Final flourish for Theune-Meyer

By Andreas Alf

Germany coach Tina Theune-Meyer is keen to win her sixth European title at UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ before retiring.

Biggest challenge
Having won the competition twice as coach and three times as assistant coach, Theune-Meyer is expecting to face her most significant challenge yet in England. Win or lose, the 51-year-old - who also led Germany to success at the 2003 FIFA World Cup - will be replaced by her assistant Silvia Neid after they return home.

Perfect gift
Winning the UEFA European Women's Championship in the cradle of football would be a fine farewell for Theune-Mayer, and former international Doris Fitschen is sure her players will be doubly determined to take the prize for their coach. "Her players will try their hardest to give her the perfect leaving present," she told uefa.com. "I hope she wins the EURO one more time."

Sole intention
With Germany ranked as favourites, Theune-Meyer is keeping up the pressure on her side. "Defending the championship must be our goal," she said. "There cannot be any doubt about that. We are the defending European and world champions. Anything less than the final would be a disappointment."

Difficult stage
The Kleve-born trainer, who is fondly called the 'Grande Dame' of the German Football Association (DFB), does not seem to fear any of the seven European challengers as Germany's opening game against Norway looms, although she believes women's football is making rapid improvements across the board.

Group opponents
"Norway are strong enough to reach the semi-finals because they have changed their playing style and have become more skilful," she said. "Italy will be tough to play for us because they wait for their chances on the break. But France are smart and very skilful and might turn out to be our most dangerous opponents."

English atmosphere
A talented coach who is renowned for her painstaking work in perfecting her teams, Theune-Meyer remains modest in person and is keen not to make a big deal of WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ being her final bow. "I have not thought about that much," she said. "I am just glad to be in England because of the atmosphere in the stadiums and because it is the country where football was born."

Fully focused
She has no long-term plans for the future yet. "After the EURO, I will do another Nordic Cup with our Under-21s, then I will take a rest and go on holiday," she said. "However, I will definitely stay in the game. Maybe I will educate coaches, but there will be plenty of time to discuss that with the DFB later." In the meantime, she has a tournament to win.