8.05 Germany retain women’s crown 03 2006 World Cup qualifiers 06 Call for respect in UEFA competitions 12 No. 40 – August 2005 No. 40 – August COVER IN THIS ISSUE A longer winter break? 08 Germany’s Birgit Prinz, named Technology for the benefit of football 10 best player in the final, races towards Germany win the European goal. Once again, the Germans Women’s Championship 03 MEPs visit UEFA 11 won one of the major competitions UEFA calls for greater respect 12 in women’s football, the European Update on the Championship. 2006 World Cup qualifiers 06 News from member associations 17 PHOTO: EMPICS SpiritEditorial before the letter Fifty years after the European Champion Clubs’ Cup was launched, a new season of European club competitions is already under way… with Liverpool FC in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League. The rulemakers of the UEFA club competitions have always thought that the winners of Europe’s most prestigious competition should be allowed to defend their title. Every previous champion has been given that opportunity and eight clubs – with Real Madrid at the top of the list – have gone on to lift the trophy in two or more consecutive seasons. This year, a combination of circumstances showed that the rules were not sufficiently stringent to ensure that the reigning champions could defend their crown. We therefore faced a difficult dilemma: should we bring a long tradition to an end or amend the rules a little? In a season in which we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the European club competitions, we chose the second option, while trying to keep any detrimental effect on the other participants to a minimum. Therefore, the rules have been amended in order to ensure that the same situation cannot occur again. Just as it is important to hold strictly to the rules where the integrity and propriety of the competitions are at stake, it is equally vital to show flexibility when the letter of the law conflicts with its spirit. Like the founders of the Champion Clubs’ Cup 50 years ago, we wanted the best teams in the continent to be involved in the competition. And the winners of the UEFA Champions League are surely part of that elite group. Lars-Christer Olsson Chief Executive Liverpool FC (Luis Garcia) will be allowed to defend the title they won in Istanbul. EMPICS we care about football 02 uefadirect 8.05 European GermanyWomen’s stayChampionship unbeaten BARKER/AFP/GETTY IMAGES BARKER/AFP/GETTY UNLIKE THE MEN’S EVENT A YEAR AGO, WOMEN’S EURO 2005 WAS Agency to complete an impressive RESPECTFUL TOWARDS THE FORM BOOK. GERMANY COMPLETED A QUARTET line-up. OF SUCCESSIVE VICTORIES IN A THRILLING FINAL AGAINST NORWAY, Spectacular tournament ALLOWING THEIR COACH, TINA THEUNE-MEYER, TO ‘HANG UP HER BATON’ IN STYLE Their reward was to be asso- AFTER LOGGING UP AN UNPARALLELED RUN OF SUCCESSES DURING ALMOST ciated with a spectacular final tourna- NINE YEARS AS CONDUCTOR OF THE GERMAN ORCHESTRA. ment which produced only one goal- less draw and where the 15 matches Yet, despite the widely coverage of their thrilling five-goal yielded no fewer than 50 goals at predicted outcome, the final tourna- opener against Finland peaked at an average of 3.33 per game. Only ment ably staged from 5 to 19 June 2.9 million. All of the remaining one player was sent off and the yellow in the north-west of England 14 games were also screened card was produced 32 times, at an hand in hand with The FA on a pan-European basis and average of 2.1 per game. At the provoked a good deal of reflec- audiences in Germany, for men’s event in Portugal, four teams tion on the current state of example, comfortably topped averaged more than three yellow the women’s game and, more the two-million mark. Sponsors cards per match on their own. especially, its future. were deeply committed to the In other words, the emphasis Over 70,000 spectators event, with commercial partners was on football – and the eight par- turned out to see the host nation’s frequently identified with major UEFA ticipants played it with different styles three games, and the television events teaming up with England’s and different expectations, even audience following the BBC’s live Northwest Regional Development though the ‘Nordic Armada’ account- 03 England’s One of the Rachel Yankey tournament’s escapes Scandinavian a challenge from duels: Dane Mariann Finland v Denmark. Knudsen. GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES ed for half the finalists. Sweden, for posting them next to the dressing- had enough virtues to be rated example, were disappointed to go room door just before leading her among the