Trading Friendlies for Focus: Wück's Bold Move Before EM
World Cup Preparations: Coach Wück Chooses Bold Moves Prior to the Tournament
By Anja Rau, Redefined
The European Football Championship is almost here, and the German women's national team is shaking things up. post-holiday, they'll only be sweating it out in training camps, with head coach Christian Wück nixing any friendly matches. This risky call has many reasons, all aimed at bringing home the gold.
Instagram posts of stylish evening dresses and sun-soaked boat rides? That's the players' holiday snaps, a prelude to the storm, as they'll need to be in Herzogenaurach in just seven days. With the European Championship set for 2nd to 27th July in Switzerland, it's time to focus, and focus hard.
The Bundesliga season wrapped up four weeks ago, but the vacation fantasy was just that – a fantasy. Post-finals, the players didn't get much of a break. On 30th May and 3rd June, there were still games in the Nations League, where Wück's squad scored four against the Netherlands and six against Austria.
Football, Routine and Youth: Wück Kicks Off EM Journey Unscathed
Of the 23 players leading captain Giulia Gwinn, only one – Sara Daebritz – was part of the last EM triumph in 2013. Eleven of them stumbled in the final against England four years ago. With nearly a whole new squad, the motivation to bring home the first international title is strong – so strong, it's doubtful they'll be slacking off on sangria and sunbathing.
Still, Wück seems a bit anxious about the players' fitness. His Herzogenaurach plan? "Bring them to a level and then let Julius Balsmeier take over," he says, referring to the team's fitness coach. After getting their fitness levels up, Wück wants to start tactical training sessions.
No Friendly Matches: Intensive Training, or Risky Decision?
Official or internal, test matches are off the table. Even against local youth teams, like before the 2023 World Cup in Australia, there won't be any games. Wück explained the decision was made in agreement with the team and that all training time would be used efficiently. Instead, they'll have eleven-against-eleven matches where tactics can be practiced.
Not playing friendly matches means Wück is rolling the dice. You can't test game processes and competitive spirit; you can only simulate. Whether a tactic works or not can't be completely confirmed within the squad, especially since Wück has experimented with 33 players, initiated changes in the team, lost key players due to injuries, and hasn't fielded the same starting lineup for three consecutive games.
A Rollercoaster Ride for the Future Stars
The past few games have resulted in convincing victories, but Wück still received criticism. Mistakes could have easily led to goals, with the offense overshadowing the defense. Individual errors made involving Austria early in the game highlight Wück's concerns. "Now we have to work on the details in tactics and individual behavior," he said at the nomination.
Wück's tenure as head coach, which began in the fall, has been marked by ups and downs. After a great debut with a 4:3 win against England at Wembley Stadium, lackluster games with particularly poorfirst halves followed. Wück himself admitted, "In my ideal world, we would be a bit further along. I had imagined it to be a bit easier."
First Tournament for Wück
Wück is as green as the seven fresh faces in his squad when it comes to the EM. While he's a European and even a World Champion – but with the U17 boys – this is his first time coaching an adult team, and his first time coaching a women's team. His appointment was indeed a surprise. How the spotlight will treat him during the tournament is something the 52-year-old will learn firsthand.
He's already overcome the first hurdles: the communication issues surrounding Lena Oberdorf, the overlooked players Felicitas Rauch and Nicole Anyomi are now things of the past. His now-nominated squad offers no more surprises, being a mix of experience and future after the turnover since the Olympic bronze medal.
With high expectations and intense pressure on the horizon, Wück admits, "We are seen as a co-favorite by the English, Spanish, and French." The DFB backs him up, with Director of Sport Nia Künzer confidently stating, "I am convinced that we will play a successful EM with this squad. I'm starting the tournament with the goal of winning the title."
Just like they would with a bikini or an evening gown, the players better get ready to step into their favorite outfit: gold medals around their necks, the trophy in hand. July 27 in Basel.
Source: ntv.de
- Football
- DFB Women's Team
- Women's Football
Enrichment Data:
The search results do not specifically explain why coach Christian Wück decided to skip friendly matches before the European Football Championship. However, they suggest that Wück believes intense training and focus during critical preparation phases will yield the best results. This approach implies that skipping friendly matches can help the team concentrate on their training and strategy without unnecessary distractions. Wück has also demonstrated a focus on minimizing outside pressures, turning down documentary projects to focus on training camps[4]. The search results provide no explicit information on whether any specific friendly matches were planned and then canceled.
Community policy should be implemented to ensure that the DFB Women's Team can focus on their preparation for the European Football Championship, as coach Christian Wück has decided to skip friendly matches to provide an intense training environment. In sports, especially football, an intense training regime can help teams like the DFB Women's Team to improve their performance and maximize their chances of success.
