By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, July 6 (Xinhua) -- German Football Association president Bernd Neuendorf announced plans to increase efforts to promote women's football in Germany ahead of the 2022 UEFA European Women's Championship.
"We have to improve investments and efforts. I hope this year's tournament is triggering a push for women's football deep down into our society," the 60-year-old stated.
Ahead of this year's tournament in England, record champions Germany have lost their leading role in women's football. To fight the loss of interested talents, the association has launched a development program to support clubs and talent development.
The official said the newest talent figures in German football generally give a reason for optimism, but "we have to admit we would need much bigger figures in girls and women's football."
Two-time world champions (2003 and 2007) and 2016 Olympic champions Germany have failed to gain consistency over the past years.
While Germany won eight of the 12 continental tournaments between 1984 and 2017 - the last one coming in 2013 - England, France and Spain are expected to be the favorites this year.
Germany, who will face Denmark, Spain, and Finland in the group stage, have to accept the role of an underdog.
While Euro 2022 organizers have sold over 500,000 of the 700,000 tickets, most German clubs suffer from poor infrastructure and a league game with average crowds of just 1,000.
UEFA increased payments to the tournament's participating teams to address the upswing women's football is enjoying around the world.
The continental federation increased the prize fund to 16 million euros and doubled investment compared with recent years.
According to Neuendorf, only 187,000 of the 2.2 million active footballers in Germany are female.
While most other European countries and regions benefit from rising numbers of talents and spectators, Germany has lost touch with the leading European sides.
Many German coaches are demanding the implementation of minimum requirements for clubs to improve infrastructure and training facilities.
Only four German clubs - Frankfurt, Wolfsburg, Potsdam and Munich - are supplying players for the country's Euro 2022 squad, while only three are playing for clubs abroad in Britain, France and the United States.
The German team will cross swords with Denmark in their tournament opener on Friday. ■
