The woman for the big occasion

Marleen Wissink is a legend in her own career in women's football, and the big occasions keep on coming.

France defeated
The 36-year-old 1. FFC Frankfurt goalkeeper has been the Netherlands' custodian for more than 15 years, and in their opening 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier at the end of last month they travelled to group favourites France and gained a surprise 1-0 win thanks to some stout defending - and goalkeeping. Considering the Netherlands had not even won for 14 matches and have rarely been in qualifying contention for the last decade, it was a major upset.

Frankfurt success
But then Wissink, capped more than 100 times, has also been crucial to Frankfurt's superb success over recent times, winning the inaugural UEFA Women's Cup in 2001/02 and last season reclaiming the German title from the current European champions 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam. Over the next two Saturdays they continue their Women's Cup campaign with a quarter-final against Arsenal LFC and Wissink is expecting a tough tie.

Arsenal challenge
"We played Fulham [LFC] two years ago, we have not played Arsenal but it will be a challenge," she told uefa.com. "English women's football has improved and it will be a tough game. We are looking forward to playing them. They play a different kind of football in England compared to Germany, more physical, 'hard but fair'. It will a tough match. You have to compete hard."

European return
After missing the Women's Cup last year because Potsdam took the 2003/04 Bundesliga, Frankfurt are certainly delighted to be back in Europe. "It is great to be there again, we want to play at as high a level as possible, and this is the highest level for club football," Wissink said. "Now we want to reach the final and match what we did in 2002."

Bundesliga spur
She added: "The fact we didn't win the championship the year before meant the challenge was the bring the championship back - so we did. It was good to win the championship can get back in the UEFA Women's Cup."

Dutch spirit
Of course, the Dutch draw in France is still fresh in people's minds. Wissink said: "We played well for a long time at 0-0, and went on from there. The team spirit was very good and I think we deserved to win."

Pauw effect
The appointment by the Royal Netherlands Football Assocation of the respected Vera Pauw as national coach last year helped. "I think it was the biggest thing the Dutch FA could do was to get her to become our coach - it was a big step but it was worth it," said Pauw's one-time team-mate Wissink. "We train much more; the players that play in the Dutch domestic competition train more than twice a week with men's sides."

Crucial fixture
The crucial fixture for the Netherlands seems to be the visit of England in November. Wissink said: "The English coach [Hope Powell] was in France, she saw the game and I think she now knows what we can do. Because we won the English know we can play football. If we had not beaten France, they would have thought 'it is only the Netherlands'."

'Have fun'
With all these big matches coming, it is hardly surprising that Wissink has no wish to end her lengthy career, with her aims remaining the same. "I want to be healthy, to have fun playing football," she said. "I have no thoughts about moving into coaching; maybe later on I may become a goalkeeper trainer."