From the chancellor to the "Kaiser" to the cult trainer Klopp - plus the many millions at home in front of the television sets: the German soccer players are going into the dream final of the European Championship at Wembley Stadium with huge support.
The men's football nation has discovered its heart for the DFB women. The team around captain Alexandra Popp expect against England in the cave of the Lionesses ("lionesses") but also more than 80,000 fans of the host.
It goes without saying that the DFB women "throw everything in again" after a thrilling tournament so far, as they say in unison. "I think the whole stadium will be against us," said midfield ace Lena Oberdorf, as usual combative. "We're not just playing against England, we feel like we're playing against the whole nation. But those are the best games for me: when the whole stadium is against you, it's best to boo you."
Chancellor live there
Prince William will also be sitting in the stands in London's cult arena on Sunday (6 p.m. CEST/ARD and DAZN) - not far from Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Franz Beckenbauer wants to keep his fingers crossed in front of the screen again and bets on a final victory for Germany after penalties - "and our women win because they are physically and mentally better," said the 1974 world champion, who coached the German men's led the team to the World Cup title, the "Bild" newspaper. The 76-year-old "Kaiser" is certain: "Our women will win the Wembley title. But it won't be easy against the strong English women."
DFB goalkeeper Merle Frohms has already saved a penalty against England at Wembley - in 2019 in a 2-1 friendly win. Alexandra Popp and Klara Bühl scored the goals in front of 77,768 fans. "I think that what's waiting for us will go beyond all dimensions," said Frohms about the scenery on Sunday. The 3000 tickets that the DFB received after reaching the final were gone in no time.
And the German team can boast another sense of achievement from history: in the 2009 European Championship final in Finland they defeated England 6:2. Liverpool's star coach Klopp sees England's footballers as slightly favored this time because of the home advantage. "In a sold-out Wembley Stadium with English spectators, it will be a huge challenge for Germany," Klopp said on Thursday, but Germany have a chance. "As much as I love England - my heart will be with the German team," said the 55-year-old former Bundesliga coach.
"It's going to be a great festival of football"
For record European champions Germany it is about the ninth title, Sarina Wiegman's team has not yet won an international tournament - but the head coach triumphed at the EM 2017 with the Netherlands. "It's going to be a great football festival, it's a classic," predicted national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. "Obviously what England have shown in this tournament is brutally good." Initial weaknesses in the semi-finals against Sweden and the deficit in the quarter-finals against Spain did not go unnoticed by the 54-year-old.
The final of the 13th European Championship is also about awarding the best tournament goal scorer. Germany semi-final heroine Popp and England's Beth Mead have each registered six goals. The Wolfsburg woman is also big in the headlines on the island. "Ex-zoo keeper wants to tame lionesses," was the headline in the renowned Times newspaper on Friday, referring to the striker's learned profession.
Irrespective of the outcome of the final, the soccer players will be given a ceremonial welcome in Frankfurt on Monday. After returning from London, the team will present itself to the fans on the town hall balcony in the Römer, the city of Frankfurt announced on Friday.
Meanwhile, the German finalists prepare for the big day in the tranquility of a former noble home in Watford, Hertfordshire. Due to UEFA regulations, the team had to move and now live in a luxury hotel with a golf course, water lily ponds, trees trimmed square at the entrance and a spacious park with the finest lawn as a warm-up before the final in the football temple of Wembley.
