Martina Voss-Tecklenburg announced the 24-strong squad of the women’s national team for the upcoming international matches in October on Tuesday. The national coach can count on Giulia Gwinn for the first time in over a year
Giulia Gwinn will return to the DFB team for the two World Cup qualifiers against Israel. The FC Bayern defensive player has been unavailable for around a year due to a cruciate ligament rupture suffered in September 2020. The 22-year-old could make her comeback to the national team on Thursday 21 October (6pm) in Tel Aviv or the following Tuesday (26 October, 4.05pm, both matches LIVE! on kicker) in Essen.
Such Rauch, Schult and Maier are back in the mix
Felicitas Rauch, Almuth Schult (both VfL Wolfsburg) and Leonie Maier (FC Everton) will also be back. However, Voss-Tecklenburg will have to do without Paulina Krumbiegel (TSG Hoffenheim), Alexandra Popp, Pia Wolter, Sara Doorsoun (all VfL Wolfsburg), Marina Hegering, Klara Bühl, Sydney Lohmann (all FC Bayern München) and Nicole Anyomi (Eintracht Frankfurt) due to injuries or rehabilitation training.
After two clear victories against Bulgaria (7-0) and Serbia (5-1) in the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, the DFB women also want to make things clear against Israel, who lost 4-0 to Portugal in their opener. “Our aim is to get the next victories and to be dominant and present from the start. We didn’t manage to do that from the start in the first two games. We want to improve in this area and be wide awake from kick-off,” explained Voss-Tecklenburg.
“Games against Israel are always part of a wider context for German teams. For us, the encounters go beyond the sporting aspect. “
MARTINA VOSS-TECKLENBURG
The two matches against Israel are a premiere – never before have the two women’s national teams met. “Matches against Israel are always in a higher context for German teams. For us, both matches are therefore – and I mean this literally – special encounters that go beyond sporting matters,” emphasises Voss-Tecklenburg. “It will be an impressive trip for all of us and especially for those who have never visited Israel. The focus is on the World Cup qualification, but we will also take up cultural, historical and socio-political aspects alongside it.” Among other things, a visit to the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem is planned.
The German cadre at a glance:
Goal: Laura Benkarth (FC Bayern), Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea FC), Merle Frohms (Eintracht Frankfurt), Almuth Schult (VfL Wolfsburg).
Defence: Jana Feldkamp (TSG Hoffenheim), Giulia Gwinn (FC Bayern), Kathrin Hendrich, Lena Lattwein, Lena Sophie Oberdorf (all VfL Wolfsburg), Sophia Kleinherne, Sjoeke Nüsken (both Eintracht Frankfurt), Leonie Maier (FC Everton)
Midfield/Attack: Jule Brand (TSG Hoffenheim), Sara Däbritz (Paris Saint-Germain), Linda Dallmann, Linda Magull, Lea Schüller (all FC Bayern), Laura Freigang (Eintracht Frankfurt), Svenja Huth, Felicitas Rauch, Tabea Waßmuth (all VfL Wolfsburg), Melanie Leupholz (Chelsea FC), Dzsenifer Maroszan (OL Reign), Lena Petermann (HSC Montpellier),