The Women's Olympic football tournament in Rio will kick-off on 3rd August. Until then, DFB.de will highlight some of the past achievements of Germany's Women's team at the Olympics. Today, we examine the Sydney games from 2000, which saw the DFB-Team claim their first ever medal.
Germany made quite a splash at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, winning their opening group game against hosts Australia and returning home with the bronze medal. 24,800 spectators witnessed Germany's 3-0 win over the Matildas in Canberra, with goals coming from Inka Grings, Bettina Wiegmann and Renate Lingor. A 2-1 victory over Brazil followed in the next game as Birgit Prinz bagged Germany's first brace at an Olympic Games football tournament.
A late strike from Ariane Hingst secured a 1-0 win over Sweden in their final group game held in Melbourne as Germany secured a spot in the semi-final. Here they suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to eventual Gold medal winners Norway. Tina Wunderlich’s own goal ended Germany's dreams of reaching the final.
Happy end in the small final
A respectable crowd of 11,200 fans attended the game for third place between Germany and Brazil. Renate Lingor and Birgit Prinz bagged goals in the second half to ensure a 2-0 victory and the bronze medal for the DFB Team. Germany coach Tina Theune was pleased after the game: "There is a lot of potential in our team. I'm very satisfied with the bronze medal."
Germany's squad at the 2000 Olympics (in alphabetical order): Nadine Angerer, Nicole Brandebusemeyer, Doris Fitschen, Inka Grings, Jeanette Götte, Stefanie Gottschlich, Ariane Hingst, Steffi Jones, Renate Lingor, Maren Meinert, Sandra Minnert, Claudia Müller, Martina Müller, Birgit Prinz, Silke Rottenberg, Andrea Schaller, Kerstin Stegemann, Sandra Smisek, Bettina Wiegmann, Pia Wunderlich, Tina Wunderlich.
Coach: Tina Theune-Meyer.
