Lena Oberdorf seriously injured in the knee – out for the Olympics

The German women’s soccer team and coach Horst Hrubesch will have to do without one of their most important players at the Olympic Games in Paris. Midfielder Lena Oberdorf sustained a cruciate and medial ligament injury in her right knee during the 4-0 win against Austria. The DFB announced this after an MRI scan in Munich.

“This news hurts! Our worst fears have come true. We are all thinking of Obi and feel for her,” said national coach Hrubesch in the statement. “We will once again pool all our strengths for the Olympic Games. We want to and will play for a medal for Obi.”

No player can replace Lena Oberdorf

Oberdorf is considered a central figure in the number six position in the team of the 2016 gold medal winner. Practically no one has the world class and power of Lena Oberdorf in the national team, which sets off from Frankfurt/Main to Marseille on Sunday and will face its first preliminary round opponent, Australia, on Thursday. On July 28, it will play against the USA, and three days later against Zambia.

The subsequent nomination for Oberdorf is only to be announced in the next few days. Hrubesch could call up Janina Minge (VfL Wolfsburg) for his 18-man squad. The former Freiburg player, like three other players, is currently only available on call. But no one can replace Oberdorf, who has played 51 international matches at a young age, so quickly. Especially since, according to Hrubesch, a lot will be about physicality at the Olympics.

The great atmosphere in front of 43,953 spectators in Hanover, the last successful endurance test before the Summer Games after the sobering 0:3 defeat in Iceland – all of that was wiped away a few minutes after the final whistle in view of Oberdorf’s injury. Striker Lea Schüller, who was recently on holiday with her future Munich club colleague, had tears in her eyes after the game.

FC Bayern are also appalled

The moment of shock when Oberdorf was lying on the ground, apparently seriously injured, affected everyone in the DFB entourage. “I hope and I am also prepared to pray for a night that it is nothing serious and that we might be able to get her to the Olympics after all,” said Hrubesch in an initial reaction.

Oberdorf was brought to Munich on Wednesday. The scene after just under 70 minutes also caused horror among the German champions, who had lured the DFB star away from long-time rivals VfL Wolfsburg in a spectacular transfer: Oberdorf got stuck in the grass after an action and could only limp off the pitch on one leg, supported by a support staff member. “This is a very hard blow and we all feel for Lena. We will accompany her on her way back and be there for her in all matters,” said Bayern director Bianca Rech. “Lena is a fighter, we will have a lot of fun with her.”

“She screamed in pain”

Captain Giulia Gwinn, who has torn her cruciate ligaments twice, witnessed the incident up close and spoke of “definitely mixed feelings. That didn’t sound good and it obviously hurts a lot when you see a player suffering like that.” Defender Kathrin Hendrich said: “She screamed in pain. She said it was a crack, but of course that doesn’t always mean something.”

Oberdorf had already missed the first group match at the unsuccessful 2023 World Cup in Australia due to injury. Last season she struggled with back problems for a long time

Oberdorf is considered to be someone who has no equivalent replacement in the Olympic team, also because of her offensive play and her experience. Hrubesch said that Alexandra Popp could also play at number six. But the regular captain and striker was rested in Hanover after a foot injury, as was defensive leader Marina Hegering. “They are both fit, they could have been used,” said the national coach about the duo from VfL Wolfsburg.