Martina Voss-Tecklenburg is also hoping for a surprise effect from the German national team at the European Women’s Football Championship in England.

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg is also hoping for a surprise effect from the German national team at the European Women’s Football Championship in England.

“Other nations don’t know exactly what we’re capable of at the moment. That can be a huge advantage for us and we have to take advantage of that. That’s how we go about it,” said the national coach in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.

The DFB women won the European title eight times – a record. “I don’t think any nation will ever do that again,” said the 54-year-old, who flew to London with the team on July 3 after a few days off. In the preliminary round, the games against Denmark (July 8th), Spain (July 12th) and Finland (July 16th) are scheduled.

“Without wanting to belittle the achievements of previous years: the level is tactically, technically, athletically much higher,” said the national coach about the current status of the world’s best, where Germany is not yet back, but wants to go back. “That is our job and I would also like to win the DFB title as a coach. But it’s gotten more difficult, and a lot of people haven’t gotten to it yet,” she said.

Many would expect that the German soccer players have to win every tournament. “It is important to me that it is clear: It will be very close at this European Championship and also depends on luck and small things. We’ll have cool opponents who can really do something. The overall picture must be seen and evaluated objectively. Then we can talk about it at the end: How was it now?”

For Voss-Tecklenburg it is the second major tournament as the person responsible for the DFB selection. Her international premiere as a DFB coach ended bitterly three years ago: At the World Cup in France, the German women failed in the quarter-finals against Sweden and thus also missed the Olympic Games in Tokyo.