Frankfurt/M. (dpa) – With captain Alexandra Popp from VfL Wolfsburg as the most experienced player, Frankfurt’s Merle Frohms as number 1 in goal and great ambitions, the German soccer players are starting their preparations for the European Championship.
undestrainer Martina Voss-Tecklenburg nominated the provisional squad of 28 players for the tournament from July 6th to 31st in England on May 31st. “I have a lot of confidence in the team. The goal is that we get very far at this European Championship,” said the 54-year-old at a press conference at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt/Main.
However, the record European champions are not among the top favorites this time. “That might lead to one or the other underestimating us,” said Voss-Tecklenburg. She named Spain, France, the Netherlands, England, Sweden, Norway and Denmark as contenders for the title. Germany will meet two of these teams in the preliminary round: European runners-up Denmark will be their first opponent on July 8th, followed by highly rated Spain (July 12th) and then Finland (July 16th). Hosts England could stand in the way of a place in the quarter-finals.
Goalkeeper Frohms remains number one
One thing is already clear before the first game: Goalkeeper Almuth Schult has to keep lining up behind her rival Merle Frohms. “Merle has been number one for three years, so nothing changes in this status,” said Voss-Tecklenburg. Wolfsburg’s Olympic champion Schult had recently expressed hopes of a return between the posts and said: “I don’t see that the decision is already set in stone.”