“Very closed unit”
Künzer warns DFB women: Canada emotionally strengthened by drone affair
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Germany’s women’s soccer team is challenging an opponent at the Olympic Games who is in the quarterfinals despite a six-point deduction. DFB director Nia Künzer is warning.
DFB sports director Nia Künzer believes that Germany’s quarter-final opponent Canada has been emotionally strengthened by the drone scandal. “They are certainly in a situation where they are very close together and perhaps want to show it to everyone,” said the former world champion before the first knockout match of the women’s soccer team coached by Horst Hrubesch on Saturday in Marseille against the Olympic champions from Tokyo.
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Canada had six points deducted in the preliminary round, but with three wins they still advanced as second in Group A. Before Canada’s opening match against New Zealand (2:1), there was a scandal because a drone had been used twice during the opponent’s training.
Relief for DFB officials
Among other things, national coach Bev Priestman was banned from all football activities for one year by the world association FIFA. Canada unsuccessfully appealed against the deduction of six points to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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One day after the DFB women’s 4:1 win against Zambia in Saint-Étienne, Künzer did not want to comment further on the incidents: “We are watching Canada from a sporting perspective – and Canada has impressed a lot. It will be another intense game against a very close-knit Canadian team.”
The 44-year-old is hopeful for the quarter-finals: “that we continue to bring our potential onto the court, then I can see opportunities to beat Canada. We need a good day, we need to work as a team.”
One year after the preliminary round debacle at the World Cup in Australia, Künzer and Sabine Mammitzsch, Vice President for Women’s and Girls’ Football at the DFB, admitted their relief that the women had progressed. “A weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I was very excited yesterday because we had exactly this association ahead of us,” said Mammitzsch. “I am very pleased that we have moved one step further. That is of course good for us – especially for the development of women’s football.” The goal now is the final in Paris.
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