DFB captain Giulia Gwinn: “We can beat every opponent”

“I appreciate our chances very well. We have a strong team,” says Giulia Gwinn (26) confidently shortly before the start of the women’s football European Championship in Switzerland. The Double winner with FC Bayern leads the DFB team as a captain on the field-for her “a huge honor and responsibility”.

But Gwinn not only wants to convince in terms of sport, but also as a role model. As a new brand ambassador of the off-price retailer TK Maxx, she is committed to Female Empowerment: “I want to show women that they can set their own rules of the game-whether in sports, in fashion or in life,” she explains in an interview.

Giulia Gwinn: The defeat 2022 was of course incredibly painful. It is always hard to fail shortly before the finish. But in sport, as in life, it is about learning from setbacks and stronger to emerge. As a team, this experience was closely welded to us and made the desire for success even greater.

Gwinn: Wearing the captain’s armband is a huge honor and responsibility. In terms of sport, it means walking up on the square, leading the team and keeping calm at difficult moments. Personally, it is a sign of trust that my teammates and the coaching staff show me. It is about strengthening and encouraging each individual, going their own way and exploiting their full potential. I want to be a role model and show that you can achieve a lot with passion and authenticity. Together with TK Maxx, I am committed to reinforcing women in finding their own way. Be it on the field, in the job or in everyday life – have the courage to raise your voice, to follow your dreams and not to be bent.

Gwinn: The creative balance is very important to me. Football is my great passion, but I also need moments when I can switch off and follow other interests. For me, fashion is a form of expression that reflects my personality. I love trying different styles and discovering unique pieces. It is a great feeling to express yourself through fashion every day and show who you are away from the field. And it’s nice to see that my followers also inspire that.

Gwinn: It was really an incredible year so far, and I am very grateful for all the success. The double with Bavaria was fantastic, and that my book is so well received is huge. It shows that my message to go my own way and fight for his dreams reaches many people. And yes, the EM title would of course be the crowning glory! We work hard for it and are highly motivated.

Gwinn: We are incredibly focused on our goals and know what we want to achieve. At the same time there is a huge anticipation for the tournament. We have a fantastic cooperation, everyone supports the other, and we know that we can only be successful together. It is like a big family in which everyone brings their strengths. This positive energy is crucial and it gives us the self -confidence that we need to shine on the pitch.

Gwinn: Yes, I have my firm routines that help me to prepare me mentally and physically. This includes special warm -up exercises, but also mental visualizations to get in the mood for the games. I pay great attention to my diet and enough sleep.

Gwinn: I appreciate our chances very well. We have a strong team with a mixture of experienced players and young talents, all of whom are highly motivated. What makes me particularly optimistic is our team spirit and the way we work together. We are ready to fight for each other and give everything and have worked hard in the past few months – and we will now show that on the pitch.

Gwinn: There are some very strong nations in Europe that are also part of the favorite group. Teams such as England, France, Spain and the Netherlands are all of high quality and will demand us. But we concentrate on ourselves. We know that we can beat every opponent when we call up our performance and act as a team. We look forward to the challenge and to measure us with the best.