A Bundesliga record in Cologne, more than 22,000 fans at the Champions League semifinals in Wolfsburg: VfL coach Tommy Stroot sees Sunday’s attendance figures as another sign of the growing popularity of women’s football in Germany.
“We managed to get more than 60,000 people in two stadiums in Germany. That’s outstanding,” said the head coach of VfL Wolfsburg after the 2-2 (2-1) semi-final first leg against WFC Arsenal.
His team played in front of the club’s record women’s football crowd of 22,617 spectators in the Volkswagen Arena. At the same time, the Bundesliga game between 1. FC Köln and Eintracht Frankfurt (0:2) took place in front of 38,365 spectators.
“Often there was a unique highlight somewhere in Germany: sometimes in Frankfurt, sometimes here, sometimes a Champions League game in Munich,” said Stroot. “The fact that this is now taking place at two locations in one day is another step that is the right development. That’s what we’re all working for. That’s what we all want to achieve together.”
In an international comparison, the number of viewers in Germany can still be increased. Up to 50,000 spectators are expected to watch the Champions League second leg between Arsenal and Wolfsburg on May 1 in London. Last year, VfL played in the semifinals at FC Barcelona in front of 91,648 fans.
Exactly this experience should help the women of Wolfsburg next Monday at the Emirates Stadium. “We got a lot out of the Barça game,” said Stroot. “At the final of the Women’s European Championship in Wembley, I recognized that many players have had this experience before. We know how to deal with this big crowd. I’m really looking forward to the game in London. If we want to win big games, then big stadiums are part of it, then a certain atmosphere is part of it. If we can do that, then I know we’re ready for the final.”
