Germany’s “Footballer of the Year” 2021? Robert Lewandowski, of course. And Germany’s “soccer player of the year” last year? An Austrian striker that the German women want to watch out for in the quarter-finals of the European Championship.
Nicole Billa from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim took the Austria team one step further with her goal against Norway – and was once a promising martial artist.
The Tyrolean, who was born in Kufstein, once won several junior world championship titles in kickboxing. She has long dedicated herself to football, came to Hoffenheim in 2015 and recently extended her contract there until 2024. In 2021, the 26-year-old scored 23 Bundesliga goals and was named top scorer – and later voted “Female Soccer Player of the Year” not only in Germany but also in her home country.
“We will fight to the end and sacrifice ourselves for our little country,” says Billa before the knockout game between Germany and Austria on July 21 (9 p.m. CEST/ARD and DAZN) in Brentford. In 82 international matches, the Tyrolean, who is a trained educator, scored a remarkable 44 goals.
“Of course she knows exactly what to expect against Germany. Nici is very intelligent about football, a bit of the rhythm generator when it comes to getting started – and very callous when it comes to scoring chances,” said her TSG coach Gabor Gallai of the German Press Agency . “Off the pitch she’s more of an introvert and doesn’t need to be the center of attention.”