By Marie Bjerre

Despite a Euro 2002 without too many goals for Germany, the German girls still have a positive outlook on their results so far. To the them Euro 2002 is about far more than just placings, said the experienced goal keeper, Christine Lindemann, when we caught her yesterday before the team's field trip to Copenhagen.

Germany finally got their first victory in Euro 2002. The two matches they lost were marked by many German technical faults, which seemed to almost disappear once Germany got the grip on the Spanish 9-metre players. It is now Germany that, along with Russia and Norway, will move on to the main round.

But with the injured Grit Jurak as team official rather than player on the court, the Germans are one important player short. But in return the team has learned to take common responsibilty:
'A lot of our game has been based on Grit Jurak taking up responsibility if things went wrong, but with her on the side line the entire team has to take responsibility', explains Christine Lindemann, the first choice for goal keeper on the German ream. She states the common responsibility as an explanation for the German success at the most crucial time.

Men's handball gets all the attention
But going to the main round is far more for Germany than just a chance for a better placing. Despite a victory over Spain on Sunday night there is, without points, not much to play for. But with each televised match the team wins a little.
'Now we are playing to make a point of women's handball in Germany', says Christine Lindemann. The status that women's handball has in Denmark is enviable for a German national team player.

Although Germany is a nation with good memories of women's handball, a missing World Championship qualification and other setbacks have caused the popularity of the game to drop.
'Just two or three years away from qualifications are a disaster for women's handball', explains Christine Lindemann, who, along with the rest of the team, has to watch the attention and money being directed at men's handball, football and Formula 1.

'We are a team on the way up. We have a lot of young players with a better technique. When Grit comes back we will be a top level team', the always smiling goal keeper guarantees.