potential title-winners yet home after the semi-finals; Finland team onto the field. went home after the first week. were delighted to do the same. Lead- They were beaten by England ing his country into a final tourna- during added time at the end of their Immensely competitive game ment for the first time, Michael Käld first match; drew with Sweden; and In other words, the tourna- shrewdly designed a side capable of made history by beating Denmark 2-1 ment demonstrated that the women’s ‘doing a Greece’ by focusing on col- to reach the semi-finals. But the mid- game has become immensely com- lective virtues and, even though there night chimes ended their Cinderella petitive and that levels of fitness and weren’t exactly hundreds to choose story when defensive jitters allowed technique have improved dramatic- from, playing to the strengths of a the Germans to go 3-0 up after only ally in a relatively short space of squad containing five girls who were 12 minutes of the semi-final. “It was time. England and Denmark, fallers playing their football with Swedish like playing against men,” Anne after the opening three hurdles, clubs. Team spirit was a crucial ele- Mäkinen admitted afterwards. “They proved that their young teams are ment, with skipper Anne Mäkinen were so strong and skilful. If you on the verge of great things. And the playing her part by writing inspira- had to name an all-star team, you contribution of players aged 16 or 17 tional slogans on pieces of paper and could just go for Germany’s line-up.” (Karen Carney and Eniola Aluko of It was easy to agree. The goal England, Louisa Necib of France, scored by the Finns from an effective- Isabell Herlovsen of Norway…) em- ly rehearsed corner was the first the phasised that the new generations Germans had conceded in the tourna- are progressing rapidly. ment. But they were the only team The semi-finals and the final to dominate in the group phase. produced 14 goals. A day after the After two games, Group A was Germans had dropped the final cur- headed by Denmark and tain on the Finns, Sweden and Nor- England, both of way played out an epic battle be- whom were elimi- tween neighbours and rivals, with nated after losing Marika Domanski Lyfors sadly writing to Finland and the last chapter of a nine-year ro- Sweden on a dra- mance with the national team when matic final match the Norwegians sealed a thrilling day. A glance at the Group B table – rated by the critics as the tougher of the two – might Fair play award suggest that Italy, the only for Norway team not to take a point, were Norway, the competition outclassed. It was not the case. runners-up, won the fair play Carolina Morace’s side was techni- award. With an average of cally gifted, well organised and scored 8.492 points, they some beautiful goals, but had the edged out France misfortune to fall behind early in (8.476) and Ger- each game and, obliged to take many (8.471). Heidi Kackur (11) risks, struggled to cope with the high Six of the partici- and Finland were unable tempo imposed by three high-quality to stop a German pants obtained an excellent side including rivals. Much the same could be said of Sandra Minnert (13) average of eight points or more. in the semi-final. GETTY IMAGES Elisabeth Loisel’s French side, which 04 uefadirect 8.05 Italian Silver Elisa Campo- for Norway. rese (10) tries to dispossess France’s Sonia Bompastor. GETTY IMAGES SVEN SIMON Results Group A Referees 5 June Blackpool Sweden – Denmark 1-1 (1-1) Seitz (USA) 5 June Manchester England – Finland 3-2 (2-0) Gaal (HUN) EMPICS 8 June Blackburn Denmark – England 2-1 (0-0) Ihringova (SVK) Norway’s Lise Klaveness battles with Germans 8 June Blackpool Sweden – Finland 0-0 Damkova (CZE) Ariane Hingst and Britta Carlson in the final. 11 June Blackburn England – Sweden 0-1 (0-1) Petignat (SUI) 11 June Blackpool Finland – Denmark 2-1 (2-1) Ihringova (SVK) It was a fitting climax to a tourna- 1. Sweden 3120215 ment of such a high overall stan- 2. Finland 3111444 3. Denmark 3111444 dard that it re-opened debate about 4. England 3102453 whether more than eight teams should be allowed to accumulate Group B top-level experience at events of 6 June Warrington Germany – Norway 1-0 (0-0) Petignat (SUI) this kind. It also emphasised that 6 June Preston France – Italy 3-1 (3-0) Toms (ENG) Germany, champions of Europe at 9 June Preston Italy – Germany 0-4 (0-2) Seitz (USA) 9 June Warrington France – Norway 1-1 (1-0) Gaal (HUN) club level before the national team 12 June Warrington Germany – France 3-0 (0-0) Ionescu (ROU) travelled to England, are still setting 12 June Preston Norway – Italy 5-3 (4-1) Damkova (CZE) the benchmarks.