DFB women
World Cup squad is set – Simon is missing after a cruciate ligament rupture
Missing at the World Cup: Carolin Simon. photo
© Daniel Löb/dpa
National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg will have to do without Carolin Simon at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. A cruciate ligament rupture prevents the Bayern player from traveling.
Without the injured one Carolin Simon is traveling with the German national soccer team to the World Cup in Australia.
The Bayern player tore a cruciate ligament in the last test match before the World Cup on Friday evening against Zambia (2: 3), as the German Football Association announced on Saturday. The final 23-man squad is led by captain Alexandra Popp. Marina Hegering and Lena Oberdorf (both VfL Wolfsburg), who were injured after the Zambia game, are on board, as is Stina Johannes as the third goalkeeper. The Frankfurter prevailed against Ena Mahmutovic from MSV Duisburg.
Minge with me on the plane
Also on the plane that takes off for Australia on Tuesday is the 24th player Janina Minge from SC Freiburg. She could still be nominated by national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (55) if there were failures in the regular squad. Paulina Krumbiegel, Sarai Linder (both TSG Hoffenheim) and Tabea Sellner (VfL Wolfsburg) named for the provisional squad are staying at home.
The largest contingent comes from Champions League finalists and runners-up VfL Wolfsburg with ten players, five come from third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt and four from German champions FC Bayern. With reserve goalkeeper Ann-Kathrin Berger, Sjoeke Nüsken, Melanie Leupolz (all Chelsea) and Sara Däbritz (Olympique Lyon) there are four legionnaires in the World Cup squad.
“The message from Carolin Simon hits us all. She had developed excellently, had great performances and more than earned her place in the World Cup. We now have to accept the situation,” Voss-Tecklenburg is quoted as saying in the DFB’s statement.
The German team will start the tournament in Melbourne on July 24 against Morocco (10.30 a.m. CEST/ZDF). The other opponents in Group H are Colombia, who are waiting for the DFB team in Sydney on Sunday, July 30 (11:30 a.m. CEST/ARD), and finally South Korea on August 3 (12:00 p.m. CEST/ZDF).