by Johnathan Stack (14/7/23)
Above: Germany – lining up for another bid for World Cup glory. Photo: Her Football Hub.
Germany, who hosted the 2011 tournament, will be a strong contender, and their coach, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, has announced a strong squad for this summer’s tournament.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Anne-Katrin Berger, Merle Frohms, Stina Johannes.
Defenders: Sara Doorsoun, Matina Hegering, Kathrin Hendrich, Sophia Kleinherne, Sjoeke Nüsken, Felicatas Rauch.
Midfielders: Jule Brand, Sara Däbritz, Chantal Hagel, Lena Lattwein, Melanie Leupolz, Sydney Lohmann, Lina Magull, Lena Oberdorf.
Forwards: Lea Schüller, Alexandra Popp, Laura Freigang, Svenja Huth, Klara Bühl, Nicole Anyomi.
Head Coach
Germany are led by 55-year-old Martina Voss-Tecklenburg a legend of the women’s game. During her time as a player, she played for KBC Duisburg, TVS Siegen, and FCR 2001. For the national team, Voss-Tecklenburg represented Germany 125 times. She appeared at three World Cups (1991, 1995, and 1999) as well as the 1996 Olympic Games.
Voss-Tecklenburg has won the Euros four times (1989, 1991, 1995, and 1997) from five attempts. In 2009 she managed FCR 2001 Duisburg to UEFA Women’s Cup (now known as the Champions League) glory before going on to lead FF USV Jena. She led the Swiss national team from 2012-2018, taking them to the last sixteen in their first appearance at a World Cup in 2015. Voss-Tecklenburg also ensured qualification for Switzerland for their first European Championships in 2017. She took over as Germany’s national head coach in 2019 and led them to the Euros Final last summer in England.
World Cup History
The Germans have an illustrious World Cup history to go alongside their eight European Championship victories. The DFB-Frauen are two times FIFA Women’s World Cup winners having won the title in 2003 and 2007.
Qualifying
Germany sailed through European qualifying losing just once. They finished Group H with 27 points, five clear of second-place Portugal who went into the playoffs. The Germans had an eye for goal, scoring 47 times and only conceding five.
Strengths
Going forward, everyone knows what Germany is capable of – scoring goals. They have so many options and with their strikers having great seasons there should be no difference this summer from usual. Germany is a threat.
Development Areas
Germany had a very good qualifying campaign, winning all but one game (a 3-2 defeat to Serbia in April 2022) but if they are to go all the way to clinch a third world title they will have to solidify their game at the back. Recent losses to USA and Brazil in the last two international windows will mean a bit of concern creeping into the back of German minds.
Key Player
Alexandra Popp. The captain of Germany has had a splendid season at Wolfsburg netting 24 goals in all competitions. Add the six she bagged in the Euros last summer and it shows Popp has had a fine year.
One to watch
Lea Schüller has had yet another fine season for Bayern Munich scoring 19 goals in all competitions and will be looking to take that scoring form into the World Cup this year.
Success would be
A place in the last four.
Prediction
Latter stages. Germany will want to go one better than last summer as they just missed out on glory losing in extra time to England’s Lionesses. Expect them to yet again be in the last eight.
Group H Fixtures
24th July – Morocco, AAMI Park, Melbourne.
30th July – Colombia, Sydney Football Stadium.
3rd August – South Korea, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
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