World Cup fillip for Frankfurt

By Kevin Ashby

Having negotiated all of last season and the early stages of this without losing, Fulham LFC's outstanding unbeaten record will face its sternest test on Sunday when the English champions travel to Germany to face the full force of 1. FFC Frankfurt.

Special significance
The Stadion am Brentanobad will stage the first leg of what is the most eagerly anticipated of the UEFA Women's Cup quarter-finals. The home crowd have seen it all before, of course, as Frankfurt have breezed through the last eight in each of the two editions of the knockout competition. Yet this fixture has special significance as Frankfurt will be fielding much of the team which helped Germany win the FIFA Women's World Cup earlier this month.

'Very proud'
Five Frankfurt players - Nia Küzner, Birgit Prinz, Renate Lingor, Sandra Minnert and Pia Wunderlich - played in the 2-1 victory against Sweden, with Küzner scoring the final's golden goal. Steffi Jones also participated in the United States, yet missed the dramatic finale after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Frankfurt coach Monika Staab told uefa.com the club were "very proud to have six world champions", adding: "The club is considered a model for others and the success saw years of hard work come to fruition."

Fairytale Prinz
Prinz, a talismanic striker for club and country, was named the player of the tournament at the World Cup, a reflection of her all-round brilliance and not just her seven goals which also won her the Golden Shoe as the leading scorer. According to their coach, Prinz and Co are "extremely motivated and looking forward to Sunday's game against Fulham" after "recovering amazingly quickly" from their exertions across the Atlantic.

Weekend hat-trick
Prinz scored a hat-trick last Sunday as Frankfurt warmed up for a return to UEFA Women's Cup duty by defeating 1. FC Saarbrücken 11-0 in the Bundesliga, a record victory. It was Frankfurt's fourth win out of four and a match which boosted their goal difference to 19, having scored 21 and conceded just two. Staab said: "The last two league matches were convincing victories and the players deserve complimenting for the way they are dealing with new challenges and for the fact that they continue to maintain their concentration for every important match."

Economic advantages
The World Cup success has further increased the standing of women's football in Germany, following on from recent advances in this competition. Staab said of the benefits of the Women's Cup: "There is the economic side - more spectators are attending and matches have been broadcast on TV - and there is the other side which sees players looking forward to international competition. From the quarter-finals the quality of the games are very high. It is also an excellent opportunity to bring women's football further into the spotlight, which is deserved."

Glamour clubs
Frankfurt won the inaugural Women's Cup, yet lost on penalties to Umeå IK in last season's semi-final. The German team are determined not to be beaten again. "The players have made it their goal to win the UEFA Cup," said Staab. "We were unfortunate to be eliminated in a dramatic penalty shoot-out last season. This year we cannot meet Umeå until the final." Another meeting of Europe's glamour clubs in May 2004 looks distinctly possible, yet Fulham will be doing their utmost to derail the Frankfurt machine, starting on Sunday.