When Germany’s women played their first international soccer game 25 years ago, school kids were bussed in to fill the stands and the public was at best bemused by the sight.
Nobody is laughing now. Germany are the reigning world and European champions, the games are broadcast live on national television, the stadiums are full and the women command as much respect as their male colleagues.
The tone was set in that first game — when women’s games lasted 80 minutes, 10 minutes shorter than men’s — with Germany beating Switzerland 5-1 in Koblenz.
”It was a surprisingly good game,” recalled Gero Bisanz, who was talked into being the first women’s coach although he didn’t really want the job. One columnist even compared one of Germany’s players (Birgit Bormann) to winger star Pierre Littbarski.
The present team has a direct link to that group of pioneers — current coach Silvia Neid was an 18-year-old player then and came off the bench to score two goals.
”Those players made it possible for women’s soccer to enjoy so much respect now,” Neid said ahead of celebrations to mark the event in August. This year’s edition kicks off on September 10.
Germany’s women quickly developed into a world power along the lines of their men, who have three World Cup titles. A professional league has been running since 2001.
Ranked number two behind the United States in the latest Fifa rankings, Germany have six European titles and two Olympic bronze medals since the modest beginnings a quarter of a century ago.
The biggest success came four years who when Germany’s women won their first World Cup title. At this year’s World Cup, Germany would like to make it two in a row and then complete a trio in 2011 at home.
After staging a hugely successful men’s World Cup in 2006, Germany is bidding for the next women’s tournament in 2011.
The Germans, in Group A with Argentina, Japan and England, are also eager to wipe out the blot of finishing only eighth in this summer’s Algarve Cup in Portugal, a prestigious tournament that draws the best teams in the world.
Germany’s top star is forward Birgit Prinz, twice Fifa’s player of the year, who once turned down an offer to play for Perugia in Italy’s top division — with the men. She could have been the first woman to make the roster of a major men’s club.
Prinz is the German captain, with nearly 170 caps and more than 100 goals.
Sandra Smisek, who is a teammate on the FFC Frankfurt team, also has more than 100 caps.
”I think we have a very good balance between young and older players,” Neid said. ”For each position there are at least two players, because we have many players who are very versatile.”
While the lanky Prinz often acts as anchor in the attack, she can also move laterally and run down the wings, opening space for other players.
”Our game plans call for a lot of rotation up front,” Neid said. ”My players are so schooled that they can play any position in the attack.” In the midfield, Neid can count on the experience of Renate Lingor and Kerstin Garefrekes, who have more than 200 caps between them.
Then, there is the 19-year-old Fatmire Bajramaj, a lightweight who caught attention with deft moves in recent games.
”We have a lot of possibilities in midfield as far as the line-up is concerned,” Neid said. ”We have players with intelligence, with skill and with a lot of offensive potential.”
And a lot of solidity in defence.
Ariane Hingst, Sandra Minnert and Kerstin Stegemann bring the experience of nearly 450 international games between them.
”You can really depend on those three. They bring so much routine, they always know what to expect,” Neid said.
In goal, Neid has decided to go with Nadine Angerer (28) rather than with 35-year-old Silke Rottenberg, who has three times as many caps at 123. But Rottenberg has battled injuries this year.
”We have great players in this position as well,” Neid said. ”We have two world-class goalkeepers who would be the envy of many other nations.”
”I am firmly convinced that we are going to the World Cup with the best possible roster that gives as a lot of variation possibilities an d with top-fit and highly motivated players,” Neid said. — Sapa-AP