German Female Footballers Grappling with Oberdorf's Absence
European Championship's German squad departs without Lena Oberdorf
Vienna (dpa) - The German female footballers are gearing up for the European Championship, but without the star power of Lena Oberdorf, who has been struggling with a cruciate ligament injury since 2024. Head coach Christian Wueck finally put an end to the speculation regarding Oberdorf's participation before the nomination on June 12.
"She's on the right track, but the EM comes too early for her. We want to give her time to fully prepare and look forward to seeing her again in the new season," Wueck stated in a DFB release, a day after the German team's impressive 6-0 victory against Austria in Vienna.
Evaluating the Training Sessions
Oberdorf, who turned 23 last year, was part of the squad for the Nations League matches against Austria and the Netherlands. However, as expected, she only appeared on the bench despite being included in the squad. The decision not to select her for the tournament was made after a rigorous assessment of her performance during recent training sessions.
The FC Bayern, initially skeptical about a possible participation in the European Championship, was informed about Oberdorf's status. Since her transfer from VfL Wolfsburg to Munich last year, Oberdorf has been eagerly waiting for her Bayern debut.
A Team Player and a Personality
Wueck expressed his delight at having Oberdorf back in the team, praising her not only as a player but also as a personality. "She's basically an enrichment for us all - on and off the pitch," he added. Oberdorf herself has yet to comment on the decision.
Following weeks of heated discussions about Oberdorf's potential return, Wueck wanted to ensure the squad announcement in Europapark Rust does not overshadow the main event. Moreover, he issued clear instructions to the national players before sending them on vacation, with everyone knowing whether they made it to the 23-player squad for the season highlight.
The Road to Recovery
All players will reconvene on June 19 for the European Championship preparation in Herzogenaurach. "It's not just about Obi, it's about the team," Wueck explained earlier. Oberdorf is making steady progress but is still noticeably affected by her injury, both physically and mentally.
Filling the Midfield Spot
Filling Oberdorf's position in defensive midfield, especially Elisa Sennß from Eintracht Frankfurt, has emerged as a promising player despite her distinct playing style compared to the powerful Munich player. Additionally, Sjoeke Nüsken from Chelsea FC and the solid Sydney Lohmann of Bayern Munich can cover various positions in the control center.
This scenario echoes a similar case in 2023 when a nomination for Giulia Gwinn for the World Cup in Australia was declined due to a cruciate ligament injury. However, at that time, Gwinn was already recovered from her injury.
At 23, Oberdorf has already played 51 international matches. She made history as the youngest German World Cup player at 17 in France in 2019. Despite securing a regular place in the starting lineup at the 2022 EURO in England, Oberdorf was forced to withdraw due to a cruciate ligament injury during a qualifying match against Austria. After a disappointing Olympic exit and missing out on the EURO 2025, Oberdorf can only hope for another big tournament opportunity in 2027, during the World Cup in Brazil.
Sports enthusiasts are keeping an eye on the German female football team as they prepare for the European Championship without the presence of Lena Oberdorf, who has been recovering from a cruciate ligament injury since 2024. Following weeks of rigorous assessments, it was decided that Oberdorf, a promising player for the Premier League and European-leagues, would not participate in the tournament.
