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Current European champion from Germany will try to defend her title at this year's European Championship, which is currently taking place in England, at all costs. The best player of the team, the best female footballer of the past year - Birgitta Prinz - will also try to defend the title at any cost.
Due to a not completely healed injury, Prinz had to miss the first tournament matches, but she hopes to step onto the field in the upcoming matches. "There was a time when I was playing quite poorly," the striker recently said. "But now I feel better."
Despite suffering an injury during the German Cup final last week, these words should serve as a warning to all other national teams participating in the Championship in England. If Germany wins, they would secure the title for the fourth consecutive time.
In a previous interview (before the injury), Prinz said: "I can't wait to play in the final stage of the Championship. And as always - the last few months before the first tournament matches seem to drag on forever. I keep thinking to myself, 'Let's start already, please'." It can be guessed how difficult it is for Prinz to watch her compatriots play while she can't step onto the field, and, to be honest, it's not yet clear if she will even be able to play in this tournament.
The striker of the team "1. FFC Frankfurt" from Germany couldn't help the team during the "Algarve" Cup matches, where they won 3-1 against the Canadians and lost 1-0 to the representatives of the USA. However, the 26-year-old striker is not too concerned due to the team's form. "As far as I remember, we always had to fight hard before major competitions," says B. Prinz, who wears the number 9 shirt in the national team. "Our form is coming at the right time, and in the last few weeks, we have only improved it. I am completely sure that we will play great in another major competition."
Prinz's experience truly allows her to make such statements. Having represented the national team 134 times, B. Prinz is almost certain to surpass Doris Fitschen (144) and Bettina Wiegmann (154) in terms of matches played for the national team, and she has already equaled Heidi Mohr in goals scored (83!). Prinz may and wants to improve this record in this year's European Women's Football Championship. "Then no one will ask for it anymore," says the striker.
Former captain of the German national team, D. Fitschen, says she doesn't even think that Prinz might not be able to improve the goal record. "I have played against her many times in my own career, and I can tell you - stopping her and preventing her from scoring is very difficult. Especially when the match doesn't go the way she wants. When Birgitta gets angry, she switches to 'turbo' mode and usually changes the course of the game in the desired direction. Now Brigit's age to play football is optimal, and in England, she will undoubtedly play another impressive championship."
Prinz herself admits that the Championship won't be easy. "There is no non-standard opponent in our group. Our group will not be easy," says the striker. Here, B. Prinz and Germany will have to compete with Norway, France, and Italy.
Prinz also rejoices in the growing interest in women's football. "Women's football has expanded greatly in recent years. In the past, most countries with the strongest teams did not play as equals. Usually, 4 or 5 teams dominated, but that's no longer the case. Our sport has become more competitive."
