Women’s football European Championship-the will of the DFB women in Switzerland

There are really all sorts of utensils that stuff keeper Steve Smith neatly provided before every training session of the German footballers at this European Championship in the sports center booklers. On Monday, an ice barrel was not under the materials that were used for the first training session in preparation for the semi -finals against the Spaniards on Wednesday in Zurich under a cloudy sky. The American native is a strong guy, but such a transport would have overwhelmed him.

Respect for the semi -finals

Christian Wück hadn’t meant it so seriously anyway when he announced “three days of ice sun” after the epic quarter -final drama against France on Saturday evening. The national coach then also let the unit begin with football tennis, so the risk of injury was less. And with Rebecca Knaak, Franziska Kett and Giovanna Hoffmann, three heroines from Basel made only relaxed running rounds.

Before the semi -finals, respect could hardly be greater – which applies to both sides. The DFB women are the “Bestia Negra”: if the world champions from Spain fear a spoiler, then the eight times the European champion, the “black beast”. For world footballers such as Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas, the Germans are something of a mythical fully, the newspaper “As” wrote. And the “Marca” said that this typical tournament team was “Spain’s cryptonite.”

Control strength against pass quality

In eight duels with Germany’s footballers so far, the Spaniards have never won. They lost important games such as the game for bronze at the 2024 Olympic Games, the group game at the EM 2022 or the 2019 World Cup group game. The pattern was always the same: Spanish ball possession was eventually emptied because the opponent was not a duel.

Nevertheless, the bow is also deep on the German side. The “tremendous pass quality” is paired with the opponents with “a certain rip-off,” said DFB sports director Nia Künzer. The basis is the good youth work: seven times, most recently four times in a row, the Spanish U19 soccer players won the European Championship title. However, the Selección Española Femenina is only back in the semi -finals of an European Championship for the second time after 1997 – but its combinations run even faster than when winning the title at the 2023 World Cup.

Künzer nevertheless was quite confident that Janina Minge, Jule Brand or recently also Sophia Kleinhern “into the heads” of a favorite team: “We can pack the Spaniards.” The will can apparently move mountains in Switzerland. “Being among the best four in Europe,” said the 2003 world champion, “is the confirmation of the way.” The 45-year-old finally gave up her job in the Gießen regional council to take the DFB women back to the success.

Fancy defending

The team is just putting all the setbacks away like a boxer. Word has now got around “how uncomfortable we are to be played” – and “The defensive lust” should now also be performed in the Falzigrund stadium on the front door of the base camp. The day of travel does not apply. This resurrection of the German virtues falls into a phase where the former DFB sports director Matthias Sammer had made a general statement. His scolding was true. If the women show the opposite in the most important tournament of summer, it helps immensely. The association, the clubs – and of course the players, who now have to take two steps to their declared goal.

The team has now been practiced to react to “failures, injuries, red cards” – and to compensate for every gap. In the semifinals, the injured Sarai Linder and the suspended Kathrin Hendrich and Sjoeke Nüsken are missing. The most difficult thing is to replace the nüsken in midfield, which has become vice captain and with a lot of responsibility. Nevertheless, the confidence is great to offer the best evening entertainment again. The preparations are running – even without ice barrel.