Triumph Obtained Through Bitterness: A New Perspective
In a disappointing turn of events, Giulia Gwinn, the star player for Germany's women's football team, will miss the remainder of the Women’s Euro 2025 tournament after sustaining a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury in her left knee during the opening match against Poland.
The injury occurred during a dramatic defensive tackle in the 40th minute, forcing Gwinn off the pitch in tears. Despite her absence, Germany managed to secure a 2-0 victory, with Lea Schüller scoring a header in the 66th minute, her 53rd goal in her 76th international match.
Gwinn, who had led the team onto the pitch for the first time at a major tournament, had already suffered two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries earlier in her career, with a previous injury causing her to miss the World Cup two years ago. This latest injury, while serious, is less severe than her previous ACL ruptures, meaning she will only need a few weeks of recovery rather than several months.
Prior to the match, head coach Christian Wueck had expressed concern for Gwinn's condition, stating that she prevented an equalizer. He fielded the same starting lineup as the 4-0 win over the Netherlands, with Linda Dallmann from Bayern Munich trusted on the number 10 position, and Sarai Linder from VfL Wolfsburg preferred over Franziska Kett on the left-back position.
Without Gwinn, the Wiegman team will likely continue on Tuesday against Denmark, and a potential group decider awaits four days later against Sweden. Many players seemed not to have noticed the shock surrounding the 26-year-old Gwinn initially, but after her exit, Carlotta Wamser came on as right-back, and Janina Minge took over the captain's armband.
The victory over Poland was overshadowed by Gwinn's injury, but it secured Germany's passage to the quarter-finals. Jule Brand scored a goal in the 52nd minute, finding the net from 17 meters, and Sjoeke Nüsken could have scored the second goal with a header from close range. Poland's Pajor from FC Barcelona posed a threat early on, but her cross was cleared.
An MRI scan will determine the extent of Gwinn's injury, but the latest update suggests that she will miss the entire tournament. Nia Kunzer, the sporting director, has expressed optimism, focusing on Gwinn's condition rather than the sporting achievement, and there will be "no excuses" before the next match.
[1] Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/womens-euro-2025/story/4657095/germany-s-giulia-gwinn-out-of-euro-2025-with-knee-injury [2] Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57847323 [3] Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jul/17/giulia-gwinn-injured-as-germany-beat-poland-2-0-in-euro-2022-opener [4] Source: https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/giulia-gwinn-out-of-euro-2025-with-mcl-injury/1d45xr1b0kqf11eo65p9j6yjr
[1] In the aftermath of the injury, Giulia Gwinn's absence from the European football leagues, especially the Premier League, remains uncertain with her MCL injury sidelining her from the Women’s Euro 2025 tournament.
[2] Despite Germany's successful 2-0 victory over Poland, the focus has shifted to the recovery of their star player, Gwinn, who is a key figure in European football, particularly in women's football leagues such as the Premier League.
