Team Germany plays host to the Great Britain Lions at Solingen Walder Stadium in Düsseldorf, Sunday, May 28 as the International Federation of American Football Women’s European Championship tournament continues the round robin phase.
Five countries remain in the tournament – Germany, Great Britain, Finland, Spain and Sweden – and the nation that finishes on top of the standings once the competition concludes in August 2024 will be crowned champions.
This is Germany’s first game of the competition while Great Britain is coming off a decisive 40-0 shutout of Team Sweden in the opening game of the tournament. The Lions were silver medalists at the 2022 IFAF World Championships while the German squad finished fifth.
Germany’s Nicole Manthey is the only female head coach in the tournament and was appointed at the start of the year. She enters the competition with a definite goal of improving on the German national team’s performance in the worlds. Germany’s strength could well be at quarterback with a trio led by the Saarland Lady Canes Mona Stevens along with Silvana Friese (Berlin Kobra Ladies) and Nora Cermak (Stuttgart Scorpions Sisters).
Great Britain head coach Chris Stone has a potent running game at his disposal, led by a key member of the Boston Renegades running back Ruth Matta, but he also has wide receiver/running back Siobhan Walker as well as Vanessa Mansaray and Yasmin Cazeau on the offensive line.
Great Britain’s experience playing on the biggest stage may well give them a slight advantage, but Germany is playing at home and that could be the deciding factor in this one.
Great Britain @ Germany, May 28, 14:00 CET (2 pm, 8 am EDT)
