Anyone who knows the goalkeeper knows what that means. Zinsberger doesn’t say anything and always has something to say. But the thought of a sold-out stadium on Wednesday (9 p.m., live on ORF1) also gives her a moment of silence. “Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. Which way we went – and then we play England at Old Trafford. Do I need to say more? If you’re not motivated there, I don’t know anymore.”
Around 74,000 spectators in Manchester will set a record for the European Championship. Zinsberger was previously part of a record-breaking game on the island when she met Arsenal away against Tottenham in the 2019 north London derby in front of around 40,000 fans. But the EM start not only tops that numerically. “It will be impressive, just from the event, what will be raised there. It’s about the switch, enjoying the game and giving everything you’ve got,” said Zinsberger, who continued to develop in England.
“England will be a completely different number”
On Thursday, the ÖFB entourage took off from Vienna with 55 players and supervisors, for Zinsberger it was a familiar feeling. She has been playing for the “Gunners” in London for three years, now she and her team pitched the ÖFB tents an hour’s drive south-west in Pennyhill Park. For the bottom woman, like most of her teammates, it is the second participation in the European Championship. “England will be a completely different number again,” she noted in the atmospheric comparison with the tournament in the Netherlands, which ended in the semi-finals for her in 2017.
This is due to the opening game alone, but not only. Group A also faces tough competition from the hosts and Norway, but the selection is up to the task. “When I look at the team, I see players who want to achieve great things and bring the best to the field. I see the sparkle in their eyes and the fire in their place. We’ll leave everything on the pitch. If we do that, we have nothing to blame ourselves for,” said Zinsberger.
Only one title is missing with Arsenal
She has lived in London for three years and has established herself as the clear number one at Arsenal. After all, she had previously played for Bayern Munich, but the leap to the island was sportingly more worthwhile than initially thought. “When I left Bavaria I thought I still had ten percent in the tank, but I was shown new doors and new perspectives that there are still 30, 40, 50 percent left. That’s when my heart opened up. Of course, I would have liked to have taken one or the other title with me.” For the time being, it was personal awards, such as the “Save of the Season” in the 2020/21 season after the game against Tottenham.
She won the German championship twice with Bayern, staying just a point behind city rivals Chelsea this season. After 13 clean sheets, Zinsberger has now been awarded the “Golden Glove”. “I only didn’t play a few games, I’m basically satisfied with my performance and my development, but of course you can always do better. In the end it would be nice not only to lift the ‘Golden Glove’, but also the trophy. But next year it’s time to attack again and come what may, a title is needed,” emphasized Zinsberger, who has a second Austrian in the team with Laura Wienroither.
Next season, the ‘Big Six’ of the men’s Premier League – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham – are fully represented in the Women’s Super League after Liverpool made their way back up. Unlike in Austria, where top clubs still adorn themselves, the English top clubs help with development.
Of course, the final round of the European Championship should help to further promote popularity. “The professionalization in England is going very well, the BBC and Sky Sports are also trying to promote women’s football,” said Zinsberger. “And of course you can play more often in the Emirates Stadium, but 4,500 spectators come anyway, despite the wide range of sports on offer. I find that meaningful. Football is simply lived here.”
“I can put something aside”
In England, Zinsberger is living her dream, which began when she was six. Austria’s many years of and above all secure support began to play in Niederfellabrunn in Lower Austria, and she played for the first time in a club in Leitzersdorf. Via Neulengbach it went to Bayern and then to London, where it is now also financially successful.
“I live from professional football, I can say that now, that’s what I’ve been working towards. I can also put something on my side, but we’re far from saying, I’ll stop and lean back.” That’s not in the nature of the goalkeeper, who knows where her roots lie. “I’m still the little one from Niederfellabrunn.” And on Wednesday she’ll be right in the middle of it at the big Old Trafford.