Latest news with #GermanyNationalTeam
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Euro 2025: What to know about the Women's European Championship
Spain's star-packed squad is bidding to follow up on its World Cup success with a first triumph at the Women's European Championship. Defending champion England is aiming to retain its continental crown, and Germany is hoping for a record-extending ninth title. Euro 2025 kicks off on Wednesday of next week with the first two of 31 matches to be staged across eight cities in Switzerland.
New York Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Euro 2025: Germany team guide – a side rebuilt and revived after World Cup humiliation
There have been 13 editions of the women's European Championship, and Germany have won eight. They came close to a ninth title three years ago, losing in the final to hosts England, but their disastrous showing at the World Cup two years ago — when they somehow exited at the group stage despite winning 6-0 in their opening game against Morocco — prompted a major rebuild. Several established stars are no longer around and there is a good chance Germany's starting XI will feature no outfielders over the age of 28. Nevertheless, this is a good squad with an impressive array of speedy attackers. A promising attacking midfielder who represented Germany's under-21s in the early 1990s, Christian Wuck's career was affected by injuries and he retired before he turned 30. After starting his managerial career in men's football at Rot Weiss Ahlen and then enduring a difficult period in charge of Holstein Kiel, he changed tack and spent over a decade working with Germany's youth sides, and took over the senior women's team after they had earned a bronze medal at last year's Olympic Games. Although this is his first coaching job in women's football, he spent the 2019 World Cup working as an analyst. At their best, Germany produce fantastic football. They have serious quality in the final third: quick, inventive players who can dribble past opponents on the break and combine in tight spaces. They are also one of the few sides who field two prolific central attackers. They defeated England 4-3 at Wembley last year, constantly dragging the English defence to one side before switching play and breaking down the other flank. Expect Germany's games this summer to be exciting and full of goals. Captain Giulia Gwinn is one of the outstanding full-backs in Europe, bringing technical quality and attacking bursts down the right. But Germany's real area of strength is the front two. Lea Schuller is a classic penalty-box striker who has scored 52 times for Germany, including 20 since the last World Cup. Behind her, Laura Freigang is a clever, elusive No 10 who thrives by breaking forward into the box to meet crosses, taking advantage of Schuller occupying defenders to pop up unannounced and finish smoothly. An incredibly consistent performer in German league football, this could be the tournament when she explodes into an international superstar. Familiarity, for various reasons. In Germany's six-game Nations League campaign between February and June, Wuck selected a fairly consistent starting XI. His players are chiefly drawn from Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt. Many of the players have risen through Germany's youth ranks together. And, more than most other sides at this tournament — apart from, perhaps, Spain — there is an obvious identity to the side, based on efficiency at transitions and attacking with speed. The defensive positions. Left-back Sarai Linder has spent the past couple of seasons playing that role for Wolfsburg, but she was previously used as a right-back or a midfielder, and is very much right-footed. The desperation to find a left-footed option means Bayern 20-year-old Franziska Kett has often been deployed there, but she emerged as an attacker, and using her in defence against top-quality opposition would be a risk. Advertisement Meanwhile, centre-back Janina Minge played in midfield for Wolfsburg for much of last season — and indeed at the Olympics last summer. Her most likely partner, Rebecca Knaak, has played the majority of her football either in midfield or as part of a three-person defence. None are bad players, but given Gwinn's attacking nature on the right, you wonder whether Germany have the rugged, old-school defensive qualities that a tournament-winning side usually offers. Tough-tackling defensive midfielder Lena Oberdorf was named as the young player of the tournament at the Euros three years ago, but after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury last July, she has missed an entire year of football and will not feature this summer. Given Germany's issues at the back, her absence is a big blow. In all, it feels a very different side from the one that experienced such disappointment in Australia two years ago — legendary striker Alexandra Popp, fellow attacker Svenja Huth, midfielders Lina Magull and Melanie Leupolz, defenders Marina Hegering and Sara Doorsoun, and goalkeeper Merle Frohms have all retired from international duty. Pretty well. Germany topped a relatively weak qualifying group, although there was a surprise 3-0 loss away in Iceland, and it took until their sixth and final game to keep a clean sheet. In this year's Nations League, they drew 2-2 away in the Netherlands, then won five on the bounce. With their history in this competition, Germany always believe they are a contender, and are likely to progress to the quarter-finals. They would, however, then meet a side from Group D (France, England, the Netherlands and Wales), clearly the toughest in the competition. At that point, their defensive weaknesses might be exposed. Germany have good recent memories of playing in Switzerland — they thrashed the Euro 2025 hosts 6-0 in a November friendly at the Letzigrund in Zurich. They will return to that stadium for the final group game, against Sweden, after playing matches in Basel and St. Gallen, both located very close to their own country.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wirtz the dribble king...
