Tournament in Switzerland: Squad for the Women’s European Championship: Künzer speaks of title

In the middle of mountain huts and under a noisy summer bobbing, national coach Christian Wück launched the countdown for the European Championship in Switzerland. The 52-year-old announced his 23-member squad for his premier tournament with the German footballers from July 2 to 27 in the Europa-Park Rust.

The eight -time title winners are not – as expected and in a sporty way – his critics Felicitas Rauch and Nicole Anyomi. For this, offensive talent Cora Zicai can look forward to the European Championship ticket.

Since the national players are currently all relaxing on vacation, some children with their names on the jersey represented the EM participants – and raced across the bobbing.

“… then everything is possible”

“I already believe that we are seen by the English, Spaniards, French women as a favorite – and that’s exactly how we want to go into the games,” said Wück at the press conference in the Switzerland department of the South Baden amusement park. “If we call up our performance 100 percent, everything is possible.”

In 2023, Wück led the German U17 juniors to the EM and World Cup triumph. Now he is facing the great challenge with the DFB women who have often been inconsistent in recent years. The final in the European Championship 2022 was followed by the preliminary round flamage at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and then – under Horst Hrubesch – the effort with Olympic bronze in France.

Nia Künzer speaks of title

DFB sports director Nia Künzer is convinced that “we will play a successful European Championship with this squad”. The 2003 world champion recalled how she started in tournaments as a player – “with the target picture title”.

Captain Giulia Gwinn, striker Lea Schüller (both FC Bayern) and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger from the US Club NY/NJ Gotham as the oldest at the age of 34 lead the contingent. The average age is 25.6 years. Sara Däbritz has the most experience with 108 international matches: the 30-year-old was already a European champion in 2013, but no longer has a regular place.

Green light from the doctors for Zicai

Striker Zicai cure her muscle complaints in good time, got the green light from the doctors and, as the youngest, can drive to the European Championship in the DFB team. The 20-year-old from SC Freiburg is moving to VfL Wolfsburg this summer. In contrast, Alara Sehitler (18) from FC Bayern did not make it: the midfielder recently lacked high school exams and is only appointed as a possible successor.

It was not surprising that Frankfurt’s Bundesliga top scorer Anyomi and defender Rauch (North Carolina Courage/USA) were not nominated. Less because of the fact that the two last criticized the communication of the national coach and thus caused a lot of vertebrae and a pronunciation in the national team.

Seven Bayern players

Anyomi was recently missing against the Netherlands (4: 0) and in Austria (6-0) because of knee scabies, which she now wants to cure according to Wück. Rauch has only been nominated on call: the national coach chose the much younger Franziska Kett as a possible left -back. A total of seven Bayern players are the largest parliamentary group.

A decision was taken from Wück: Since central defender Sara Doorsoun was also only planned for Switzerland, the 33-year-old from Eintracht Frankfurt pulled the consequences and resigned from the national team this week.

Start in Herzogenaurach on June 19th

Wück had dissolved the biggest question mark on the contingent last week: Bayern star Lena Oberdorf, since her cruciate ligament rupture almost a year ago without any game practice, does not go to the European Championship.

The DFB women start their tournament preparation on June 19 in Herzogenaurach. The first European Championship game is on July 4 in St. Gallen against Poland. Other group opponents are Denmark (July 8th in Basel) and Sweden (July 12th in Zurich).