The DFB women inspire in England. Even the chancellor has a say – and more and more are sitting in front of the television. Captain Popp speaks of an “EM magic”.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg hugged her husband tightly on the team bus. Hermann Tecklenburg’s kiss only went to the national coach’s forehead because she was wearing a face mask. Immediately after the final whistle, the 54-year-old’s first glance wandered up to the stands where the contractor was sitting.
Shortly thereafter, the German soccer players celebrated their next coup at the European Championships in England with Mallorca hits and dances in the dressing room. “I’m just incredibly proud today,” said Voss-Tecklenburg after the impressive 2-0 win against Spain.
Take the euphoria with you now
“It was a very emotional game, we can’t bring more power, more energy onto the pitch,” said goalkeeper Merle Frohms in an initial reaction, but explained after the shower: “Of course we want to take the euphoria with us now. I’m looking forward to everything that’s to come because we feel like we’re capable of anything.”
On the way to the hoped-for ninth title, the record European champions can now avoid the strong English women in the quarter-finals thanks to the 4-0 win against Denmark at the start and will again play against Norway or Austria in London’s Brentford district on July 21. After that, France could be the semi-final opponent.
In front of 16,037 spectators at the Brentford Community Stadium, including DFB director Oliver Bierhoff, Klara Bühl from FC Bayern (3rd minute) and captain Alexandra Popp (37th) from VfL Wolfsburg met on Tuesday evening. The team tirelessly chased the ball away from the Spaniards, wearing down the short pass artists.
“We have to maintain this intensity”
In the team photo after the game, Popp knelt amidst smiling faces and showed a shirt worn the wrong way around with the number 7 and the name Schüller: Bayern striker Lea Schüller had tested positive for the corona virus the day before the second group game. She could be back in the quarterfinals if she’s cleared and fit.
Her deputy Popp celebrated her goal with a sprint in the direction of the bank – and a gesture from a Steven Spielberg classic with the famous sentence: “ET phone home”. The 116-time national player later explained: “It was a sign for my family and friends.” Hits like “Schwarze Natascha” and “Let it be” sounded in the dressing room – “in such a peppy version”, as full-back Giulia Gwinn explained.
As midnight approached, Voss-Tecklenburg banged the horn of the team bus a few times in front of the stadium and leaned out of the door: “The departure is in ten seconds. If you’re not there, run!” With a broad grin, the national coach counted down. Some of your players were still interviewed – there was so much to tell.
“We defended brutally. We really put in everything we could with man and mouse, »said Popp and spoke of an «EM magic». Her Wolfsburg colleague Svenja Huth, deputy captain, warned: “The most important thing is that we stay with us.” Lena Oberdorf, the clearer in midfield, emphasized: “We have to maintain this intensity. I think that if we just take one step less, it won’t work.”
Schweinsteiger: “Hats off, @DFB_Frauen!”
Meanwhile, more and more people are discovering women’s football at home: 8.02 million people watched the Spain game on ARD. According to the broadcaster on Wednesday, this resulted in a market share of a very strong 34.3 percent. Even famous former soccer players suddenly rave about the German soccer players.
«Hats off, @DFB_Frauen! Top defended and top effective! Congratulations!” wrote Bastian Schweinsteiger, the 2014 world champion, on Twitter. The 37-year-old put a trophy behind the sentence “You can do it”. “Pure efficiency,” tweeted his former Bayern colleague Oliver Kahn. “What a tactical performance by the DFB women.”
Even Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz got involved in the ongoing debate about equal pay. The SPD politician tweeted: “It’s 2022. Women and men should be paid equally. This also applies to sport, especially national teams. Spain is ahead of the pack.”
Bierhoff would like to tell the Chancellor that this topic is a bit more complex and that even the German national team and Voss-Tecklenburg have repeatedly pointed out that the men generate significantly more income. “Now I’m a bit surprised by the statement. I’d like to invite him over. Then I’ll explain the numbers to him a little better, »said Bierhoff on ARD. Later he stood by the team bus for a long time and looked at many beaming faces.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