Florian Wirtz has been one of the Bundesliga's most creative players in recent season, having racked up 44 goal contributions across the last two campaigns. One reason for such a high output from midfield could be down to his 49.7% dribble success rate, which made him the most effective dribbler of all Bundesliga players in 2024-25, both in terms of volume and accuracy while carrying the the league, the data for the most dribbles attempted/completed reads:Florian Wirtz - 165/82Jamie Gittens - 160/77Michael Olise - 143/72Jamal Musiala - 135/72The 31-cap Germany international was influential in Leverkusen's undefeated run to a historic first Bundesliga title in 2023-24, creating an unrivalled 70 chances from open play.
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Liverpool receive Florian Wirtz boost with Bayern Munich believing he won't join them
Liverpool have received a major boost in their pursuit of Florian Wirtz, with Bayern Munich believing the playmaker will not be joining them and is on track for a move to Anfield if he leaves Bayer Leverkusen this summer. Wirtz has been targeted by both clubs but is believed to favour Liverpool — although they would still need to agree a deal with Leverkusen, which is not a formality given the finances involved. Advertisement The 22-year-old Germany international has already visited the north west of England to look for houses to live in, should the move proceed. Wirtz is among the most sought-after attacking talents in world football, having played a key role in Leverkusen's 2023-24 Bundesliga title-winning campaign. He provided 18 goals and 20 assists across 49 appearances in all competitions and was named Bundesliga player of the season as Leverkusen went unbeaten domestically. He registered 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 games this season as Leverkusen finished second in the Bundesliga. Wirtz's Leverkusen contract runs through to 2027. The club's CEO Fernando Carro said in April that Wirtz had a 'very high chance' of staying at Leverkusen. Speaking in May, the Germany international told Sports Illustrated he was 'definitely keen' to leave his comfort zone 'at some point and 'experience something new'. Wirtz has been capped 29 times at senior level since his debut in 2021 and was part of Julian Nagelsmann's squad at the 2024 European Championship. Analysis by Mark Carey Arne Slot has most commonly used Dominik Szoboszlai as Liverpool's attacking midfielder in his first season as Liverpool head coach, but the Hungary international has not necessarily shown all the traits you would typically associate with a player in that position. Szoboszlai has been a crucial cog in Slot's system, but as much for his off-ball energy in and out of possession as any of his qualities with the ball at his feet. Underlapping runs have been a crucial part of Liverpool's attacking play this season, with Szoboszlai's selfless running dragging opposition defenders with him — making space for the wingers to come inside and swing in back-post crosses to an onrushing team-mate. While his selfless running is valuable, a return of five Premier League goals and six assists from 34 league appearances so far suggests there is room for improvement in Szoboszlai's attacking output — something Slot called out early on. Wirtz's basic attacking numbers are stronger, with 21 goals and 23 assists in the Bundesliga since the start of last season illustrating greater potency at the sharp end of the pitch, albeit while playing in a different league. They are different types of footballers. Wirtz is focused more on the micro, with delicate touches and deft flicks, compared to Szoboszlai's macro traits of energy and power. Both skill sets have their place depending on the opposition — if he joined them, Wirtz's close control and ball-carrying would add another dimension to Liverpool's attack rather than transform it. Advertisement Wirtz's ability to play anywhere across the front line would add an extra layer of versatility to Slot's tactical setup, allowing him to rotate his attacking options during and between games without any decrease in quality. Whether dropping into pockets against deep blocks, pulling wide to evade his marker, or carrying the ball upfield single-handedly, Wirtz can do a bit of everything. Slot's first season has seen Liverpool scoring through their wide players rather than depending on a centre-forward. Wirtz could fit brilliantly into that mould, alleviating the need to sign a top striker, a notoriously difficult market. Given his youth, he could also help Liverpool prepare for life after Salah, who turns 33 next month. ()
