Day jobs ground German stars
Monday, January 16, 2006
Article summary
Coach Silvia Neid will be without her top stars when Germany gather for a training camp on 22 January, because they cannot take time off from their regular jobs.
Article body
High-profile absentees
Three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Birgit Prinz misses the get-together, along with 1. FFC Frankfurt team-mates Steffi Jones and Kerstin Garefrekes, and 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam's Ariane Hingst. The rest of the group travel to Chiclana de la Frontera in Spain on 22 January and will spend six days preparing for this year's FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers.
'Important test'
The reigning world and European champions face China in a friendly on 1 March in Hamburg, a match Neid regards as an "important test" ahead of the remaining qualifiers against Russia, Switzerland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
Convincing wins
Germany are already in charge of Group 4 with three wins out of three. Switzerland and Scotland were despatched 4-0 while Russia, their main challengers, also suffered a four-goal defeat, 5-1. Even so, Neid is anxious that there is no let-up in their intensity, saying: "We cannot afford to relax because we want to qualify for the tournament as soon as possible."