Krahn: Germany now lag behind
“England are the favourites” is not a phrase you expect a German legend to use before a game between the sides, but Annike Krahn thinks her team could be in trouble.
Krahn, who is flying over for the sell-out game at Wembley, is part of a new generation of retired female players itching to make the changes she thinks German football needs. As a recent graduate of Uefa’s Executive Master for International Players, a network that includes Didier Drogba and Kaka, she may soon be a woman with the power to do so.
Krahn won the European Championship twice and an Olympic gold at Rio 2016. Yet she says that outside her hometown and women’s football circles she was not famous. “Times have changed completely, with the media and worldwide attention for women’s football,” she said. There is no clearer sign of that than today’s friendly in front of 90,000. Krahn was on the pitch when the home record of 45,619 was set in 2014. She says that while England have come far, Germany are lagging behind. “We can learn from England. From the media and the marketing. The Bundesliga doesn’t get much attention even if a game is televised. Young girls aren’t being inspired by the national team because we are not that successful.”
Germany are two-time world and eight-time European champions, and England have won one of 25 games against them, but Krahn says roles have reversed. “England is the favourite in this game. They went far in the World Cup.” Germany lost in the quarter-finals and did not qualify for next year’s Olympics. “The team is struggling. It’s a really young team with not a lot of experience,” she said.