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European Championship final in Wembley, Germany against England: pressure? What pressure? – Sports

The dimensions of this European Championship final at London’s Wembley Stadium are in every respect a bit larger than many are used to. And so Svenja Huth pulled out her cell phone on Saturday afternoon after taking a seat on the podium in the spotlight. She grinned, then she took photos of the scenery she would have in front of her in the coming minutes during the press conference: rows of seats staggered like in a cinema, filled with a lot of journalists, in between lots of TV cameras and photographers.

The 31-year-old striker is her first guest at this legendary football venue, which she found to be impressive even when empty. Other German internationals already know Wembley – and have great memories of it. On November 9, 2019, Huth was injured and they played against England here before. Almost 78,000 spectators came to the international match, which the Germans won 2-1. So you know what to expect here: a lot of headwind. Because if all the red seats on Sunday (6 p.m., ARD) are occupied by an expected 87,000 people, the balance of power will be clear.

“Wembley will probably belong to the English at the beginning,” said Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. “But it would be nice if it ended up being ours.” The national coach sat next to Huth, both of whom were tingling. “We’re delighted to have the privilege of playing a final against England at Wembley,” she said. “I don’t know if there will be or have been much bigger sporting moments for many of us – this is definitely one of the greatest.” In addition to the sporting task, the challenge is the backdrop and constellation. “We have some youngsters and a few older players who are playing their first time at Wembley and playing in a European Championship final for the first time. I don’t think we’re quite sure how quickly we can put that aside.”

The Germans believe that the burden of expectations lies on the other side

The pressure, they assume at the DFB, is clearly on the hosts, who are so close to completing their home EM in the best possible and historic way. The title would be the first for England’s women and the first for English football in 66 years, when the men won the World Cup at the same venue with the famous Wembley goal against Germany. Knowing the burden of expectations on the other side is liberating – as well as having long since exceeded your own. “Of course we have something to lose: a game we don’t want to lose,” said Voss-Tecklenburg. “But we grew from what we experienced here. We want to take that with us, that should give us strength.”

Kindly please: National player Svenja Huth (right) photographs the backdrop of the press conference.

(Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa)

In the offensive, the national coach will have to do without Klara Bühl. The 21-year-old from FC Bayern Munich was infected with the corona virus on Tuesday before the semifinals. She is symptom-free but has not yet tested negative. She will not make it into the squad. According to the regulations of the European Football Union Uefa, Bühl would be eligible to play again if she had a negative test and no symptoms after five days. The protocol, which also only provides for medical examinations, will be adhered to, said Voss-Tecklenburg: “But we would be very happy if Klara was tested freely and could come to the game.”

Voss-Tecklenburg has won the European Championship four times as a player, and now there could be a premiere as a coach. For the 54-year-old it is the first major final as national coach. “I was sitting in the hotel room this morning with my back against the bed and I was like, ‘Wow, that’s really true,'” she said. “I’m just proud of the path we’ve walked together. I think everything else will come later, when I’ll calm down.” The mix between relaxation and tension is right in the team, said Huth. She doesn’t notice any greater nervousness within the team than usual: “We want to get everything out of what’s in our tank and that’s a lot.”

Record winner Germany could win the European Championship for the ninth time, the DFB selection has never lost a final of this competition. In 2009, in the penultimate jump in the top two, it was against the English women: Germany won 6-2. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, national coach Hansi Flick and DFB Managing Director Oliver Bierhoff – who scored the golden goal for the European title in 1996 at the same place – have announced that they will witness the possible triumph.

England manager downplays the importance of the game

About an hour after Voss-Tecklenburg and Huth, England coach Sarina Wiegman and captain Leah Williamson sat on the podium. Wiegman appeared calm and downplayed the importance of the encounter. Is the greater pressure on England? “The pressure is on both of them, both want to win the final, both have a very good team,” said the Dutchwoman. “We don’t feel any more or less pressure. It’s just one game. An exciting game with two very good teams who both want to win.” Of course there is a rivalry with Germany, but that would have been the case with any other opponent, after all it’s about a title. After all, she let herself be elicited a declaration of war: “We are very good, we fear nobody.”

EM final at Wembley: England captain Leah Williamson.

England captain Leah Williamson.

(Foto: Molly Darlington/Reuters)

But the hostesses are also impressed by the size of the forthcoming stage. The final in London could set a new record – for both women and men. The previous record is 79,115 spectators who attended the 1964 final between Spain and the Soviet Union at Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. “For a long time, that felt unreachable,” Williamson said. It’s a great thought that so many fans now have the opportunity to fill this stadium and support the women’s national team: “It wasn’t the case not long ago. And that’s probably one of the nicest things about it.”

When the Englishwomen finally wrapped up the press conference and filed onto Wembley’s freshly mown lawn, they didn’t have it to themselves. Lina Magull, Almuth Schult and Alexandra Popp did not get out of the shower directly after the one-hour final training session, but came back. They stood on the edge and took pictures of themselves with the grandstand in the background. The DFB team manager called them, but they took their time. Enjoy this gigantic arena once again in peace – before it is allowed to turn into a bubbling cauldron not even 24 hours later.

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