Germany as a EM lucky bag? German national soccer coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg finds the term appropriate before the title hunt in England.
“Yes, that’s a picture that fits, but that doesn’t have to be bad at all, because we might also be a grab bag for the opponents,” said the 54-year-old in an interview with the “Sports Information Service”: “That Let’s take advantage.”
After two failed tournaments, the DFB team has set itself high goals for the final round that begins on Wednesday. “We want to play for the title,” explained Voss-Tecklenburg, but at the same time referred to “a really challenging group”. The eight-time tournament winner will face Denmark (July 8th), co-favorite Spain (July 12th) and outsider Finland (July 16th).
Only the first and second in groups advance to the quarter-finals. “If we get off to a good start in the tournament, I’m convinced that a lot is possible. We’re back to the piñata: I really think we’re capable of a lot. But we have to see if everything fits,” explained the national coach before departure of the two-time world champion on Sunday from Frankfurt to London.
Her expectations of the atmosphere at the finals are “divided, because I don’t know if the games without English participation will draw as many spectators”. The opening game at Old Trafford and the final at Wembley (July 31) are sold out.
But when the DFB selection played in a test tournament in England last February, there were only 200 fans in the stands: “It remains to be seen how the football-mad Englishmen and women will react to this European Championship. Of course, I would like that they support all of football.”