World Cup Preparations: Coach Wück Embracing Daring Moves Prior to the Global Event
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Germany's Unconventional Prep: DFB Team Ditches Friendly Matches for Training Camps Before EM
By Anja Rau
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The European Championship is fast approaching, and the German women's national team has taken an unconventional trajectory. After a well-deserved break, it's back to business with rigorous training camps, as DFB Coach Christian Wück dismisses any idea of a friendly match. This bold move hides several potential risks.
Sunning themselves on vacations or striking poses in their newest Instagram snaps, the National team players enjoy a brief respite. However, the two-week hiatus is nothing more than a beautiful illusion, as they're all professionals and this tournament is their ultimate goal. For 22 of them – Sara Daebritz being the only one who was there in 2013 when the DFB team last won the EM – it's about their first international title. Eleven of them failed to clinch the title four years ago against England. With that motivation in tow, they won't be chilling by the pool all day.
The Bundesliga season ended four weeks ago, but the illusion of a prolonged vacation is misleading. Following a series of post-season games, the ladies didn't even have a moment to catch their breath. On May 30 and June 3, they still had Nations League games to play – dominating the Netherlands (4-0) and Austria (6-0).
Football No Test Matches? The DFB Team Pushes For Intensive TrainingCoach Wück seems slightly worried about the overall fitness of the team. His plan for the start in Herzogenaurach is straightforward: "We'll focus on getting them in shape during the first few days. Julius Balsmeier is leading the way." Balsmeier is the fitness coach for the DFB team, keeping close tabs on the fitness plans and consulting with the players. Wück adds, "Then we can move on to tactical training sessions after three, four days."
What's off the table? A friendly match (or even an internal one against a local youth team, as occurred prior to the World Cup 2023 in Australia). A DFB spokesperson confirmed to ntv.de that training time will be used judiciously instead. Expect eleven-against-eleven games, where tactics can be rehearsed.
This unconventional approach carries inherent risks. Wück might be gambling, given the need to test processes and competitive spirit through actual games. Rehearsed tactics may not work flawlessly within the 23-player squad, especially since the opposition is aware of what the other side is planning, roughly speaking. Moreover, Wück has recently tried out 33 players, initiated a team change, is missing crucial injured regular players, and has yet to field the same starting XI for three consecutive games.
Football Heading Towards EM Ups and Downs, Lena Oberdorf Live Wire - Everywhere But SwitzerlandEngland, France, Spain, Netherlands, and Denmark are among the teams engaging in pre-EM practices with various opponents. Apart from Germany, only Italy, Portugal, Wales, and group opponent Denmark have yet to schedule a warm-up game before the tournament. The German ladies kick off against Poland on July 4, and a win is crucial.
The decision to focus on training rather than friendlies might also seem unusual considering the inconsistency in the DFB squad. While the past two games ended in emphatic victories, Wück still received criticism for errors that could have been costly. Early on against Austria, mistakes unraveled the team's defense. "Now we need to work on the details in tactics and individual behavior," Wück noted at the squad's nomination.
Football Winds of Change for the DFB Squad
Wück's Rough StartPartway through his tenure as head coach, which began in the fall, Wück's journey has seen its share of ups and downs. Following a spectacular debut with a 4:3 victory against England's reigning European champions at Wembley Stadium, there were underwhelming performances, particularly lackluster first halves. Wück recognized, "In an ideal world, I imagined we'd be further along. I had envisioned it to be a bit easier."
Wück's First TournamentThe European Championship marks his debut as head coach of an adult team and, by extension, a women's team. Unquestionably, his appointment was a surprise. The emerging questions around the DFB team – the Lena Oberdorf situation, criticized overlooked players Felicitas Rauch and Nicole Anyomi – have been settled, for now. His nomination offers a balanced mix of veterans and rising stars.
But the pressure is on, and Wück himself admits, "We're seen as co-favorites by the English, Spanish, and French." The DFB hopes their team will make history. Sports director Nia Künzer remains confident, "I am convinced that we'll have a successful EM with this squad. I'm starting the tournament with the goal of winning the title."
Whether in a bikini or an evening dress, the preferred choice is clear: gold medals adorned around their necks, the trophy in hand. On July 27 in Basel.
Source: ntv.de
Football | Women's Football
- The DFB team, in preparation for their employment in the European Championship, has prioritized rigorous training camps over friendly matches, considering that every player is a professional and this tournament is their ultimate goal, following the unconventional approach of focusing on community policy and team fitness over sports like football or other recreational activities.
- Despite the lack of friendly matches, the German women's national team has been rehearsing their tactics through eleven-against-eleven games during their training camps, ensuring that they will be well-prepared for crucial matches like the one against Poland, keeping in mind the potential risks of gambling with their team's overall fitness and competitive spirit, as they work towards their first international title in football.
