themselves and we also need the club coaches to support us. When we meet there will be no time for fitness training, which everyone is aware of. We have our expectations and have engaged in positive dialogue with everyone involved, so it should be fine.
DFB.de: Would an all-German Champions League final between Wolfsburg and Frankfurt complicate matters further?
Neid: No. I hope that both teams get there as success brings confidence. It will not disrupt our preparations too much.
DFB.de: In your World Cup group you face the Ivory Coast, Thailand and Norway. What do you think of the group?
Neid: There are two favourites in the group (Norway and ourselves) as well as two newcomers (Ivory Coast and Thailand). However, these two sides won’t just hand the points over and we need to make sure we don’t make mistakes. We will respect the opponents.
DFB.de: Due to the expansion of the tournament there will be a round of 16. Do you have an opinion on this?
Neid: Fundamentally I am for expansion as it has a positive influence on the world of international women’s football. The teams who are appearing for the first time will develop as a result of their involvement. I believe that this World Cup will be full of quality. There are plenty of good teams here. You could face a challenge in the last 16. If we top our group, we would play one of the teams who finish third – this could end up being Nigeria, the USA or Sweden. We could face France or England if we come second. If we make the quarters we are bound to face a good team. When you look at it this way, it’s definitely going to be difficult.
DFB.de: Who are the favourites?
Neid: I feel there are eight teams that could win the tournament: Norway, France, Sweden, the USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil and ourselves. However, there are other teams, who although not considered favourites, could go a long way: Nigeria, Australia and Spain. I think England belong in this group too. It will all depend on what happens on the day.
DFB.de: What are your aims?
Neid: It’s our dream and vision to collect a third star. Getting to the semis would be a success as it means we’d be one of the best four teams in the world. However, that’s a long way away. We need to take it game by game.
[mmc/mb]
After a successful 2014, Germany are hoping 2015 will be just as kind. The Women’s World Cup takes place in Canada and sees them face the Ivory Coast, Norway and Thailand in the group stage. The tournament’s marketing days take place this month. Ahead of the tournament the team will have a training camp in Marbella, take part in the Algarve Cup and play friendlies before heading to Canada, where there first match will be against the Ivory Coast on 7th June.
Silvia Neid will be taking part in her seventh World Cup – she has played and managed in the tournament. She spoke to DFB.de about the tournament, the favourites, expectations and dreaming of picking up a third star.
DFB.de: In your opinion how was 2014?
Silvia Neid: Positive. We played 13 games and only lost one, we won the Algarve Cup and comfortably qualified for the World Cup.
DFB.de: What challenges did you face in 2014?
Neid: For teams like ourselves it isn’t as easy as you think. Things don’t always go as expected. The players always needed to be mentally strong. If you don’t concentrate fully, surprises can happen. We also needed to deal with injuries throughout the year – continuity was difficult.
DFB.de: You ended the year top of the World Rankings. What does that mean to you?
Neid: We’re happy as it is a reward for our hard work throughout the year. It gives us further motivation ahead of the World Cup.
DFB.de: Does that mean expectations are higher ahead of the tournament?
Neid: Not really – they’re always high when we head into a tournament because of our previous success at this level. We’ve worked hard going into the tournament so are in a good position, however, you can take nothing for granted. Things can change in the blink of an eye. Every tournament is a new challenge.
DFB.de: Are there any specific challenges for this World Cup?
Neid: Games take place in five different time zones, which is a logistical issue. The games are due to take place on artificial turf, so it remains to be seen how that will influence the game and what burden it will bring on the players. Our preparation period for the tournament is short: The Allianz Frauen-Bundesliga ends on 10th May, the Champions League final is on 14th May; our preparation period starts on 18th May ahead of our first game on 7th June.
DFB.de: What does the short preparation period mean for the players?
Neid: The players need to take responsibility for themselves and we also need the club coaches to support us. When we meet there will be no time for fitness training, which everyone is aware of. We have our expectations and have engaged in positive dialogue with everyone involved, so it should be fine.
DFB.de: Would an all-German Champions League final between Wolfsburg and Frankfurt complicate matters further?
Neid: No. I hope that both teams get there as success brings confidence. It will not disrupt our preparations too much.
DFB.de: In your World Cup group you face the Ivory Coast, Thailand and Norway. What do you think of the group?
Neid: There are two favourites in the group (Norway and ourselves) as well as two newcomers (Ivory Coast and Thailand). However, these two sides won’t just hand the points over and we need to make sure we don’t make mistakes. We will respect the opponents.
DFB.de: Due to the expansion of the tournament there will be a round of 16. Do you have an opinion on this?
Neid: Fundamentally I am for expansion as it has a positive influence on the world of international women’s football. The teams who are appearing for the first time will develop as a result of their involvement. I believe that this World Cup will be full of quality. There are plenty of good teams here. You could face a challenge in the last 16. If we top our group, we would play one of the teams who finish third – this could end up being Nigeria, the USA or Sweden. We could face France or England if we come second. If we make the quarters we are bound to face a good team. When you look at it this way, it’s definitely going to be difficult.
DFB.de: Who are the favourites?
Neid: I feel there are eight teams that could win the tournament: Norway, France, Sweden, the USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil and ourselves. However, there are other teams, who although not considered favourites, could go a long way: Nigeria, Australia and Spain. I think England belong in this group too. It will all depend on what happens on the day.
DFB.de: What are your aims?
Neid: It’s our dream and vision to collect a third star. Getting to the semis would be a success as it means we’d be one of the best four teams in the world. However, that’s a long way away. We need to take it game by game.
