Meinert means business

Germany have a knack of winning women's tournaments. They are, after all, the reigning world and European champions, hold the global title at youth level and supplied both finalists to this season's UEFA Women's Cup. The only major honour currently outside their grasp is the UEFA European Women's Under-19 title, for which they compete next week in Switzerland under the guidance of a coach who is undoubtedly a winner.

Personal honours
In her playing career Maren Meinert won the FIFA Women's World Cup, three UEFA European Women's Championships and a host of domestic titles. In 2005 she succeeded Sylvia Neid as Germany U19 coach in time for the European Championship in Hungary, but her team fell to eventual winners Russia in the semi-finals. Now, after a typically emphatic qualification campaign in which Scotland, mini-tournament hosts Slovenia and the Republic of Ireland were defeated with a total of 18 unanswered goals, Germany are ready to tackle Sweden, Denmark and Belgium in Group A.

'Well prepared'
"I am very happy," Meinert told uefa.com. "We were dominant in Slovenia, scoring 18 goals in three matches. I think we can prosper with this record." Her team have been preparing with training camps in Duisburg and in late June left Germany with the FIFA World Cup in full swing for three days in Norway. "We will travel to Switzerland very well prepared," the 32-year-old coach added.

Semi-final aim
This title has been won a record three times by Germany, though surprisingly not since 2002, even though they invariably begin each final tournament as favourites. And Meinert knows her team ought to reach the last four. "We have strong teams in our group with Sweden, Denmark and Belgium, but our aim has to be the semis," she said.

Scandinavian strength
Of course, she is not underestimating their opponents, not least Germany's first foes Sweden, the nation Meinert met in two WOMEN'S EURO finals as well as the 2003 World Cup decider. She said: "Sweden are a typical Scandinavian team. They are very compact, tough in one-on-one duels and physically strong, and it is not easy to score against them. We lost against Denmark in La Manga in March and I think they are the best U19 team in Europe at the moment. Belgium, I have to admit, are the big unknown, but they beat the Czechs and this shows that they must be strong enough. However, we play them in the last match which gives us two games to observe them."

Ambition
So who does Meinert think can come through in Berne on 22 July? "In my opinion there is no really big favourite this year. As I said, Denmark are extremely strong, but France and Russia also can play a major role and of course we can also win the trophy." Meinert also knows that it is up to her team to keep the euphoria of hosting the World Cup going back in Germany. "We want to present ourselves the best way we can and it can only be good for us if football is in the focus of the public as long as possible."