German Fraulein National Team 2020 & beyond

We saw Wamser play for Frankfurt and the u23's as a RB, and I would instantly suggest this her best future as a senior level player. The big shock here was seeing a complete defensive novice like Kett perform so well...

Kett having barely featured for Bayern as a pro, and only making the conversation to LB weeks before the Euro's opening match, it's wild to think how high her attacking potential could be within this more defensive role.

And remember.. these two new FB's coming to prominence, after Germany would initially look to Müller as a senior wnt LB. Suggesting a new strength in depth might be about to witnessed within Germany's FB roles...

I'm convinced Germany just missed out on a Euro's final due to 2 factors. #1 the wnt coaches not selecting Alara for this tournament, #2 idiotically starting Hoffmann ahead of both Schüller, and Cerci, Vs elite world class competition...

This team having no attacking identity outside it's two wingers, Freigang again showcased why she isn't the elite wnt level player many believe, as Dallmann was only able to do so much, for a wnt it should be obvious Alara at CAM/AM the future of this team post Magull.

Brand and Bühl both excellent over the duration of this tournament, it's a real shame they were part of the wnt system that had no attacking gameplan, no real mid-field; in the end forcing both to sit either side of a mediocre striker like Hoffmann...

Popp a WORLD CLASS player since her teens, with there never being any sign Hoffmann in that category of talent, or being like Hegering... who'd be an elite talent at youth level, needing years before she'd be given the opportunity to showcase these elite qualities again with the senior wnt.

Schüller, Cerci, Anyomi, are the nations present best forwards, Martinez, Kössler, Mühlhaus, are the wnt's future. The idea Hoffmann is a Popp-lite, only set to look worse as time progresses.

She'd go from the worst outfield player Vs every opponent during the group stage, to being protected within a back 5 Vs France, to having Minge serve as her main body guard Vs Spain...

In no aspect of being a modern CB did we see Knaak live up to the expectations applied to female players at this level of football. And this will be another name people will look back and say... how, and why was she allowed to start for the wnt.

Making a huge error in comprehension Vs France, losing Hendrich meant Germany missed out having a significant upgrade for this teams defence Vs Spain.

And it's interesting thinking Hendrich often underrated for her qualities as a modern female CB, is not so randomly replaced by a similar skill-sett Kleinherne at club level, with Kleinherne finally allowed to shine for the wnt Vs Spain too...

With Kleinherne showcasing her abilities Vs Spain, Germany now having at least 3 Wolfsburg players (Kleinherne, Minge, Kuver) as potential wnt CB's. We should really forget about needing Knaak now, knowing Salano returns, with L.Ostermeier, Landenberger, Pucks, Küver, Kaut all names I see as potential upgrades for the wnt's CB role too.

 

The WC, the Olympics, and now the Euro's, Germany have gone through 3 different coaches all using very similar needless confusing tactics, seeing success eventually defined by implementing bunker ball.

So I don't think this can be claimed a coincidence anymore, or the program simply lacking talent. As this wnt continues to reach semi finals of various tournaments while falling back on utilising ugly football that doesn't maximise the potential of any of it's best players.

Like you suggest your always going to have major issues with injuries. But when the spine of your team goes from Popp, Oberdorf, Hegering, to Hoffmann, Nüsken, Knaak...., yeah... I'm think player selection might play a significantly larger issue lol.

The wnt program still having a major disconnect between themselves and club football doesn't help either. Selecting Hoffmann because you think she mirrors Popp, probably the definition of where this program is out in real trouble with it's player analysis department having so much influence on the decisions of it's coaches...

 

She's meant to be a DM. In this particular aspect of the game Senß a really strong player, but during the Euro's within a system deploying TWO DM's, it forced us to witness the more limited aspects of her game, as she's never been a strong progressive passer, and doesn't even like to involve her self in the short forward passing phases of the game either.

She's been the domestic leagues best DM for at least 3 years now (better than Oberdorf in this one aspect of the game), where she's a very tenacious CM who'll will win the ball, and quickly run from pressure by using strong dribbling skills, before passing it to someone else to continue the attack.

Physically small in stature, but never bullied off the ball. Vs Spain Senß was a major reason behind Putellas being kept quiet. But not being a strong box to box player, I can understand why some people wouldn't understand the lack of impact beyond the uglier elements of the game.

See... in a perfect world we'd have seen Senß be this teams main DM, allowing Oberdorf to take over a box to box CM role, with a 3rd AM (Alara) constructing a balanced CM trio. But it's still funny seeing someone suggest Senß has no defensive presence, when she'd spend all this tournament having to cover for Nüsken's horrible tactical positioning...

Placing Senß within a balanced CM trio, I'm pretty confident she'd be viewed as one of the best players on Germany's team.

 

I can't believe Germany wasted this Euro's forcing Hoffmann into this team.... People forgetting Schüller being a FW who'll be quiet for long periods of time, but it not preventing her from contributing big moments, or finding goals.

Cerci joined the match on 86' mins.... and would end the match with18 touches compared to Hoffmann's 20...


Cerci even winning all 4 arial duels, compared to the bigger Hoffmann winning 1 of 4... This search for Popp 2.0 a delusion that potentially cost this team a Euro's final... wow.

 

Verena Schweers in her latest post match analysis pretty much summarises everything best suggesting... passion is NOT a game system...

This the first time I've heard any real logic overcoming the emotion associated with viewing the wnt's determined efforts. Schweers would openly criticise watching Germany's coaching for having no faith in it's ability to showcase good attacking football during this tournament.

And while some might feel this unfair... I 100% believe it correct stance for the DFB to hold right now, after witnessing this happen 3 different occasions, with 3 different coaches, using a collective of talent that is able to be world ranked #3, making them far more than an underdog.

Germany will not win anything until the wnt program removes the horrible player analysis department from having so much influence. And hearing a former wnt player finally address the limited nature of the wnt's coaching should only ever be seen as a positive when 15 million people are watching these women play.

Not a courageous underdog... not a nation working with a limited player pool... again from Schweers... "There were hardly any playful solutions, hardly any moments of surprise, hardly any phases of possession in which they could have had a chance to breathe. It often seemed as if they were relying on their own sacrifices – lots of running, lots of physicality, lots of mentality. But that is precisely what is no longer enough at this level."

She gets it...

 

I appreciate you answering this. Her lack of defensive 'presence' is a visual to me. She is small, not physically very strong, not a ball winner in the air.

 

I mean, Lohmann definitely did a mistake, but she didn’t even clear the ball in immediate danger. It needed a quick pass, Aitana then doing a quick turn followed by a sleeping CB with no speed and a goalkeeper mistake…

This loss was definitely not on Lohmann

 

That's an element of her game that's really deceptive. Senß being small, but actually very athletic which means she rarely loses her mid-field duels.

Seeing Senß in a league like the Frauen Bundesliga, where every game often determined on which team wins the mid-field tactical battle over 90min, she's played for teams outside the top 2, but for at least the last 3 years Senß would finish with the best data of any player in her position.

The issue for the wnt coaches though, is first recognising how they need to select ONE DM PIVOT at the base of a mid-field trio, and build a real mid-field trio that's better balanced to help the team defend and attack without being so one dimensional.

In this reality, Germany actually possessing a impressive young DM called Lisanne Gräwe, who could have easily played for this lates Euro's team, as she's currently the best domestic progressive passing CM/DM, who's also actually starting ahead of Senß as her clubs first choice DM too...

When you compare Germany's current DM's, and next gen options for the DM role, Senß is clearly the best ball winner, with Gräwe actually Germany's best all round DM to sit at the base of the mid-field

So when Oberdorf returns, and hopefully Alara takes her place too, this wnt's DM player pool should have both Senß, and Nüsken, looking pretty out dated come the WC squad compared to the more well rounded young prospects like Gräwe, Diehm, Piljic, and I.Açıkgöz.

 

Germany's last good youth level wnt coach Friederike.Kromp has called out the DFB's poor process of talent develop (AND SHE'S 100% CORRECT...)

Idiotic decisions in leadership seeing the u17's fail to reach another Euro's finals, and the u19's fail to qualify for another u20 WC, Kromp says "The youth development programs of the major clubs are – more or less – left to chance." Which is exactly what I've been saying for a long time too.

For me there's been a very obvious disconnect between clubs and the DFB's wnt program, where the players coming through the clubs seem to be prepared for completely different football than whatever the DFB's intentions...

Kromp feeling the clubs not doing enough to invest in their female talent, but honestly... I feel like it also on the wnt program failing to maximise their own resources; creating the poor continuity that's only provided increasingly worse performances over the years, resulting in Germany failing to quality for various tournament finals...

By pure good fortune, Germany's wnt program still gaining access to strong talent. But in no way can/will this continue, if it means more nonsense like we've seen for the past few years, peaking this year with relentless underwhelming failures.

I'm convinced ignoring the wnt programs last 3 cycles of talent, just using data resources like Opta index covering club football, could have seen Germany's current coaches construct a better side than the one witnessed during the Euro... Closing the wnt's awful player analysis department surely a prime objective of Künzer lol.

 

Any news regarding the seperation of the Bundesliga and DFB ? The last article I found is from October 2024.

 

No... just rumours of certain clubs behind the scenes working with the same company who lead the deal to create a breakaway WSL in England.

Once the DFB stepped in and last second vetoed a proposed separation of the clubs from the current Bundesliga, I honestly believe it made a lot of the nations biggest clubs no longer interested in making investments into something they didn't see any positive future. (Look at BVB and S04)

So I can see the nations big clubs eventually getting their way if the DFB continues to receive criticism for the decline of the wnt..; the DFB no longer having the money to drive player development anymore, with the clubs holding all the financial clout to drive the next wave of German women's football.

When it all comes down to money, I don't see how much longer the DFB can block the progress towards the clubs taking full control of the league, and national female player development.

 

I agree, I guess she was better than Alexia at this tournament. Happy to see Linari in the line-up, although I am under the impression that, talking about Italian CBs, Salvai is even better.

 

New avatar?

 

I'm seeing Nüsken held up as the face of the wnt, and media describe Germany's women being lightyears away from Spain...


I know most people won't follow these players during the club season, or follow the failures/success of the wnt program overall, but coming out of this Euro's, I don't think it's been any clearer where the biggest errors are, and how they could be corrected or improved.

Brand, Bühl, Wamser, Kett.... and maybe Minge, the only true positives from this Euro's. Berger not included, as she's stepping down after this tournament aka not part of the long term future, and therefore neither a positive or negative in relation to the rebuilding process of the wnt.

Being brutally honest, the wnt coaches have to accept Freigang, Hoffmann, Knaak, Dallmann, have no long term future with this team. With Nüsken's future positional role in serious need of further assessment too.

Gwinn, Linder, Senß, Kleinherne, ALL set to be long term elements of the wnt, Lohmann, Cerci, Zicai, having their future with this team largely dependant on the coaches implementing needed tactical changes (changing to 4-3-3).

It's a shame Hendrich had to see her time with the wnt end the way it did, but as long as the wnt coaches finally use the current pool of domestic CB's, there should be more than enough talent to compensate for her loss in tournament/big game experience.

If the wnt continues to start Nüsken...we have a MAJOR problem here, when you consider Oberdorf, Alara, Lattwein, and Gräwe, should all be returning to CM/DM contention. With the idea Germany's senior team light years away from Spain problematic... as it simply speaks to the media's understanding of the DFB's wider long term incompetence...

 

Nations League semi-finals will be in Düsseldorf (24.10 17.45) and Caen (28.10 21.10).

 

There was a draw in June. Winner of Germany/France will play first final at home (also two games).

 

@Lohmann JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

 

GERMANY 🇩🇪 ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE 🏆#EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/SlIXCOPjrF

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 14, 2025

 

Sara Däbritz retired from national team

DANKE für alles, Sara! 🖤❤️💛

Vier EM- und drei WM-Teilnahmen, Europameisterin 2013, Olympiasiegerin 2016 👏

Sara Däbritz beendet nach 1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣ Länderspielen ihre Karriere in der Nationalmannschaft.

WIR #IMTEAM 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/HnIHlUFapY

— DFB-Frauen (@DFB_Frauen) October 6, 2025

 

The way she was ignored through the Euro's... I could honestly see this announcement coming sooner....

The wnt losing another of it's few legit progressive passers from mid-field, the concern now is thinking how the wnt coaches replace what she provide; not just as a talented offensive option, but also a experienced leader.

Retirement from the wnt age 30 is crazy lol... but this appears to be the theme for Germany's wnt, as players don't hold interest in remaining part of the disappointment longer than needed...

Däbritz joined the wnt as a teen, and honestly had her best moments as senior international during 2016's Olympics, where I honestly believe her quality saw her become a key element of why Germany won gold.

She could have helped the wnt a little longer... but it's easy to respect her decision too. So if anybody want to understand how talented she is, go watch peak 2015/16 season Däbritz as it's good viewing.

 

News that Däbritz just retired, means we should probably be about to witness a VERY different wnt squad when it's announced to face their next opponent France.

Defensive absentees such as Hendrich (Retired) Kleinherne (injured), Knaak (Injured), will open up opportunities for new/better/worse CB options...

However, Germany's Mid-field currently has Nüsken not playing for her club, Lohmann dealing with minor injury again, Lattwein still out with injury, and now no Däbritz to call on anymore.

Meaning looking at form and health, the only CM Germany can call on with genuine faith of them being ready is Senß lol. The senior wnt player pool having Gräwe not in great early season form, with Germany's best domestic CM performer being MINGE...

Looking at data, a potential new option like Piljic is actually nowhere to be found if compared to the leagues best CM's. But the eye test for the u23's, and her strong club form, suggests she's ready to be tested with a step to the next level.

Personally though, if the wnt wanted to be really adventurous, I'd like to believe the senior wnt would have noticed a 17yo Lotta Wrede performing better than a host of senior wnt players...; but being so young, and not even a regular starter for her club, her selection would feel one or two years ahead of schedule.

The wnt needing better progressive passers from mid-field, it's crazy seeing Minge leading the league overall as the single best progressive passing player.... Which leads me to speculate like I've felt all along that Minge always been a CM, who's been tasked with many years of learning how to be a CB.

Healthy, the wnt can finally bring back Oberdorf as a starter. But using a double 6... for basic sanity we can't see anything like Nüsken - Senß ever again.