Fresh Prinz boosts Germany

By Kevin Ashby in Preston

Conny Pohlers has warned Italy that Germany "will be a different proposition" with Birgit Prinz back in the side for tonight's Group B fixture in Preston.

Focal point
With Prinz failing to recover from a thigh strain suffered in 1. FFC Frankfurt's German Cup final defeat by a Pohlers-inspired 1. FFC Potsdam, she was an unused substitute as Germany began their UEFA European Women's Championship campaign with a 1-0 victory against Norway. With their focal point on the bench, however, the holders lacked their trademark cutting edge on Monday - and are keen to rediscover it this evening.

'So important'
"It's great to have Birgit back as she's so important for the team," said Pohlers of the fit-again FIFA Women's World Player of the Year. "She can hold the ball up, score goals and we need her presence. The one positive thing is that she's rested and fresh and is raring to go in the Italy game."

Superb form
For once, it is Pohlers and not Prinz who is the player of the moment in Germany after carrying her superb scoring form for Potsdam into this championship by hitting the only goal against Norway - a neat finish in the 61st minute. The 26-year-old soldier had previously been the 14-goal leading scorer as Potsdam won the UEFA Women's Cup, following those strikes with a sensational volley in the German Cup final.

Room for improvement
"The last few weeks have been very important and special for me and for Potsdam," Pohlers told uefa.com. "We won two cups and now I'm here and hoping to win a third. It's hard to say which has been my best goal lately but the opener in the final against Frankfurt and obviously the one against Norway were the most important. But I wasn't happy with my performance on Monday and by no means was it one of my better games."

Deeper role
Prinz's return could see Pohlers drop into a deeper role as the Germans go in search of three points and a semi-final place ahead of their concluding Group B game against France - 3-1 victors against Italy - on Sunday. "It's good that we play France in our final match as it wouldn't have been ideal for either side to meet in the opener," she said. "We didn't really find our game against Norway but I hope we can play better against Italy and then continue that improvement against France when we should really have started to gel."