SPANISH SUB 16, LONG WAY TO THE TOP We leave a report on the evolution of FIFA.COM Germano football in just 40 years, with much persistence and work and of course supported by the German government have echo this selection a world power.
When the stars of women's football up to the big stage and start playing the ball, often speaks of elegance, lightness and dance made a fascinated audience. The game watermark denotes the feminine side of the most beautiful sport. However, persistence can also be female, a fact well known in the country of the reigning world champion and host of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011.
In all corners of the planet is expected and with great joy, tension and the clash of the best teams in the country of Birgit Prinz, Nadine Angerer y Cía. Sin embargo, en Alemania se festejará también otro aniversario muy especial: 40 años de fútbol femenino. Una retrospectiva de cuatro décadas en las que se registraron enormes cambios.
"Fue, ante todo, la perseverancia lo que nos motivó a seguir", relata con cierto matiz de orgullo Hannelore Ratzeburg a FIFA World. Después de todo, la vicepresidenta de la Asociación de Fútbol de Alemania (DFB) conoce muy bien todo el esfuerzo y lucha requeridos durante el largo desarrollo hacia el reconocimiento del deporte y de los partidos que ahora colman de entusiasmo a decenas de miles de hinchas. En la actualidad, las estructuras y el fomento de talentos del fútbol femenino alemán sirven de example throughout the world, despite the fact that this sport was prohibited until October 30, 1970.
"Football was a sport considered too physical and rough. An image that did not fit with the weaker sex and made all of us will scoff," recalls Ratzeburg, who must be regarded as a precursor since the beginning of women's football. "To this was added in the 50's that were not available much knowledge of the biological conditions. However, women who wanted to play, they did it anyway," the native of Hamburg for 59 years.
A Christmas party and pioneering spirit
What is inconceivable today, was a daily occurrence in the autumn of 1970. It urged clubs to not allow women to play their sports facilities. From the scientific point of view, it was stated that football was only for men, and that women should engage in other sports such as swimming, athletics, handball, gymnastics and skiing. It was only 40 years ago, the last Friday of October during the session of the DFB in Travemünde, which lifted the ban, a decision that was certainly the first step of a long road.
Ratzeburg, who was chosen many years later as the first woman president of the DFB and that also a member of the Women's Football Committee and the FIFA World Cup, recalls with sparkling eyes: "It was, in a sense, the opening whistle. I remember vividly the glorious era of 68, the student demonstrations. I had just finish school and always had a sense of justice ". Indeed, in his family ever played handball, however: "In October 1970 I was surprised to see that the newspapers were full of news about women's football. I was in a pre-Christmas party football club that my boyfriend then I remember we discussed heatedly on the subject. Then I decided to play it. "
throughout the country began to form groups around women's football clubs, with the intention of developing a kind of pioneering role in its region. "Often, these movements were born handball," says Ratzeburg, the "mother" of the German women's football, who contributed greatly to gradually establish a women's league in Hamburg. "I often wondered if all that was necessary, but finally we set ourselves," he says. His great will and his tireless dedication in northern Germany did not go unnoticed in the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt. And, as a logical consequence, seven years after the lifting of the ban, was chosen as representative of women's football in the football committee of the DFB.
"In reality, when I speak at interviews when I realize what we have accomplished in 40 years and have always been part of it," notes Ratzeburg, whose work at that time was a challenge. "I've always tried to explain that step by step learning experience. And women in football have a different experience, who can only understand themselves." At that time everything revolved around trying to impose a male specialty. "I thought: 'No we want to play only in a pleasant climate and on grass. And there was no point going to play just two times 30 minutes." Always insisted that' there are many things that not only can imagine ', and that stubbornness was my strong point. "
Among the hopes and doubts
What followed is history. The women's football in Germany climbed to reach the summit, and its own natural charm and manages to excite the masses and millions of viewers in the mainstream of national television. From the sporting point of view, the German squad is what everyone wants to beat, having won the World Cup on two consecutive occasions. In the spring of 2009, an incredible crowd of 44,825 spectators gathered at the Frankfurt stadium to witness the clash live friendly between selection and the runner Silvia Neid Brazil. And within a few months, the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 will open new dimensions of excitement at home. Ratzeburg
has several explanations for this development so special, considering that fortune is also part of evolution. "At decisive moments, we have always been lucky. A large number of spectators, huge interest, thrilling rides and appropriate results. All this fills me with joy, and triumphs in historic parties, charged with emotion and stress. Indirectly this became the secret of our success, "says the vice president.
