For months,
they have been waiting for this day to come – now the German side are eager to
start their home World Championship with a successful match: Arena Leipzig will
be sold-out with 7,000 fans on Friday for the opening match of the 23rd Women’s
World Championship, when the ‘Ladies’ face Cameroon. “We are so happy that it
starts. We are enthusiastic and highly motivated”, says team captain Anna
Loerper prior to the first ever duel of Germany vs Cameroon. “We want to make
history, we want to write our ‘winter fairy tale’,” adds goalkeeper Clara
Woltering.
Since 2007, the
Germany’s women have been waiting for their next medal at a major event. Ten
years ago they snatched bronze by beating Romania after extra-time in a
thrilling encounter at the World Championship in Paris. For their Group D
opener on Friday (19:00 hrs local time) the hosts are well-prepared: “All
players showed a brilliant attitude in preparation,” says coach Michael
Biegler, who took over the team in April 2016: “We have a mission. The mission
to proceed to the final weekend in Hamburg. And we will do everything to
accomplish it,” the coach adds.
Biegler expects
some nervousness at the start, but hopes his team manages to stand the heat and
will be carried on the wings of the fans: “We are sure to be boosted by the
audience.” On the other hand, Cameroon are confident too: “For the first time
ever we play an opening match like this,” says coach Jean-Marie Zambo: “But we
are not frightened, as we are sure that this special situation will galvanize
us for the rest of the tournament. We will for sure keep our morale high.”
In terms of
facing African teams, Germany have been warned not to underestimate them as the
2011 World Championship in Brazil saw them losing the final preliminary round
match against Angola – with the consequence that the African champions and not
Germany made it to the knock-out stage.
Cameroon qualified
for the second time after 2005 (final rank of 22nd) for a World Championship
and profited from Senegal’s disqualification at the African Championship, as
they had nominated a player, who was not eligible to be on court, in the
semi-final.
All remaining
matches of round 1 will take place on Saturday, 2 December in Leipzig,
Oldenburg, Bietigheim-Bissingen and Trier.
Photo: Sascha
Klahn/DHB