Video:
Christian Wück – We have to make sure we experiment selectively” (4 min)
DFB women
As of: March 2nd, 2026 8:18 p.m
With the game against Slovenia, the German footballers will start qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil on Tuesday evening. Anything other than a clear success for the record European champions in Dresden against the blatant outsiders would be a big surprise.
The German journey to Sugarloaf Mountain should begin in “Florence on the Elbe”. The trip to the title. Because the third World Cup victory is of course the goal of the DFB women – even if no one in the German camp will communicate this so aggressively a year and a half before the start of the tournament (June 24th to July 25th). After the embarrassing preliminary round exit at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, humility is more than ever part of the German portfolio. Especially since the last World Cup triumph to date dates back to 2007.
So Germany’s footballers are initially just getting ready for what will probably not be an easy path through qualification. Because in Norway and Austria there are at least two opponents who could be really dangerous for them in the fight for group victory and the associated direct jump to Brazil. “It won’t be easy. We are of course favorites in the group. But you have to win against Norway, Slovenia and Austria first,” said national coach Christian Wück to the Sportschau.
Three points are mandatory against outsiders Slovenia on Tuesday (5.45 p.m., live on Erste and on sportschau.de). “Nothing counts except a win. That’s the attitude we’re going into there,” said Bayer Leverkusen defender Carlotta Wamsen. Striker Lea Schüller, who will be playing for the national team for the first time after her winter move from FC Bayern Munich to Manchester United, feels “pure joy at the first game”.
Many failures – Wück is still confident
The 28-year-old did not meet three of her former teammates from FCB, Klara Bühl, Alara Şehitler and Lena Oberdorf, with the national team. The trio is missing due to injury, as are Giovanna Hoffmann (RB Leipzig), Sophia Kleinherne (VfL Wolfsburg), Selina Cerci (TSG Hoffenheim), Bibiane Schulze Solano (Athletic Bilbao) and Kathrin Hendrich (Chicago Red Stars).
The start of the new football year started with a bit of a headache for Wück when putting together the squad. Bühl was initially there before the 25-year-old suffered a muscular injury during training on the Frankfurt campus on Sunday. “We have to see how we can compensate for that. But we have quality – especially on offense. And that’s why I believe that we will shine on offense,” said Wück on Monday at the press conference for the game.
However, the loss of world-class striker Bühl is undoubtedly a serious one. Because the national coach has an issue in attack after saying goodbye to Alexandra Popp. A player who combines footballing class, physical power and mental stability like the Wolfsburg player is currently missing from the German squad. Schüller, one of Popp’s designated successors, has recently been in poor form. Hoffmann is fighting for her comeback after a torn cruciate ligament and the highly gifted Cerci has now also been slowed down by an injury.
Video:
Nüsken and Senß: A well-rehearsed duo – also in an interview (4 min)
Werder striker Mühlhaus before her national team debut
Wück nominated Larissa Mühlhaus from Werder Bremen for the Kiel native. The 23-year-old, currently third in the Bundesliga top scorers list with ten goals along with Popp and Pernille Harder, is about to make her debut in the senior national team. In terms of player type, the Hamburg native is very similar to Popp. That’s probably why Wück chose her. Vanessa Fudalla (Bayer Leverkusen), who leads the scorers list together with Cerci, is once again looking into the famous tube.
“I see a discrepancy between the national and international leagues. I have to assess which player will manage to compete internationally and from whom we as a national team can benefit,” said Wück, explaining why the 24-year-old was not taken into account. “I see other players ahead of Vanessa. And this assessment hasn’t changed after the last Bundesliga games,” added the national coach.
Schüller has the best chances as a Bühl replacement
Schüller could have a good chance of taking up the centre-forward position against Slovenians who are probably deep in position, with all her experience and, despite the lack of form in the meantime, her class. “She’s there in training, she scores her goals, she’s relatively composed in front of the goal. We’ll see tomorrow whether it’s enough for tomorrow,” explained Wück on Monday. One thing is certain: two outside attackers should provide a lot of crosses and crosses into the penalty area. The national coach still left it open who they would be.
Maybe he will use the game against world number 38. to try out a little bit of personnel. Given the previous results in the duels with Slovenia (13:0, 4:0, 6:0, 4:0) and the individual superiority of his team, he would have the opportunity to do so in Dresden. According to the national coach, there won’t be a big rotation. “We have to make sure we experiment selectively. I’m not going to fill three or four positions now,” explained the ex-professional.
For the DFB team, regardless of the line-up, it is important to manage their strength carefully. The second qualifying game is scheduled to take place in Norway on Saturday (6 p.m.). And the two-time European champion is considered the toughest German competitor in the fight for group victory and could become a stumbling block on the planned path to Brazil.
Video:
Lea Schüller – “Want to appear dominant” (2 min)
Slovenia wants to face Germany courageously
For Slovenia, the World Cup ticket will likely remain a big dream. Germany’s opening opponent is the big outsider in Group A. The small country’s footballers have never managed to qualify for a World Cup or European Championship. With promotion from Group C to Group A of the UEFA League within two years, the team has now caused a sensation. Coach Saša Kolman, who took over the position in autumn 2023, is largely responsible for this.
“We will attack them.”
Saša Kolman, national coach of Slovenia
“We worked for two years and during this time we found a style of play that suits us. We have backed that up with success. We have developed our own identity. The expectations are simple: we stay true to ourselves and play the way we always have. That means we will not be afraid, we will remain courageous and attack,” said the 41-year-old.
The DFB team should already feel the Slovenian self-confidence. “We will attack them. How much Germany allows us is another question,” said the ex-professional, who during his active career briefly earned his living at the Faroese football club FC Suðuroy.
16 of 21 Slovenian players work abroad
The telephone bill of Kolman and therefore the Slovenian football association, the Nogometna zveza Slovenije, is likely to reach dizzying heights in months with national team games. Because the coach has to make calls all over the world to inform his actors about their nominations. 16 of the 21 players in the squad are under contract with clubs outside of their home country – Adrijana Mori (Turbine Potsdam), Sara Agrež (FC Köln) and Maja Sternad (Werder Bremen), three of these legionnaires in Germany.
But Slovenian national players have also set up camp in Belgium, France, England, Italy, Portugal, Austria, the USA and even Saudi Arabia (Zala Meršnik). The DFB team will have an opponent waiting for them who will arrive in “Florence on the Elbe” with a lot of international experience in their luggage. “We worked hard for this and fought for it. Now it’s time to take advantage of this opportunity and show that we’re not here by chance,” says Kolman, explaining the route for the duel with the record European champions.
