DFB women
How Hrubesch is planning the Olympics: with the Bundesliga and with Popp
Coach Horst Hrubesch wants the national players to be “in top physical condition”. photo
© Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
The start of the European Championship qualification was successful with victories against Austria and Iceland. But for a long time now, a lot of things have revolved around the Olympics for the German footballers and Coach Hrubesch.
He is not worried about the 33-year-old striker, who missed the start of qualifying for the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland due to knee problems. In the games in Austria (3:2) and against Iceland, right-back Giulia Gwinn from FC Bayern led the team onto the field as captain.
Popp’s club colleague Marina Hegering (torn muscle fiber in her calf) and Sara Däbritz (groin problems) from Olympique Lyon still have plenty of time to get fit again before the start of the Olympics at the end of July. While Hrubesch expects central defender Hegering (33), who has been injured since March 23, to be out for four weeks, the 29-year-old Däbritz could start training again at her club this Thursday.
In order to avoid misunderstandings with the Bundesliga clubs in preparation for the Olympics, Hrubesch corresponded with those responsible for the club. It was mainly about schedules, he explained: “Who goes on vacation for how long? When on vacation?” This season the league ends on May 20th and the new round starts on August 30th. Last year, there were disagreements between the DFB and FC Bayern during the preparations for the World Cup; the Munich team released their players later than the association wanted.
Final coordination of the Olympic schedule with clubs
The Olympic timetable still has to be coordinated with the clubs, but “we are not very far apart,” the interim national coach now assured. Hrubesch wants the national players to be “in top physical condition” with a view to the games. The aim is to play all six possible games in France.
To do this, the DFB team would have to reach the semi-finals. In the preliminary round we will first face Australia (July 25th), the four-time world champion USA (July 28th) and Zambia or Morocco (July 31st). If they reach the final, the German footballers will play for gold on August 10th.