Women’s football
Popp and Hrubesch reminisce about Olympic memories
Alexandra Popp reminisces about Olympic memories before the footballers’ decisive qualifying game for Paris. photo
© Soeren Stache/dpa
Alexandra Popp was part of the gold team at Rio 2016, while Hrubesch won silver with the men. For both of them, the Olympics are above all else – and they definitely want to go to the athletes’ village again.
At the press conference in Heerenveen, the interim national coach talked about an evening together with the German men’s and women’s selection before the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro and the experiences in the Olympic Village. “The girls supported us perfectly before the final. The exchange was brilliant. That was perhaps my birth as far as women’s football is concerned,” said the 72-year-old.
Hrubesch: “That was sensationally good”
While Popp’s team won gold back then, the DFB men lost in the final on penalties to hosts Brazil with superstar Neymar. Even before departure there was a meeting at a meeting in Frankfurt/Main. “That was sensationally good. The girls actually explained to us what Olympic football means. That helped us in Rio afterwards,” said Hrubesch.
His players have to win today’s game against the Netherlands in the game for third place in the Nations League in order to take part in the Olympic Games in the summer. The German U21 men have already missed out on taking part in Paris.
Atmosphere in the Olympic Village
Hrubesch recently also regularly raved about the atmosphere in the Olympic Village. In order to experience that again, the DFB women would have to reach the final in Paris, as the games will be played in other cities beforehand. In a Sky interview, Popp recalled a crowd of athletes in the athletes’ accommodation in Rio, when everyone admired sprint star Usain Bolt.
“I think something arose between us before we left that lasted through the entire tournament,” said the 32-year-old from Wolfsburg about the two German teams. She placed the Summer Games above the European and World Championships: “The Olympics are the biggest tournament you can have as an athlete.” The DFB women also celebrated together with the men in the German House in Rio: “That was the perfect ending.”