National goalkeeper Almuth Schult sees a visibly increased appreciation for her sport at the European Championships in England.
“One has the feeling that we are finally being seen as football and not as ‘just’ women’s football. So the signs are pointing to progress – but they have to be in order to finally do justice to the sport,” said the 31-year-old in a column for the editorial network Germany before the final between England and Germany on Sunday (6 p.m. CEST/ARD and DAZN) at Wembley Stadium in London.
“Many celebrities supported us publicly via social networks and wished us luck before the game, including Jürgen Klopp with a personal video message,” Schult wrote. The 2016 Olympic champion and 2013 European champion, who moved from VfL Wolfsburg to Angel City FC in the USA after the European Championship, also pointed out that Chancellor Olaf Scholz and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf are coming to the final.
“The promise made by our DFB President that ‘women’s football is at the top of the agenda’ gives us all the more hope for the future in Germany. The outlook sounds promising,” said Schult, also with a view to the Bundesliga opener in the large Frankfurt stadium September 16 between Eintracht and FC Bayern.
“In the run-up to the European Championships, Oliver Bierhoff spoke of creating equal conditions for men and women – the association has to be measured by that,” warned Schult. She hopes the EM tournament “is sustainable for the leagues and the footballers in Europe”. Schult is the substitute goalkeeper at the European Championship behind Merle Frohms, who is to replace her in Wolfsburg next season.