The DFB women will meet France in the semi-finals of the Nations League. In order to win, the players want to go back to the European Championships in the summer.
Anyone who was part of the German women’s national team will no longer forget what happened on July 19, 2025. In the semi-finals of the European Championship, Germany experienced one of those games that will be talked about for decades afterwards. National coach Christian Wück’s team made it into the semi-finals with a 6-5 win on penalties – but the way they did it was even more extraordinary than the success itself. And that should help defeat the French team again.
At the European Championships, Kathrin Hendrich was shown a red card in the 13th minute, and two minutes later France took the lead through Onema Frace Geyoro. The situation was hopeless, but there was just enough opportunity for the DFB women to release an energy that will bind this team together forever. Sjoeke Nüsken equalized, all players fought for every ball until the end of extra time and Ann-Katrin Berger became the German goalkeeper hero.
National player Bühl: “Let’s look at it again”
The German team then had an unfortunate exit against Spain, but the most memorable thing was that evening in Switzerland against France. That is exactly the opponent in the first DFB game after the European Championships on Friday (5.45 p.m./live on ARD and in the stream on sportschau.de). “This game gave us extremely positive emotions”Klara Bühl remembers: “We’ll look at that again, because for us it’s important to find these emotions again in memory. You can then use that in a very positive way.”
Especially since the thought of the entire tournament gives the team confidence. “The European Championships showed what potential we have and what we are capable of. We have taken a huge step forward, especially in terms of mentality. Now we want to further develop and consolidate our offensive, which suits the types of players we have.”said Buhl.
New mode in the Nations League Final Four
It was exactly this offensive that shone in the Nations League before the European Championships. Things got off to a slow start in the group phase with a 2-2 draw in the Netherlands, but then the DFB Express was unstoppable. In the five other games (the other opponents were Austria and Scotland) there were five wins with a goal difference of 24:2 – the Wück team scored at least four goals in each game.
The scoring frenzy against France is unlikely to continue as strongly as the opponent is too strong for that. But the goal remains to reach the final – in a way that even surprises the players. Because both the semi-finals and the game for third place and the final will be played in the return leg. “That surprised me, but it’s also very exciting because it’s a new mode”said Bühl: “But that can also be an advantage because you get a second chance if a game wasn’t so good.”
Comebacker Schulze Solano feels for Oberdorf
Bibiane Schulze Solano, who is celebrating her DFB comeback after tearing her cruciate ligament, also gets a new chance. As a person present at the press conference on Tuesday, she was an ideal contact person, as the topic of ‘cruciate ligament tears’ has come up again since Lena Oberdorf’s announcement at the weekend. There are now 16 players out of the women’s Bundesliga due to this type of injury.
“I can relate to that, it wasn’t an easy time for me either.”said Schulze Solano: “I was ready to play again after eleven months and celebrated my comeback a month and a half ago. Now I’m fit again and very happy about it.” Because this way she can celebrate her return – as was the plan for Oberdorf before she injured her right knee again in the Bundesliga game against 1. FC Köln (5-1).
“We’ll think of something small”Oberdorf’s Bayern teammate Bühl announced an action. It should be the first consolation for “Obi” on Friday, the DFB women will also want to win the game in Düsseldorf (like the second leg four days later) for their actual midfield boss. Reminiscing should help them do this.