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Germany aims for fourth straight women's European soccer title
Germany will be trying to win its fourth straight European Women's Championship this year, but a tough group and an injured Birgit Prinz could be trouble for the World Cup champions. The Germans play their first match on Monday against two-time champion Norway at Euro 2005, which has eight teams split into two groups and starts Sunday in five venues in northwest England. The top two teams in each group advance to the semifinals. Women's World Cup runner-up Sweden, which won the first European title in 1984, plays Denmark in the opening Group A match in Blackpool on Sunday. Also, England takes on Finland in Manchester. In Monday's other Group B match, France plays Italy in Preston. ``It'll be the best European Championship ever,'' said Pia Sundhage, who scored Sweden's winner in 1984 and later went on to coach the WUSA's Boston Breakers. ``It's hard to predict who will play in the final, however, I still think a team like Sweden or Germany could take the game to another level,'' she said. Germany has won five titles, and it beat Norway in the final in 1989 and '91. Norway won the championship in 1987 and '93. The Germans boast an experienced squad, with six players having played more than 100 games, including Prinz. The women's world player of the year injured her thigh while playing in the German Cup final last weekend and will likely miss the Norway match. Prinz, who has scored 83 goals, needs only one more to become the highest-scoring German striker. Germany secured its No. 1 ranking by winning the 2003 Women's World Cup in the United States, but the team only won the bronze medal at the Athens Olympics, beating Sweden for third place. That has led some to think Germany is vulnerable. ``International standards keep improving both in terms of tactics and fitness,'' France coach Elisabeth Loisel said. ``There will probably be some surprises because several teams have narrowed the gap to the top ones.'' Italy is aiming to cause an upset like Greece did at the men's tournament in Portugal last year. ``We'll try to emulate Greece as the tournament underdogs,'' Italy coach Carolina Morace said. ``We will need a bit of luck because we're not at the same level of some other teams.'' England is relying on home advantage and the return from injury of key striker Kelly Smith. ``The squad's fitness levels are double what they were in Euro 2001,'' said Smith, who broke her leg last year. ``If we can start the tournament well and even win the group, this is our chance.'' Smith has recently returned to England after playing eight years in the United States. One of her goals while playing with the Philadelphia Charge was shown in the film ``Bend it Like Beckham.'' England has only lost once in its last 10 matches, and that was on penalties. Finland coach Michael Kald hopes to end that streak. ``England haven't lost for a long time and I think it's an advantage to us,'' Kald said. ``They will have all the pressure in the opening match in front of their home crowd.'' Euro 2005 will be the last tournament for Germany coach Tina Theune-Meyer and Norway's Aage Steen, who are both retiring. The tournament, which was given European Championship status by UEFA in 1989, will have a new trophy at the final on June 19 because Germany was allowed to keep the original after its third win 2001.
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