European Championship
Kick-off in front of 74,000 spectators: Women’s EM as a turning point?
The opening match of the 13th European Women’s Football Championship takes place in Manchester. Photo: Nigel French/PA Wire/dpa
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Women’s football is hoping for a quantum leap and top advertising from the European Championships in England. The rush is huge. The sporty constellation promises maximum excitement. But there is also criticism.
The attendance record has already been broken before the first ball even rolls. Over 500,000 tickets have been sold before the opening game of the 13th European Women’s Championship between England and Austria on Wednesday (9 p.m. CEST/ARD and DAZN).
Around 74,000 fans are expected to kick off at Manchester’s sold-out Old Trafford. The hosts and national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg expect “a great football festival” – and the English association FA “the largest European women’s sports event in history”.
UEFA wants to “break as many records as possible,” said former Wolfsburg resident and world footballer Nadine Kessler, who is responsible for women’s football at the European governing body. In addition to the digital and TV reach, this also applies to the number of visitors: the record for a European Championship tournament is 243,400, that’s how many came in 2017 in the Netherlands. “We want to show how far women’s football has come in Europe, why many players play here today to aspire to a professional career,” Kessler said in an interview with Elfen magazine.
Partly in mini arenas
The 34-year-old promised: “The level of the Euro 2022 will not be comparable to the past tournaments in terms of sport and organization.” However, not all of the 700,000 tickets for the 31 games of the second European Championship after 2005 have been sold on the island.
And despite all the euphoria, the truth is that some games take place in mini arenas – for example in the Manchester City Academy Stadium with a capacity of 7000 fans. Iceland’s captain Sara Gunnarsdottir from the Champions League winner Olympique Lyon described it as “disrespectful” and “embarrassing”.
UEFA is paying out 16 million euros in bonuses this time, which of course does not come close to the more than 330 million from the 2021 men’s European Championship. According to an FA report, 54 million pounds (around 63 million euros) will be turned over during the tournament in the nine venues. 250 million TV viewers are said to watch games in 195 countries. Organizers, UEFA and national associations such as the DFB are hoping for a lasting effect on their sport, which is still not fully accepted.
Athletically balanced
The appeal of this European Championship, which will take place this summer without the competition of an international men’s tournament, is also its sporting balance: at least half a dozen teams – including England, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Norway – are believed to be capable of the title.
The German selection, most recently failed at the 2017 European Championship and the 2019 World Cup in the quarterfinals, is something of a grab bag. “A total of 16 teams are taking part – and I’m sure eight can legitimately hope for the title. In such an extraordinary competition, we can’t afford any big mistakes,” said Voss-Tecklenburg before the first group game of the record European champions against Denmark on Friday (21.00 CEST / ZDF and DAZN) in a “FAZ” interview. She can only advise every football fan: “Check it out, it’s worth it.”
The dream of the final on July 31 in the already sold-out Wembley Stadium is alive with the German players – and especially with the previously untitled English team. Almost 20,000 fans wanted to see the hosts’ friendly as they defeated the holders of the European Championship, the Netherlands, 5-1. In addition, the English league is considered the financially strongest on the continent.
England want the title
The expectations of the team around stars Lucy Bronze and Ellen White are high. “It would be a success for England if they get to the final and lift the trophy,” said ex-national player and BBC presenter Alex Scott. “With all the effort and what else you have invested in football, you should win the tournament.”
First of all, all eyes are on Old Trafford, which promises an atmospheric start to the European Championship. «The historic place should show where the journey is going. It’s already crazy how great the interest has become,” said Kessler.