STORY: Black-red-golden sea of flags: A fitting reception for a team that has enchanted football fans in Germany in recent weeks. On Monday, the DFB women were celebrated as runners-up at the Frankfurt Römer. The dream of the ninth title had burst the night before at London’s Wembley Stadium. The hosts from England beat the German soccer team 2-1 in extra time. For the fans, however, they are the European champions of the heart. O-ton Fan Michaela Freund: “It’s great what they do. Respect! They always fight and are always on guard. Great, just great.” O-ton Fan Helmut Busse: “Winner of the heart is enough. I think it’s brilliant how the team did it without Alexandra. Simply brilliant. Great!” The captain and top scorer Alexandra Popp missed the final due to an injury. But she is incredibly proud of what the team has conjured up on the pitch in the past few weeks and months. The substitute captain Svenja Huth and the trainer Martina Voss-Tecklenburg had made similar statements shortly before landing in Frankfurt. O-ton Svenja Huth: “Yes, it’s a bit of a roller coaster ride of emotions, because of course we were very disappointed right after the final whistle. And of course we still are. Even if today heads are slightly up again and you’re doing it again saw one or the other smiling face, which we absolutely deserved. But of course it’s painful how the defeat came about yesterday and unfortunately we didn’t reward ourselves in the end.” O-ton Martina Voss-Tecklenburg: “That’s the nice thing about football. You’ll have new tasks again straight away. There’s not that much time left. In just under five weeks we’ll be back in World Cup qualifying. The players are already in preparation, already playing Champions League qualifiers, have to get back to their tasks. On the one hand, that’s very nice, on the other hand, the players also need a little mental distance. That was very, very energy-sapping and it took a lot of strength for everyone.” And for that they now get thanks from the fans and a clear message to keep fighting from Eintracht Frankfurt President Peter Fischer: “The women rocked Germany for a month. Sensational! Certainly the better team in the final. But fair losers. And we’re coming back. There’s a World Cup and there we are. And then Englishmen, watch what happens next.” The next World Cup is scheduled to take place in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
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.
