Rottenberg ready to give her all

By Paul Saffer in Preston

The UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ final will be familiar territory for Silke Rottenberg, winner of two UEFA European Women's Championships, the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and two Olympic medals.

Same nerves
But the goalkeeper, who did not concede a goal in the group stage, will still be feeling the same old pre-match nerves before the Ewood Park encounter with Norway, and told uefa.com that she would be worried if she did not. "For me it is always the same," she said. "Always nervous for a game - which is good because it will mean I will concentrate 100 per cent."

Training with men
If Rottenberg does indeed pick up yet another winners' prize, she can put it down partly to an innovation of coach Tina Theune-Meyer. Rottenberg said: "For four or five years I have been training with a men's team and for me it is the best because I have to give 120 per cent in every training session."

Tough opponents
Suitably prepared, Rottenberg already has a clean sheet to her name in these finals against Norway - the 1-0 Group B opener - and Rottenberg expects a similarly low-scoring game today. "When we play against Norway, there are never many goals," she said. "They are strong and very powerful and we have to be the same."

Norwegian improvement
She also warned that the Scandinavians will provide a much sterner test than they did in Warrington nearly a fortnight ago. "In the first game, Norway didn't play so well. But their last game against Sweden was very, very different and they had many chances in front of goal. They are getting better from game to game. They will come into our half with high balls over the wings, it will be a hard game."

Nordby praise
At the other end in Blackburn will be one of the very few goalkeepers in women's football with experience and reputation to match Rottenberg. "I have known Bente Nordby for many years," the German No1 said. "She can do everything. She can play with both feet, she knows when the ball is coming over, she can read a game."

Tribute to coach
Another stalwart of the women's international game, German coach Tina Theune-Meyer, retires from the role today after a decade at the helm. Rottenberg said: "For Tina Theune-Meyer it is the last game, and she has won everything. She is a very, very good coach so we hope we can win for the European Championship for her."

Fun continues
Rottenberg herself is not quite ready to stop yet despite having won more than 100 caps. "I am 32 years old and I think that is a good age for a goalkeeper," she said. "We want to qualify for the World Cup and I hope that I can play in 2007. I have had so much fun with football, I hope that can continue."