After victory against Poland: third cruciate ligament tear? DFB team is worried with captain Gwinn

Vice captain Janina Minge and dream goalkeeper Jule Brand – Linda Dallmann was “incredibly sorry” of a “shock”. After the 2-0 opening victory at the European Championship against Poland, the German footballers fear their captain Giulia Gwinn, who had replaced with tears before the break. In the morning after the game in St. Gallen, an MRI examination in Zurich is said to show how seriously the right-back on the left knee was injured. The 26-year-old Bayern player threatens the third cruciate ligament rupture of her career.

“Brutal shock, of course, in the situation. I mean we know all Giulis history. We all press all, all fingers. Of course, hope that it is not very bad,” said Minge. “As a team, we have to stand together, help her and then just hope the best.”

The team “got the three points for them,” said Brand about Gwinn. “It was already a shock for all of us. If Giuli is lying, it is never anything good because it always gets up again and again.”

Gwinn had already torn the right cruciate ligament in September 2020 in the European Championship qualification against Ireland and in DFB training in October 2022. That is why she also missed the 2023 World Cup in Australia.

Wück does not want to speculate

Christian Wück still has hope with his captain. “The worst thing we can do is to speculate. We don’t know,” said the national coach. Only after the MRI do you know more: “After that, the doctors can say whether it is bad or not bad.”

Gwinn would be the third player from the DFB squad this year, who would have caught this serious knee injury. In February, the then Essen goalkeeper Sophia Winkler and midfielder Marie Müller from Portland Thorns FC tore the cruciate ligament. Gwinn’s Bayern colleague Lena Oberdorf had no longer made it to the European Championship: The 23-year-old had suffered the serious injury in the last international match before Olympics in 2024. In Carolin Simon, another Munich woman in the test game before the 2023 World Cup.

Gwinn had first led the German national team on the lawn at a tournament. Then the shock followed in the 36th minute in the St. Gallen arena: during a rescue operation against Poland goalkeeper Ewa Pajor, she twisted her knee. Gwinn “prevented an almost safe goal with this campaign,” said Wück. “That’s why it is just incredibly bad for us if it really should be something worse.” The head coach rushed into the catacombs after the final whistle and the mandatory circle with the players.

Consolation for Gwinn in the cabin

“I said that we are now going into the cabin immediately, hug their arms, talk to their courage, and then we can get out and be able to thank the fans,” said the 52-year-old.

Gwinn’s club colleague Linda Dallmann also reported on this. “We are in in shortly after the game, hugged them once again and then came out again,” said the game maker. “Because Giulia is also someone who is always there for us. So no matter when and for whom. So I’m incredibly sorry for you. But I still hope that it may not be that bad.”