Henning: Germany dreaming of Brazil repeat
For Germany defender Josephine Henning, success has come early in the form of three UEFA Women's Champions League titles, four Frauen Bundesliga league trophies, a DFB-Pokal in 2013 as well as a UEFA Women's EURO title, all by the age of just 25.
But as she attempts to add a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ to her impressive trophy collection in Canada this summer, there is a real sense of calm around her – perhaps brought about by her satisfaction with how things have gone since moving to Paris Saint-Germain in the France.
Taking some time out from her team’s training camp at Aspire Academy in Doha, Henning talked to www.sc.qa about her earliest memories of playing football with her father, inspirational encounters with Brazil’s defensive duo Thiago Silva and David Luiz, dreams of lifting the biggest trophy in football, and her first impressions of Qatar.
Your successes in both club and international football have been quite remarkable so far. Where did it all begin for you?
My dad played football, and he used to play with his friends who were around 30, 35. I would run around and play there with them on the local pitch as a little girl. So at some stage he said: now you have to find a team, we’ll check if there is one. Luckily there was a women’s team where we lived.
Now you live in Paris, and play your club football for Paris Saint-Germain. Has it been a dream move for you?
I always wanted to move to another country, I didn’t know it would be France and so close to home. Sometimes due to the culture and the surroundings it does seem a long way from Germany. But I can get to Trier, where my mother lives, in three hours, whereas before I played in Potsdam and Wolfsburg, which was six or seven hours from home. It is of course a dream to play in Paris, I would recommend moving to a new country to anyone. You learn a lot about the country, culture and sport there, but also about yourself, which is so important.
This summer you have the chance to do something very important with Germany. Are you inspired by the men’s run to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ title?
It is good motivation, of course. We want to do it, everyone is driven, and it would be a great combination – for our country to be men’s and women’s World Champions. Of course it will not be easy. You can’t say two or three teams are favourites this time around. There will be surprises, everything has moved closer together, even the training methods, both physically and tactically. There has been a lot of development.
Four years after the tournament on home soil, do you feel there is a similar – or even bigger – level of public interest building in your team?
The World Cup in Germany and the amount of public interest generated was an important step for women’s football. I hope there is as much coverage as possible of Canada, even though it is a little further away from our country.
What will be the key to success in Canada this summer?
Our coach has enough experience in all areas, tournament, training conditions, as does our whole team. We have a good mix now, experienced players and young players, so now we have to use this – learn what went well and what didn’t in the past. I think we are ready. We are even playing matches away from home to make sure that the conditions are similar to Canada.
Before that you will try to win yet another Champions League trophy. Is it inspirational to have your colleagues from the men’s side around, and can you give them any tips for their quarter-final match-up seeing as you have already qualified for the semi-finals?
I have not met everyone, but we have used their training facilities which is great. Whether it is Thiago [Silva] or [David] Luiz, they are so friendly and have the natural happiness of South Americans. They are also incredible players and a real inspiration for me in my position.
We saw that PSG can do it against Barcelona, the potential is there. If they concentrate on their strengths, they can do well. It will be a great game. We often watch games together and wish our colleagues well.
Your current training camp has taken you to the Aspire Academy in Doha. What are your impressions so far?
This is incredible, the hotel is very nice and the weather is outstanding. But also the training facilities, gym and medical facilities. Players come here to the Aspetar sports hospital for their rehab here because it is such good quality on offer, so it is a very professional setup.
You have also had the chance to see some of the sights of the country. How do you think visitors will feel during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar?
We know how many people are football crazy, but some of them might not think of travelling to this region. So it is a great combination, a lot of people will be very interested in the culture when they are here in Doha. It is so different and that alone makes it so interesting. It is something special, I have been able to see the country, the Katara cultural village, and they try to show with simple means what the lifestyle is like here. It is simple but inspirational.
Our welcome has been great, in the city and the hotel. All the people who we are in contact with, there is a friendliness that you can feel. They will welcome everyone here in 2022. It is great that everything is central, the team and fans don’t have to travel far, that’s a great advantage. The teams will need to find things to do with their extra time, but in terms of the stadiums, I am not worried at all.
Finally, what kind of things will you be doing in your free time this summer in Canada to relax between games?
I do what everyone does, I love to chat with the family on Skype, listen to music, lie down in bed to watch TV, go for a walk outside. But what I do really like the most is to talk to my brother, because he is my person of trust and that really relaxes me.