Klara Bühl is one of the best soccer players in Germany – but missed the EM final in 2022 due to illness. She has big plans for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Klara Bühl still has a score to settle – with a big final. Because when the German soccer players played against England in the final of the European Championship at London’s Wembley Stadium last year, the Black Forest player was missing due to a corona infection. “Because I missed the European Championship final, my ambition is even greater, maybe to be in a World Cup final,” says Bühl in the film “Shootingstars – Germany’s new football generation” (from July 7th in the ARD media library and from 10.45 p.m. in the first).
She has big plans for the World Cup, which starts on July 20 with co-hosts New Zealand playing Norway in Auckland. “Of course you need a certain amount of rest and a lot of work that lies ahead of us. But I’m definitely ready for the World Cup final,” says Bühl.
Lucky charm for the World Cup
That the offensive player from FC Bayern to Lineup for the World Cup will belong, which national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg will announce on Saturday after the last friendly international match against Zambia, is considered certain. Bühl then travels to Australia with the national team on Tuesday. The 22-year-old also has a special lucky charm in her luggage – a koala bear, crocheted by the national player herself.
“I thought it might give us the last bit of luck and energy,” she says. Bühl even crocheted a small Germany jersey for the koala, based on Australia and New Zealand as hosts. “It’s just incredibly fun for me and it’s a balance for the sport, which is good for me,” says Bühl about her hobby.
“Oldshool” hobby
It was also a successful distraction when she had to watch the games from her hotel room at the European Championships last year because of her corona infection. “I started crocheting after the semifinals,” reveals Bühl. Although she wasn’t able to stand on the pitch, she still wanted to make her contribution. “And somehow give the team the energy that I had in excess in my body.”
For example, small crocheted pendants were created – which still have a special meaning for teammate Lena Oberdorf. “It’s still on my bag,” she says. Bühl doesn’t mind that her hobby isn’t exactly common for a 22-year-old. “I can handle the comments quite well,” she says and grins.
“Prodigy” Klara Bühl
In general, Bühl is deliberately relaxed, even away from the pitch, almost unexcited. The fact that she is considered one of the most talented players of her generation, sometimes even the term “child prodigy” was in the room, and she is compared to players like Arjen Robben, seems more praise than a burden for Bühl. “Of course that’s nice to hear, because I I’ve seen a lot of his videos before. And he was already an inspiration to me.”
In the meantime, Bühl himself has celebrated titles with Bayern. In May she became champion for the second time with the women from Munich. And that’s why she’s ready for the World Cup. After all, Klara Bühl still has a score to settle in Australia and New Zealand.
