Sara Däbritz has been playing in France for three years. After the European Championship, the 27-year-old Bavarian will switch from Paris St. Germain to Champions League winners Olympique Lyon. In the semifinals, the “France expert” meets many familiar faces – and expects a duel at eye level.
On Saturday evening in the team hotel, the German team watched on TV who they were going to meet in the next game on Wednesday (07/24/2022). In a “relaxed atmosphere” they also talked about the French players, reports Däbritz, who does not want her role as an expert to be overrated. “Our analysts have certainly worked hard before – and the coaching team will prepare us as best they can.”
Däbritz played with a handful of players from the French squad in Paris last season. Among them Grace Geyoro, who, as France’s backup goalscorer, is one of the surprises at the European Championship. After the European Championship, she switched to Champions League winners Olympique Lyon – where she then became, among other things, a teammate in a quintet of French national players around superstar Wendie Renard.
Great strength – she can actually do everything
Däbritz right in the middle of the concert with the best in Europe – and rightly so. Her great strength is that she can actually do anything. “Energy and physique” bring them into play, praised Martina Voss-Tecklenburg before the tournament. For the national coach, the 27-year-old is “a central figure in our game and one of the important axis players”. And so the native of the Upper Palatinate has been in the starting lineup in every game so far.
Germany’s number 13 shone against Denmark with four assists and so-called key passes. Her pass rate was a strong 89.7 percent. Even in the difficult duel with Spain, Däbritz was still one of the most reliable players in her team and, last but not least, with a lot of effort, helped the defensive keep the zero.
Important for the team without standing out
In the third group game against Finland, she then showed her offensive qualities. She hit eight crosses into the opponent’s penalty area – mind you as a central midfielder – and recorded six shots on goal. None had more. In addition, there was a pass rate of 92.1 percent and this time even five key passes.
In the quarter-finals against Austria (2-0), Däbritz fell a little, had only 30 ball contacts and the pass rate of 56.3 percent was well below normal. But she was also on the road a lot in the first game of the knockout stage and stabilized the defence. Däbritz plays a very important role in the EM, without standing out at first glance.
Change and move already done
Your collection of titles speaks for itself anyway. German champion with Bayern Munich, French champion and cup winner with Paris St. Germain. In 2013, at the age of 18, Däbritz was part of the German European champion team and three years later also won Olympic gold.
I like the cosiness in France – and the food there is also delicious.
Even before the European Championship, Däbritz had made her move from Paris to Lyon perfect: “Your mind is free when everything is done.” She has already made the move from the state to the football capital.
Däbritz: “We also have enormous qualities”
And now full concentration on the semifinals against their adopted country. It’s a good thing that her yellow card from the Austria game, when she committed the tactical foul after a mistake by a team-mate, no longer matters. After the quarterfinals, all warnings were removed. A possible final can only be missed if you see a red card in the semifinals.
The German team could really use a Däbritz in top form and without previous problems. “It will be a duel on an equal footing,” the 90-time national player is convinced. She particularly emphasizes the playing strength and the quick switching behavior of the French women. The German team will oppose it “with the great team spirit”. “We also have enormous qualities. And if we have courage, we can beat France.”