Germany’s soccer players started with a 2-0 (0: 0) mandatory victory in the European Championship in Switzerland. However, the success in St. Gallen was overshadowed by the possibly serious injury to captain Giulia Gwinn.
The right -back had to be replaced on Friday evening before the break. After a rescue operation, the 26-year-old had grown to the knee, then continued to leave the place shortly afterwards. There will be a precise diagnosis after a timely MRI examination, the DFB said during the game.
At this point, the team of national coach Christian Wück had already set the course for victory in the first section in the first section by hits from Jule Brand (52nd) and Lea Schüller (66.). But: The record European champion will have to improve in order to be able to say a word when it was awarded the title.
“We are satisfied that we won the game. But we know that we can play much better,” said Wück in the Sportschau interview. Like his players, the national coach was gone in view of the Gwinn injury despite the success: “That was a bitter victory from us.”
Wück puts on Poland Netherlands-starting eleven
Wück trusted at the start of the European Championships, which also at the Plip of Nation League group game on May 30th in Bremen against the Netherlands (4: 0) had started. As a left -back, Sarai Linder received preference for Franziska Kett and Linda Dallmann the role of the game designer. Before the game, there had been guessing rates about the occupation of these two positions.
The performance of the DFB team in the first 45 minutes was somewhat puzzling. The last two encounters in front of the European Championship against the Netherlands and Austria (6-0) such combination -proof and goal -hungry record title was lacked in the forward movement of the speed, football finesse and precision in play. In addition, the withdrawal behavior was more than questionable in phases. In short: the idea of the world ranking in third before the break was mixed.
Brand awards the best chance for Germany
Why didn’t Germany come into the flow in the first 45 minutes? Well, it founded on the described deficits and an opponent who not only defended very disciplined and robust, but also showed good switchover behavior. While the DFB-Elf acted much too complicated, rarely came behind the Polish defense and overall hardly had any depth in their game, the Polishers performed their relief attacks straightforwardly and quickly.
After winning balls, the EM debutant repeatedly staged the Wieselinche Ewa Pajor with long balls. Happiness for the Wück team that the star striker from FC Barcelona failed the nerves in the 31st minute after a counterattack. The former Wolfsburg native drogs the ball into the catch network.
Take a deep breath in Germany, which had just had its best opportunity after fire after one of the very few clever attacks. The outdoor attacker failed with her shot in the short corner of keeper Kinga Szemik (24th). There were no other really noteworthy degrees until added time. Then Dallmann served Schüller, who did not hit the ball properly and clearly missed the housing.
Tears at Giulia Gwinn: Captain may be seriously injured
At that point, the game, even the European Championship, was already over for Gwinn. She had injured her knee during a defense campaign against Pajor and had to be replaced in the 40th minute. The fact that the captain sheds bitter tears indicates that she felt that she was seriously injured.
Unfortunately, the 26-year-old has enough experience in this regard. Among other things, she had torn the cruciate ligament twice in recent years. For Gwinn, Carlotta Wamser was substituted, who celebrated her EM debut at the age of 21.
Brand ensures leadership with a dream goal
The Leverkusen woman did a really good job in her first international match. In her area of responsibility, fire on the right side also fell free to keep the back on the right. The Palatinate native was able to concentrate entirely on offensive campaigns. And one of them will certainly end up in the compound of the most beautiful EM goals: In the 52nd minute, the 22-year-old pulled inside the penalty area and pushed the ball on the left into the gable.
A shot like a beam. And a shot with a liberating effect. “Not everything worked today. That’s why I am pleased that I could help the team with a goal,” said Brand later. After the 1-0 greeted the German marmots in St. Gallen. The record European champion now played as beautiful and fast -paced as he had done in the games before the tournament started.
“Poland fright” Schüller strikes again
However, the now stirring German idea had small blemishes – keyword exploitation of opportunities. Sjoeke Nüsken (62nd) and Schüller (64th) would have had to achieve the 2-0 free -standing from a few meters. At least Nüsken should spend a little time on the header pendulum in the coming days.
In the case of Schüller, it was mitigating that she got the 2-0 short afterwards with her forehead and thus made the preliminary decision in the Kybunpark. Brand had perfectly staged the Munich woman. It was the fourth goal in the past three comparisons by Schüller against the Pole.
It was difficult today, I think that was seen in the first half. But it was also expected that we would not have an easy game here at the European Championship. That’s why we did it well. We played patiently, waited for our goal and then put it after one and won at the end, “said Schüller of the sports show.
Tuesday Denmark Next Germany opponent
Poland seemed forced to her knees after her goal. But because the DFB team defended sloppy again in the final quarter of an hour, the Eastern Europeans still had chances to go. So there is still work for Wück after the first group game. Quite a lot. The next opponent in Germany is Denmark next Tuesday (July 8th, 2025, 6 p.m.), who lost 0-1 against Sweden on Friday.