Lena Oberdorf: National coach strokes midfielder from EM squad

Without Bayern star Lena Oberdorf, the German footballers go to the European Championship. National coach Christian Wück ended the hanging game around the world -class player, who suffered a cruciate ligament tear a year ago and has not played a single minute since then, before the nomination on June 12th.

“It is on the right track, but the European Championship comes too early for her. We want to give its time to prepare fully and look forward to seeing you again in the new season,” said Wück in a DFB announcement a day after the furious 6-0 of the German selection in Vienna against Austria.

The 23-year-old belonged to the squad for the National League games against Austria in Vienna (6-0) and against the Netherlands in Bremen (4: 0), but, as announced, only sat in the stands.

The decision before the tournament from July 2 to 27 in Switzerland was made after an “intensive evaluation of the training impressions of the past few days”, the association said. FC Bayern was also informed about this, which had been skeptical about a possible European Championship participation from the start. Oberdorf has been waiting for her debut for Bayern since she moved from VfL Wolfsburg to Munich a year ago.

“First of all, we are very happy to have OBI in the team again. Not only as a player, but also as a personality. She is basically an enrichment for all of us – on and off the square,” added Wück to the European Championship announcement. So far, the midfielder herself has not commented on.

After weeks of debates about an Oberdorf return, the 51-year-old was not interested in the fact that the topic also overlaps the cadre’s announcement in the Europapark Rust. In addition, the DFB chief coach sent its international players on vacation with clear announcements. Everyone knows whether it belongs to the 23-member squad for the highlight of the season.

On June 19, everyone will meet for the European Championship preparation in Herzogenaurach. “It’s not just Obi, it’s about the team,” Wück had previously explained. Oberdorf has improved its shape every day. “Nevertheless, we realize that in one or the other situation she is still very in her body, in her knee. And there may not be free from the head.”

In the Oberdorf’s position in the defensive midfield, Elisa has been established in particular, even if the Frankfurt woman is a completely different type of player than the massive Munich native. In addition, Sjoeke Nüsken from FC Chelsea and the Sydney Lohmann (Bayern Munich) so strong against Austria can play in the control center.

In a similar case to Oberdorf, in 2023 in front of the World Cup in Australia, decided against a nomination of Giulia Gwinn. However, today’s DFB captain had already cure her second cruciate ligament tear.

At the age of 23, Oberdorf has already shown 51 caps. In 2019 in France she became the youngest German World Cup player at the age of 17, five months and 20 days. At the EM 2022 in England, she had long since conquered a regular place.

The Bayern player tore the cruciate ligament in the European Championship qualification against Austria on July 16 in Bochum. After the Olympic Off and the now missed EM participation, Oberdorf may only hope for a big tournament in 2027 if the World Cup takes place in Brazil.