England women are set to play in front of a larger Wembley crowd in their upcoming friendly against Germany than watched Roy Hodgson’s men tackle Norway at the national stadium.
The Football Association confirmed to the Press Association that ticket sales on Friday were hovering at just under 41,000, far above the target of 30,000 they had set for the 23 November match.
The men’s friendly against Norway on 3 September drew an attendance of just 40,181, the smallest Wembley crowd for a senior England game since the stadium was rebuilt.
Ticket sales in the three weeks before the women’s game are also expected to be brisk, raising the possibility of a crowd exceeding 50,000.
Great Britain’s women Olympic Games team were watched by 70,584 as they beat Brazil 1-0 at Wembley in 2012. The England women’s team have not played at the stadium since its redevelopment.
Mark Sampson’s side have qualified for next summer’s World Cup in Canada by winning all 10 of their qualifying matches and the fixture against the European champions, Germany, will set a record for the largest crowd at a home England women’s international, going beyond the 29,092 that witnessed victory over Finland at the Etihad Stadium during Euro 2005.
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"I did not expect so many people. To thank everyone, first to my teammates, without them it would not be possible. Also my family, the fans, the club for giving me the opportunity to play at the best club the world and win these individual trophies. the collective is important but so is the individual, work hard for it. “
"Winning the third Golden Boot is like the first. I am very happy, it’s a special day. I want to share with those who have helped me. Every day I feel more people want me. I promise to love you forever I’ll do my best on the field. My passion, my goals, my assistance, my matches. I still have many years in Madrid, I always try to give my best "
— Cristiano Ronaldo during the “Golden Boot press-conference”
“I’m very thankful and happy that some of my teammates took from their time to be present here with me today. It means a lot, since they’re not just teammates but friends.
To be fully honest with you, I do not like to invite the entire team to these sorts of events, because I feel I would be taking away from their precious time, just so they’re here at a ceremony that is for me. I don’t want to molest them, I prefer to leave them spend time with their families, their kids…that’s why I didn’t invite everyone to come. But I’m sure they all supported me from wherever they are anyway, so I’m very happy. I feel their support.”
— Cristiano Ronaldo during the “Golden Boot press-conference”
“While watching the images of me as a little boy, I have to admit I got a little emotional, because they reminded me very much of my son. He looks very much like me when I was his age.”
— Cristiano Ronaldo during the “Golden Boot”-Gala
German police have launched an investigation into attempted manslaughter after Galatasaray fans threw firecrackers and smoke bombs on to the pitch and into the Borussia Dortmund spectators during the Turks’ 4-1 defeat on Tuesday.
Edzard Freyhoff, Dortmund’s police chief, said trouble had started in the city centre before the Champions League game when a group of about 800 Galatasaray fans lit bangers and smoke bombs before marching towards the stadium.
“Once the game started they continued lighting them. We identified some and arrested them on the spot,” Freyhoff said.
The Group D game was interrupted twice for a few minutes while the Turkish team’s players went to the supporters in an effort to make them stop.
In an earlier statement, Dortmund police said: “Among other investigations were those launched into attempted manslaughter, disturbing the peace, breaking laws regulating explosives and laws on assembly.”
Police checked around 700 fans at the end of the game inside the stadium, photographing them as well as their identity cards or passports so the information could help police identify more troublemakers, Freyhoff said. Two police officers sustained minor injuries.
Galatasaray’s Hamit Altintop, who was born in nearby Gelsenkirchen, said: “I told them that if they continued like that the referee would stop the game.”
The Turkish club could now face sanctions as well as a fine from Uefa.
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