After such a Bärbel in 1974 as the first female Wohlleben scored the "Goal of the Month 'in the ARD television network with a powerful shot from distance, arrived eight years later when the women's national team. Ratzeburg admits: "For me personally, the first international match against Switzerland 1982 in Koblenz was a major milestone in our history." They won the match 5-1, and Silvia Neid, barely 18, joined the bench to score two goals. The event was a success.
The golden goal with the key to success
However, as we all know, the situation improved impressively. In fact, it was crucial that the German team won the championship seven times European and World Cup twice, but how these successes were achieved. "Sometimes we were lucky to achieve decisive victories dramatically. It was not pleasant for our nerves, however, for the public drama of such meetings was worth gold," said the bearer of the Federal Cross of Merit medal that he was given for his achievements as a pioneer and a symbol of the dizzying success story of German women's football. It
memorable victory in the semifinal in the European Championship 1989. Ratzeburg has great passion: "The opponent was Italy, and the game was played at Siegen. For the first time broadcast live on television and an international match in the women's team. Also, one woman commented. Everything was new. But then the unbelievable happened. The party had to go to extra time and decided to extend the television transmission. Many people had turned on the television at that time only to see the next program, however, opted to continue the game. And then we had no less than 5.5 million viewers, who could still excited about the electric penalties. It was inconceivable at that time! ". Full of euphoria
after this amazing experience, 22,000 spectators flocked to the stadium to witness the final Osnabrück European Championship and the victory of Germany against Norway 4-1. You can talk, indeed, a social first victory, surpassed 14 years later in the U.S.. "The feeling was absolutely naturally when we won the best women's football match of all time in the semifinals of the 2003 World Cup against the Americans, then, for dessert, the final with the golden goal against Sweden Kunze Nia" . He had reached the top. In the list of classifications, and in the minds of the masses.
Bisanz, Theune and Neid as a driving force
Sports prohibited to the top. The successes opened wide the doors to the German women's football. However, it was passion that made it possible to pave the way to the hearts of fans young and old. Stars as the striker Birgit Prinz, who rocked a total of 14 times the anti networks in several world cups to hold the record for World Cup top scorer, or the goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, who in the World Cup triumph of 2007 did not give a goal in six games demonstrate the persistence German's iron will to win and outstanding share of determination in the field.
However, Ratzeburg there is another important factor in this development: "Over the years, we've had two great coaches in the persons of Gero Bisanz and Tina Theune. Moreover, they were always ready, like me, to encourage good players to be licensed coaches after finishing his football careers. It is so today we can continue our unity of doctrine with names like Silvia Neid, Ulrike Ballweg, Maren Meinert and Bettina Wiegmann Silke Rottenberg. Also this point is for me a key to success. "
undoubtedly Neid gladly hear these words. In the coming months, the coach of the DFB will be found more in the focus of public interest than any other person reputation in the German women's football past. His work is nothing less that meet the high expectations in the country hosting the World Cup and reach the top. "We want to realize a dream and become world champions for the third time," said Neid.
No one would do better than her. Neid was present in all German wins European Championship and FIFA World Cup, either as a player, assistant coach or head coach. For this reason, the coach has his script and perfect hand: "We must not let ourselves be influenced by expectations, as we submit ourselves to sufficient pressure." And then he adds: "We enjoy the tournament. "
pre-match 
