WLS: Can you describe the moment when you were asked to work as Chair for the Next Women's World cup?

I felt very honoured by the DFB's decision to entrust this pivotal position as president of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Organising Committee to me. The great support I received from the very first minute from the president of the German FA, Dr. Theo Zwanziger, made me feel confident. Besides, we have excellent people working at the OC, which makes things easier.

WLS: How are the plans coming?

Preparation for the World Cup is proceeding at a fast pace. The OC was set up in January, we launched our emblem in April and we have already appointed three World Cup ambassadors. Additionally, the FIFA Executive Committee fixed the number of teams that will take part in the final competition at 16 and confirmed that the U-20 Women’s World Cup 2010 will take place in Germany.

WLS: What are your biggest challenges right now?

The OC is facing a variety of challenges. We want to organise a state-of-the-arts World Cup, fill the stadiums, and promote women’s football beyond 2011.

WLS: Your thoughts on having two such prestigious tournaments World Cup and U-20 BACK TO BACK?

It’s a great challenge and a nice opportunity for women’s football in Germany to host such important events. Moreover, we are very honoured by the fact that FIFA appointed Germany to host two “A” World Cups within five years.

WLS: What can soccer fans look forward to for both tournaments in Germany?

We will do our best to organise two great parties of women’s football. As our emblem says, we want Germany to become one big “Arena Deutschland” with fans enjoying both the fantastic atmosphere and the great football games.

WLS: Can you describe where you think the women's game is right now?

Women’s football has made significant steps forward, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. We believe that through the World Cup we can do a lot in order to increase the popularity of women’s football worldwide and get more girls into our sport.

WLS: What are the positives you see?

Nowadays it’s not uncommon to see women playing football. On the contrary, more and more women are playing football in countries in which some years ago women’s football wasn’t a popular sport. In the past months I have had the opportunity to visit New Zealand and Chile and it’s truly amazing the extent to which women’s football is becoming a popular phenomenon over there. Truth be told, I fully support President Blatter’s statement “the future of football is feminine”.

WLS: Where can we improve?

We still need to overcome some prejudices and improve conditions in areas such as management, infrastructure and coaching. It would be very important to focus on both national team football and national leagues. While in men football the gap between favourites and underdogs is decreasing we still have a huge gap in women’s football and that’s why we believed the decline in performance with 24 teams at a World Cup would be too great. It’s good to be playing with 16 teams.

WLS: Your thoughts on The Olympic Tournament?
Germany?
USA?
Canada?

Germany will face a very tough group with Brazil, Nigeria and Korea DPR. The US are a very strong team, with a new generation of very interesting players, and Canada is making steps forward, although they will be facing a hard group as well.

WLS: Care to make a prediction?

Better not. What matters is that we get some thrilling football games, which I’m sure we will.