Germany name 'squad of champions'

By Mark Bennett

Eight of the squad which helped 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam win the UEFA Women's Cup at the weekend were today named in Tina Theune-Meyer's 20-player Germany party for the 2005 UEFA European Women's Championship.

European joy
The Germany coach watched Potsdam put in another terrific display on Saturday, defeating a Djurgården/Älvsjö side containing a number of Swedish internationals 3-1 to complete a 5-1 aggregate triumph. Conny Pohlers, who scored in both legs including two goals on home soil, leads an octet which includes goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, Sonja Fuss, Ariane Hingst, Britta Carlson, Navina Omilade, Anja Mittag and Petra Wimbersky.

'In form'
"It's important to know that the players are in form ahead of a European Championship - and I definitely know the Potsdam players are in form," said Theune-Meyer, whose side are favourites to won a fourth crown in succession in England this summer. The coach has also included five players from 1. FFC Frankfurt in her squad, chief among them being FIFA World Player of the Year Birgit Prinz.

Experienced party
Frankfurt won back the Bundesliga title from Potsdam and will take them on in next weekend's German Cup final. "We've got a team full of champions who don't like losing and want to win every match," declared Theune-Meyer. The 51-year-old has a wealth of experience in her squad: Hingst, Prinz, Renate Lingor, Silke Rottenberg, Kerstin Stegemann and Sandra Minnert have all won more than 100 caps, while Pia Wunderlich and Sandra Smisek should become centurions in England.

Mittag promise
Apart from uncapped goalkeeper Ulrike Schmetz, Mittag is the most inexperienced squad member with ten caps. However, she has been in electric form for Potsdam and was the leading scorer in last season's UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship and starred in Germany's triumph at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship.

Neid steps up
Meanwhile, it was announced at German Football Association (DFB) headquarters in Frankfurt today that U19 coach Silvia Neid has signed a four-year contract to replace Thenue-Meyer when she stands down after UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™. "I'm looking forward to the challenge and would like to thank the DFB for the trust they are putting in me," said Neid, who will be assisted by another German legend, Maren Meinert. Theune-Meyer will continue to work for the DFB in an as yet unspecified job.

Goalkeepers
Silke Rottenberg (FCR 2001 Duisburg)
Ulrike Schmetz (FC Bayern München)
Nadine Angerer (1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)

Defenders
Kerstein Stegemann (FFC Heike Rheine)
Sonja Fuss (1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)
Steffi Jones (1. FFC Frankfurt)
Sarah Günther (Hamburger SV)
Sandra Minnert (SC 07 Bad Neuenahr)
Ariane Hingst (1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)

Midfielders
Pia Wunderlich (1. FFC Frankfurt)
Renate Lingor (1. FFC Frankfurt)
Britta Carlson (1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)
Conny Pohlers (1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)
Kerstin Garefrekes (1. FFC Frankfurt)
Navina Omilade (1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)

Forwards
Inka Grings (FCR 2001 Duisburg)
Sandra Smisek (FSV Frankfurt)
Birgit Prinz (1. FFC Frankfurt)
Anja Mittag (1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)
Petra Wimbersky (1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)