After a record bankruptcy at Women’s European Championship
Sports director brakes expectations to DFB team
14.07.2025 – 6:50 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Before the start of the EM, the DFB women formulated the title as the goal. After the clear bankruptcy against Sweden, Nia Künzer now puts the crossbar much lower.
For DFB sports director Nia Künzer, reaching the quarter-finals at the European Championship is already a success for the German footballers. “I see ourselves in the quarter -finals with very, very strong other teams,” said Künzer in a media round in Zurich. In view of the tight performance density in European women’s football, the jump under the last eight is “already an award”.
Before the tournament started, the team had given the European Championship title as a clear goal. But after the 1: 4 against Sweden and with a view to the strong quarter -final opponent France, no one in the team is currently talking about the final. “The team tries to do everything for success is very focused,” said Künzer. The players were happy to have reached the quarter -finals. It was your own claim to survive the group phase.
On Saturday (9:00 p.m./ZDF, DAZN and in the T-online live ticker), the St. Jakob Park in Basel is about moving into the semi-finals. The opponent is France – with nine points and 11: 4 goals of sovereign group winners. In the 5: 2 against the Netherlands, the French showed their offensive strength and are therefore a favorite against Germany. Künzer sees that calmly: France has “incredible dynamics and pace”, now it is important to find suitable solutions. “We want to stress them,” she announced.
Despite the highest EM defeat so far in the history of the German selection, Künzer was confident. In the past, it has been proven that one could also survive against strong opponents. However, the prerequisite is that pass quality and positioning “to 100 percent”.
Künzer left open whether there would be personnel or tactical changes. “I am not the national coach and I won’t let myself be carried away on the situation discussions.”
Despite the clear defeat against Sweden, the mood in the team is better. The free Monday helped. “There was no mood, of course the disappointment was there. It can still be laughed,” said Künzer with a smile.