As the German Football Association (DFB) announced on Tuesday (May 31, 2022), eight players each from champion and cup winner VfL Wolfsburg and runner-up FC Bayern Munich are in the squad for the tournament from July 6th to 31st. The squad is led by the 31-year-old captain Popp (113 international matches). The youngest in the team is 19-year-old Jule Brand from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Top favorites are others
“I have a lot of confidence in the team. The goal is for us to get very far with them EM“, said national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. However, the record European champions are not among the top favorites this time. “That might lead to one or the other underestimating us”said Voss-Tecklenburg.
She named Spain, France, the Netherlands, England, Sweden, Norway and Denmark as contenders for the title. Germany will meet two of these teams in the preliminary round: European runners-up Denmark will be their first opponent on July 8th, followed by highly rated Spain (July 12th) and then Finland (July 16th). Hosts England could stand in the way of a place in the quarter-finals.
Frohms remains number one – Schult replacement
Goalkeeper Almuth Schult has to EM left the space between the posts to Merle Frohms. “I’m glad that this position doesn’t cause us any stomach ache. Merle Frohms has been our number one for three years, so nothing will change in this status.”said Voss-Tecklenburg. “Merle has had very good to outstanding performances for three years. Nevertheless, the other goalkeepers should attack, a lot can happen in a tournament.”
Frohms (Eintracht Frankfurt) has the post in goal after the WM Taken over in 2019 when the 64-time national player Schult (VfL Wolfsburg) because of a shoulderOP and her baby break was missing. The 31-year-old Schult recently said that she had not yet given up the fight for number one.
First major tournament for DFB-Team since WM-From 2019
Schult, the future for the U.S-Club Angel City FC in los Angeles will play, but also wants to get behind Frohms (“We appreciate each other”) classify: “I will do everything to ensure that this team is successful at the EMbecause we can win the title.”
For the 2016 Olympic champion, the European Championship is the first major tournament since WM-Quarterfinal-Aus 2019. In the strong group B, the team from Voss-Tecklenburg meets Denmark, Spain and Finland.
Final Announcement of EM– Squad until June 21st
An initial preparation will take place from June 5th to 9th on the association’s new campus in Frankfurt. There then fight the shaky candidates of the DFB-Teams to get their own ticket for the EM in England. Because of the cup success of the VfL seven women from Wolfsburg will be missing.
The experienced midfielder Popp will, however, take part in the camp. “Alexandra Popp has decided to be there in Frankfurt, she will arrive on June 6th and train individually.”said Voss-Tecklenburg.
The only foreign professionals in the squad are midfielder Sara Däbritz from Paris Saint Germain and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger from FC Chelsea. Dzsenifer Marozsan by Olympique Lyon after a cruciate ligament tear and the pregnant Melanie Leupolz from FC Chelsea missing at the EM.
Before the final measure from June 21 to 29 in Herzogenaurach, the final EM-Contingent named. On June 24th there is a friendly international match against Switzerland in Erfurt.
Source: dpa/sid