German World Cup squad: shock just before the nomination – Sport

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg frowned. In the press conference room at the Ronhof Sports Park in Fürth, the national coach had just spoken about the most recent performance of her soccer players: a disappointing 2:3 (0:0) against Zambia in the last test before flying to Sydney for the World Cup. That game, as the saying goes, provided a lot of insight into what the German national team needs to improve on before the tournament kicks off: pretty much everything. After 2003 and 2007, the declared goal of the 2022 European Championship finalist is to win the World Cup title for the third time. Since you should rather not from the world rankings-77. be countered too easily in the same way three times after losing the ball.

Voss-Tecklenburg acknowledged that her team (as they have in this mixed international season) made too many mistakes and lacked consistency and physicality against Zambia. Nevertheless, she was confident. “There is also an opportunity in it and we want to take it. Maybe the others are looking at us a little less now, maybe that’s good for us,” she said. “But we keep to ourselves. That’s the only thing we can do.”

The main reason for their worried mood was a completely different one anyway: three players not only took the shame of defeat, but also the pain of injuries – and unexpectedly messed up the naming of the final squad scheduled for Saturday. “Of course, that throws one or the other simulation game overboard,” said Voss-Tecklenburg late on Friday evening. “We really didn’t want that, so we’ll deal with that tonight.”

In the second half she had to replace central defender Marina Hegering and Lena Oberdorf, who was so essential in midfield. In the seventh minute of added time, left-back Carolin Simon was down after a tackle and was unable to continue. Her knee was “punished during the action”, was the first information from the national coach. Hegering said she suspected her foot was bruised, “it hurts with every step.” Oberdorf came off the pitch with his right thigh heavily bandaged, but feared “nothing wild”.

“The fact that this happened in the last game in almost the last minute is brutal,” says the national coach about Simon’s failure

Voss-Tecklenburg and her assistants must have had a short night. After many discussions in Herzogenaurach, where the Germans had been preparing in the training camp over the past few days, the decision was announced on time. At 4 p.m., the German Football Association (DFB) published a video with edited photos of the 23 World Cup participants on its channels. Shortly thereafter, a message followed, including diagnostics.

Hegering was correct in her assumption of a bruised foot and Oberdorf has a muscular injury, details were not given. Both are nominated. However, Simon will miss the tournament in Australia and New Zealand (July 20th to August 20th). The Bayern player tore her anterior cruciate ligament. “It takes us very, very emotionally. It was a difficult morning today because we had to fear that. Caro would have been in the squad, she presented herself very well,” said Voss-Tecklenburg on Saturday. Simon had not been considered for a long time after the 2019 World Cup and had fought his way back in recent months. “The fact that this is happening in the last game in almost the last minute is brutal.”

Apart from this bitter hardship, there were no further surprises with this nomination. Paulina Krumbiegel (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim) left on Wednesday with muscular problems. Sarai Linder (Hoffenheim), Tabea Sellner (VfL Wolfsburg) and goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic (MSV Duisburg) have also been dropped. Sellner, who was still called Waßmuth at the time, was at the 2022 European Championship and was used in the second half of the final, but had not been able to convince in the past few months. Janina Minge (SC Freiburg) will also travel with her so that she can be nominated in the event of a failure. According to FIFA regulations, an injured or ill player can be replaced up to 24 hours before the first group game if appropriate proof is provided.

Open detailed view

After a two-day break, the DFB team will fly to Sydney on Tuesday. The first group game is against Morocco on July 24, followed by the game against Colombia on July 30 and South Korea on August 3. Champions League finalist VfL Wolfsburg has the strongest block with ten players, followed by Eintracht Frankfurt with five and German champions FC Bayern with four players. Chelsea WFC is represented by three female footballers including Melanie Leupolz who is taking her son and is the only mother on the team. Olympique Lyon’s Sara Däbritz gives a club solo. Reserve keeper Stina Johannes (Frankfurt), Chantal Hagel (Wolfsburg) and Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea) are traveling with the senior team for the first time to a major tournament.

The fact that so many women from Wolfsburg are in the squad did not bring the desired effect against Zambia. Eight VfL professionals were in the starting XI. In front of goalkeeper Merle Frohms, Felicitas Rauch, Marina Hegering, Kathrin Hendrich and Svenja Huth – who normally plays as a winger – formed the defensive line. Club colleague Lena Oberdorf also played in midfield and Jule Brand on the right front. The defense was still too unstable, the offensive too inefficient. After the break, the Germans ran after a 0:2 deficit before Lea Schüller (90+1) and Popp (90+10) equalized in turbulent overtime. Zambia shattered the euphoria two minutes later. Hendrich spoke of a “wake-up call” at the right time: “It’s good that this has happened now and we can adjust accordingly. I hope that will inspire us instead of unsettling us.”

The hoped-for upswing in the fifth international match this year didn’t materialize, which also applies to the further development made after the sensational European Championship. Instead of reaching the next level with the self-confidence and strong cohesion built up in England, it seems as if this team is just treading water. Now the big question is whether that means the Germans will be heading home early from Australia. Or whether a pattern repeats itself: Before the European Championship, the DFB women had not been able to convince either – they still reached the final.

The German World Cup squad at a glance:

Goal: Ann-Katrin Berger, Merle Frohms, and Stina Johannes

Defense: Sara Doorsoun, Chantal Hagel, Marina Hegering, Kathrin Hendrich, Sophia Kleinherne, Sjoeke Nüsken, and Felicitas Rauch

Midfield/Attack: Nicole Anyomi, Jule Brand, Klara Bühl, Sara Däbritz, Laura Freigang, Svenja Huth, Lena Lattwein, Melanie Leupolz, Sydney Lohmann, Lina Magull, Lena Oberdorf, Alexandra Popp, Lea Schüller