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A32 sports
Diamars 2 augustus 2022

Thousands turn up to welcome German team back from Euro 2022

men's. Watzke, who is also chief ex-
"The fact that there's no real ecutive of men's heavyweight
awareness is shown when Borussia Dortmund, referred
three games in the (men's) to the low income generated
German Cup are sched- by women's soccer compared
uled at the same time as the to the men's game when it
women's final in Wembley," comes to the debate on equal
Greens parliamentary group pay for male and female play-
spokeswoman Britta Haßel- ers.
mann told news agency DPA. "It's obvious that equal pay is
"The support for young soc- the goal. But with equal rev-
cer-loving girls and women enue," Watzke said.
has to be massively increased.
It can't fail due to financial Speaking to daily tabloid
resources at the federation. Bild, the Germany and Bay-
It really needs to get going ern Munich player Lina Ma-
now." gull called for female players
in the first and second divi-
Government spokesman sions to be given a minimum
Wolfgang Büchner said it wage.
plans to do more for wom- "We players should earn
en's soccer, though he didn't enough from the second di-
get into specifics. He said vision so that nobody has to
Germany's performances in work part-time anymore.
England meant it was "a role We're talking about a mini-
(AP) — Germany's nar- England its first – setting off missed the decider after re- model for many women in mum salary of 2,000 or 3,000
row loss to England in euphoric celebrations in that porting a muscle problem sports and also in other areas euros a month," Magull said.
the Women's European country – but the German in the warmup. It gave Ger- of society." "This is how you can advance
Championship final may team's run to the final stoked many's loss a sense of tragedy the development of women's
yet prove more beneficial great excitement among fans, without its captain, further German soccer league chair- soccer sustainably."
for women's soccer in the not least because the men endearing the team to its fans. man Hans-Joachim Watzke
country than another title have flopped at major tour- said he hopes Voss-Tecklen- Addressing the homecoming
would have been. naments since winning the "We actually wanted to be burg's team's run to the final German team in Frankfurt,
2014 World Cup. European champions and – and the interest it generated German soccer federation
The team was given a heroes' not the champions of hearts," at home – will have a knock- president Bernd Neuen-
welcome back in Frankfurt An average of nearly 18 mil- Voss-Tecklenburg said. "But on effect for the women's dorf said the players' efforts
on Monday, when thousands lion viewers watched Sun- if the great performances Bundesliga, where spectator at Euro 2022 had inspired a
of flag-waving fans turned day's final on German broad- helped us play our way into numbers are usually quite new beginning for women's
up in front of the city hall to caster ARD, breaking an the hearts of the German low. soccer in the country.
show their appreciation for 11-year-old record for wom- people, then we're happy to "Tournaments are nice and
coach Martina Voss-Tecklen- en's soccer from the 2011 be champions of hearts." important, but ideally they "We experienced the end of a
burg and her players. World Cup. Viewing figures should reflect on everyday tournament on Sunday, but
"It's crazy that a performance for Euro 2022 increased as Pride in the performances sporting life. I'd like that very also the start of something
is recognized over several Germany progressed to the and the disappointment of much because I see the im- quite big. We can all be happy
weeks and not only with a final. Just over 12 million losing led some to accuse the mense commitment put into about that," Neuendorf said.
win," Voss-Tecklenburg said. saw the semifinal win over German soccer federation of women's soccer. But in the "Of course, we hope that
France. not doing enough to support end it's always the same – you we will bring many women
Chloe Kelly's goal in ex- Alexandra Popp, who scored female players and of treat- vote with your feet," Watzke and young girls into football
tra time denied Germany a six goals to steer her team ing women's soccer as an af- told Kicker magazine. through this wonderful tour-
ninth European title and gave into the final at Wembley, terthought compared to the nament."

Before Venus Williams' return, Halep advances in Washington

(AP) — Simona Halep won I won the match and I can pictured himself back on the said. "These sort of matches set to play his first match of
her opening match at the play another match here." court in moments like this. or these events are something the tournament Monday af-
Citi Open on Monday hours "There was long periods you imagine when you're ternoon against Mikael Ymer
before another former No. Williams has not played a where I was just out, couldn't out." of Sweden.
1-ranked women's player re- WTA singles match since los- play, didn't pick a racket up.
turned to singles action for ing to Su-Wei Hseih 6-2, 6-3 ... It just wasn't fun at all," he Countryman Andy Murray is
the first time in 2022. in Chicago on Aug. 23. She
and partner Coco Gauff lost
Venus Williams is set to play their doubles debut earlier
her first singles match in this year at the French Open.
nearly a year when she faces
Canadian Rebecca Marino On the men's side, Kyle Ed-
on the same court where mund defeated qualifier Yo-
the third-seeded Halep beat suke Watanuki 6-4, 7-6(8) to
Cristina Bucsa of Spain 6-3, win his first ATP Tour-level
7-5 earlier in the day at the singles match since Octo-
hard-court tuneup for the ber 2020. Edmund, who was
U.S. Open. once the top-ranked Brit and
climbed as high as 14th in the
"I had a good run in Wimble- world, was out while recov-
don, so it's always tough to ering from three knee surger-
start," Halep said of changing ies.
surfaces after the grass-court
season. "But I'm really happy During his rehab, Edmund