6/26/2011: Canada v. Germany

**Vic** · 06-22-2011, 12:54 AM

Neid: there is no enemy against which we are afraid

What are you working on between now and kickoff?

"We are still refining things like passing, and standards. You have to go over them again and again intensely. As well as attacking play, combination play. I believe that we now no longer necessarily need our psychologists to give us courage. We are brave, we want to get started. The only thing they could do now is get things going quicker."

Do you know your starting 11?

"It's all still open. I'm going to watch the workouts again exactly. Our players know we can win this title together, and we need all 21 players.

When will you decide and tell the team?

"My impressions are training. Then my eyes or even my gut and my tactical knowledge of what Canada is concerned, these are now the right players. We always have our game day morning meeting. "

You do not often play in front of 75,000 people. What role is home field advantage?

"Stage fright, it will exist in any case. 75,000 spectators is something very special for us. I do not know when we will play again in such a large stadium. I hope that these 75,000 spectators will help us to take three points on Sunday."

Is there a nemesis?

"There are very many opponents who are in a position to win the world title. There is no enemy against which we are afraid. But we have many teams from all over and give them very, very much respect. "

http://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/n...291498,3814693

**Vic** · 06-22-2011, 12:56 AM

"We need players, not Barbie dolls"

For 40 years, trained Bernd Schröder Germany's best women's soccer team. In the interview, he lamented the commercialization and warns against exaggerated expectations.

We must be realistic and cautious. You know: Today, "Hosanna," tomorrow "Crucify them!". If we are unable to provide a good result, many people will come crawling back out of their holes.

The women's game is judged too rarely factual. It becomes an event and produces pseudo-stars. But we need players, not Barbie dolls. In men's soccer, we have already lost the plot. Look at the millions of euros in debt. It's a situation we do not want. Women's soccer needs to be different in kind from commercialized men's football.

Merchandising alone will not save the women's game. If I pick one footballer on the podium, that's all well and good, but you must always ask the question: who is that? And what happens if she comes back down from the podium?

You must still be realistic. We have a solid audience. From Men's Soccer no one comes to us [German champions Turbine Potsdam], why should he? Of course I would also like to see that we make it big. But I am also there when things go badly [he has been coach for 40 years].

We can not compare this with the World Cup for men.

http://www.zeit.de/sport/2011-06/int...auenwm/seite-1

**Vic** · 06-22-2011, 01:24 AM

Ambassador representing Canada in the opening game

Peter Michael Boehm, Canadian Ambassador to Germany, is attending the opening game of the Women's World Cup on Sunday. "I will, with great joy and with my little Canadian flag, represent the Canadian government," Boehm said the sports-information service (AFP): "I'm in the stadium but belong to a minority, but I'm looking forward to."

Both the deputy head of state, Canadian Governor General David Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper will not participate in the opening game.

**Vic** · 06-23-2011, 07:52 AM

Fast FAQ: the last time the German women lost a World Cup game was 12 years ago.

World Player of the Year top 3 finalist Bajrajmaj was on the "B" team in training yesterday behind Okoyino da Mbabi.

Ex-MNT coach Holger Osieck was quoted yesterday as saying Canada will palce second in the group.

**Vic** · 06-23-2011, 03:51 PM

Speaks for itself.

**cwntfan** · 06-23-2011, 05:05 PM

Is it ok if I say I don't like any of them? On Sunday at least.

**Vic** · 06-23-2011, 05:34 PM

Not just ok, we're all going to scream it Sunday.

The salient point is when you back people like this into a corner in front of 75,000 of their countrymen, you had better be prepared for the gates of hell to open. They will play to the death.

**Vic** · 06-24-2011, 07:14 AM

If you have Google Earth you can load up the Olympic Stadium in Berlin and it's absolutely amazing. You can fly right into the stadium through the roof and onto the center circle and actually run down the field toward the end lines.

Kelly Parker training Tuesday in Berlin, courtesy of the CSA: