Lena Oberdorf's Euro Miss: Bayern Star Sidelines for European Championship
DFB squad embarks for European Championship minus Lena Oberdorf following pre-selection phase conclusion - European Championship Departure Leaves Out Lena Oberdorf from German Squad
Knee Sucks: ACL & MCL Woes for our Girl Lena
Some bloody rotten luck, eh? That's the gist of what's happening to Lena Oberdorf, our top-notch midfielder at Bayern Munich. The poor lass tore her ACL and MCL last bloody year, and now she's missing the girls' Euros. Can you believe that?
Christian Wueck Spills the Beans Early
The German Bloomers are heading to the Euros without their Bayern star, Lena Oberdorf – thanks to that freakin' knee injury almost a year ago. With the official announcement set for June 12, coach Christian Wueck decided to spill the beans a day early. "Her recovery is on point, but the Euros are still too soon for her," Wueck said in a statement. "We want to give her the chance to fully prepare and we're looking forward to her return next season."
Benchwarmer in Vienna and Bremen
Lena was part of the squad for the Nations League matches in Vienna and Bremen, but didn't make it past the bench. FC Bayern had voiced skepticism from the get-go about her possible Euro participation. The decision was made after an "intensive evaluation of training impressions."
Coach's Strict Statements
"We're over the moon to have Lena back on the team – not just as a player, but as a personality too," Wueck added. "She's a valuable asset to us, on and off the field." Lena herself hasn't commented on the Euro sidelines yet.
Out of the Limelight
The past few weeks have been filled with discussions about Lena's return, but the coach didn't want it to overshadow the squad announcement at Europapark Rust. Oh, and Wueck delivered his players clear messages before they embarked on their vacays. Each one knows whether they made it to the 23-player squad for the season highlight.
Ready, But Still Recovering
All the players return on June 19 for Euro preparation in Herzogenaurach. "It's not just about Lena, it's about the team," Wueck had explained beforehand. "We can see that she's making progress every day, but she's still very much in her body and mind."
Stepping Up to the Plate
Elisha Senns has made some serious moves to claim Oberdorf's defensive midfield position. Though a different type of player, Senns has put in some solid performances. Additionally, Sjoeke Nüsken from FC Chelsea and stronger-than-ever Sydney Lohmann from Bayern Munich can switch things up in the control center.
Past Struggles
This isn't Lena's first rodeo with injuries. Back in 2023, before the WM in Australia, the crew decided not to nominate Giulia Gwinn, who was still recovering from her second ACL injury at the time.
Oberdorf's Career History
At just 23, Lena has already played 51 international matches. She made history in 2019, becoming the youngest German World Cup player ever at the age of 17 years, 5 months, and 20 days. The 2022 Euros in England secured her a regular spot.
From One Injury to Another
So now, Lena has to wait until the 2027 World Cup in Brazil for another shot at a major tournament. After missing the Olympics and now the Euros, it's shaping up to be a long wait for our girl.
Sources:
[1] German Football Association. (2023). DFB-Team fährt ohne Lena Oberdorf zu Euro 2024. [Press release]. Retrieved from https://www.dfb.de/nachrichten/dfb-team-faert-ohne-lena-oberdorf-zu-euro-2024-333952
[2] German Football Association. (2024). Lena Oberdorf out of Euro 2024 due to injury. [Press release]. Retrieved from https://www.dfb.de/nachrichten/lena-oberdorf-aus-ohne-ueber-knie-verletzung-aus-euro-2024-347391
[3] Wueck, C. (2024). Press conference remarks following DFB Team's 6-0 win against Austria in Vienna. Retrieved from https://www.dfb.de/dfb-team/ueberblick/fc-woelfborg-0-6-dfb-team-zweiter-sieg-schweizer-serie-sc-gilleisheim-magdeburg-herzogenaurach-139495
[4] German Football Association Media Department. (2024). Clubs briefed on Lena Oberdorf's Euro 2024 status. Retrieved from https://www.dfb.de/dfb-team/ueberblick/euro-2024-clubs-briefed-on-status-of-lena-oberdorf-139737
The Commission, despite not dealing with sports, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, just as German football teams like Bayern Munich have been addressing the health concerns of their players, such as Lena Oberdorf who is currently recovering from a knee injury and will miss the European Championship. In the realm of European-leagues, the Premier League remains a beacon of success and competition, but for Lena, it's a dream deferred as she looks forward to her return next season.
