Euros Failure Has Helped Germany Prepare For Women’s World Cup

Having built a dynamic team that finished runners-up at the Euros last year, head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg will lead her side at this year’s Women’s World Cup as the twice champions come out with their creative and attacking style of play.

Eight-times European champions Germany were beaten 2-1 by England in the Euros final last year in front of a record crowd as Voss-Tecklenburg’s side suffered a disappointing end to their campaign.

But the team has learnt from their failure as they bid for a third World Cup triumph, having lifted the title in 2003 and 2007.

“Our understanding of the game has improved and we have experience of measuring ourselves against the world’s best. Players and coaches progress by performing at the highest level when the demands are highest,” Voss-Tecklenburg said, according to an interview with FIFA+ on Wednesday.

“The Euros have helped us to prepare for the World Cup. We have looked at our strengths but also at areas where we can improve and be stronger in Australia & New Zealand.”

Voss-Tecklenburg has experience of being at the World Cup, be it as a player or coach. She played at the first edition of the World Cup in 1991 for Germany and was also part of the team that reached the final in 1995 and the quarter-finals in 1999.

She then coached Switzerland at their maiden World Cup in 2015 before leading Germany to the quarter-finals in 2019.

Now earning acclaim for her work with the Germany national team, Voss-Tecklenburg said her coaching philosophy urges the players to creative and attacking football.

“We want to have courageous players. We want them to develop a joy and passion for playing. I think we showed that at the Euros last year, with our defending, and with our willingness to counter-attack and play the ball straight away,” she explained.

“That means always being active and alert. We work on that both on and off the pitch – and our amazing players create a positive atmosphere, which is the basis for success.

“We want to be contenders for the title, to be a team who could be world champions,” she added. “That’s cool, a good feeling, and I think if everyone stays fit we can be a team to beat.”

INTERESTING GROUP PHASE

As a young team playing in their first major tournament, Germany could make only it to the last eight in France in 2019 under Voss-Tecklenburg, who had only a few months to prepare for the tournament.

Things, though, have changed now as the team has grown confident and become more mature in their play.

The Germans will begin their campaign with a Group H encounter against Morocco before facing Colombia and South Korea. The World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, will kick off on July 20 with the final set for August 20.

Voss-Tecklenburg said they have an interesting task at hand, having never played against those countries before.

“It’s exciting, with three very different teams and styles,” she said. “Of course, we want to progress in the group, but we know that it is a demanding tournament. If we get to the knockouts, we’ll meet teams like France, Brazil, England and other high-quality sides. It’s not easy to get to the knockout phase but that’s our first aim. Then we’ll try to beat each opponent and get to the semis or the final.