DFB-President Dr. Theo Zwanziger awaits the opening game for the German national team against Poland with eager anticipation. Prior to the kickoff for the EURO 2008, Zwanziger discussed his assessment of the German chances in this interview with German wire service sid (Sport-Informations-Dienst).
Question: Following the tie against Belarus and the come-from-behind victory over Serbia, how do you see the chances of the team?
Dr. Theo Zwanziger: From my point of view, the team had a great camp on Mallorca. Now, we will continue our last few days of preparation in our base camp in Switzerland. Because of high intensity practice sessions, you couldn’t expect much glamour and creativity during the games. But we worked on the physical fitness of the players and the tactical aspects of our game as well. Our key players have shown that they are in shape. Michael Ballack played impressively against Serbia, and Torsten Frings has returned to full strength following an injury-plagued period. Miroslav Klose has also done well during camp. How can we compensate the fact that we lost Bernd Schneider – that’s an open issue. Christoph Metzelder still has to catch-up with the rest of the team, but from what I hear, he’s improving each day. Our team should be in excellent shape for the game against Poland.
Question: Germany has not won a game at the European Championships since 1996. Do you believe in a change for Sunday?
Zwanziger: Very much so. I keep my fingers crossed, for our team and for the many fans of the German Mannschaft.
Question: How do you rate the job done by coach Joachim Löw, who was recently criticized for his final cuts from 26 to 23 players?
Zwanziger: Löw deserves so much praise. I’m impressed with his overall approach. He knows exactly what we need to get accomplished. He is very efficient and tackles the issues with commitment and dedication.
Question: According to some sources, the budget for the national team’s preparation has risen from four million Euros at the 2006 World Cup to more than 20 million Euros. Do you still feel comfortable with these numbers?
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DFB-President Dr. Theo Zwanziger awaits the opening game for the German national team against Poland with eager anticipation. Prior to the kickoff for the EURO 2008, Zwanziger discussed his assessment of the German chances in this interview with German wire service sid (Sport-Informations-Dienst).
Question: Following the tie against Belarus and the come-from-behind victory over Serbia, how do you see the chances of the team?
Dr. Theo Zwanziger: From my point of view, the team had a great camp on Mallorca. Now, we will continue our last few days of preparation in our base camp in Switzerland. Because of high intensity practice sessions, you couldn’t expect much glamour and creativity during the games. But we worked on the physical fitness of the players and the tactical aspects of our game as well. Our key players have shown that they are in shape. Michael Ballack played impressively against Serbia, and Torsten Frings has returned to full strength following an injury-plagued period. Miroslav Klose has also done well during camp. How can we compensate the fact that we lost Bernd Schneider – that’s an open issue. Christoph Metzelder still has to catch-up with the rest of the team, but from what I hear, he’s improving each day. Our team should be in excellent shape for the game against Poland.
Question: Germany has not won a game at the European Championships since 1996. Do you believe in a change for Sunday?
Zwanziger: Very much so. I keep my fingers crossed, for our team and for the many fans of the German Mannschaft.
Question: How do you rate the job done by coach Joachim Löw, who was recently criticized for his final cuts from 26 to 23 players?
Zwanziger: Löw deserves so much praise. I’m impressed with his overall approach. He knows exactly what we need to get accomplished. He is very efficient and tackles the issues with commitment and dedication.
Question: According to some sources, the budget for the national team’s preparation has risen from four million Euros at the 2006 World Cup to more than 20 million Euros. Do you still feel comfortable with these numbers?
Zwanziger: The 2008 UEFA Euro is an away-tournament for us, so nobody should be surprised that we spend more money for travel and accommodation. This is not a school trip and we’re not staying at a youth hostel. We need to provide a professional backbone for the work of our coaches and players, just as every other team playing at the EURO.
Question: Will you reduce funds for the amateur game in Germany because of this extraordinary effort for the EURO?
Zwanziger: Not at all, nobody has to worry. We’ll always stay true to our responsibilities for the amateur game. Income would be much less without our successful national team. We will register a financial profit at the end of the tournament, no matter how the team does on the field. Actually, elimination during the group stage is financially not such a set-back, as that would reduce our costs, if you think about the stepped bonus payments. Reaching the quarterfinals or semifinals obviously has an impact on the premiums paid by UEFA. Investments do not guarantee success, but not investing almost certainly guarantees failure. You have to give water to the horse you sit on.
Question: Where do you see the major differences between 2006 and the EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland?
Zwanziger: We are not hosting the event. Two years ago, we enjoyed the privilege to welcome 31 nations. Nevertheless, I feel a high degree of excitement and anticipation in our country. We had so many female fans at the game in Gelsenkirchen. Football is not a ‘men’s only’ game any longer, at least not in Germany. But if we want the great atmosphere of the 2006 summer, it needs a successful national team in the next few weeks.
