Germany travel to the Fifa Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 with a second-place finish at the Uefa Women’s Euro and an imperious Fifa Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign under their belts.
Once they get there, they will be aiming to make their premature quarterfinal exit four years earlier a distant memory and push for another title. We take a look at five players in the Germany squad who could play a major role in this campaign.
While our selection may seem a little one-sided at first glance, with all five players plying their trade for VfL Wolfsburg, the importance of this quintet within head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side cannot be denied. VfL are once again the beating heart and strong backbone of this Germany team.
Merle Frohms
Position: Goalkeeper
Date of birth: 28 January 1995
It is almost a tradition for Germany’s national teams to be spoilt for choice in the goalkeeping department, and the run-up to the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023 is no exception. Back in March, two German shotstoppers – Ann-Katrin Berger and Merle Frohms – were even included on the longlist for The Best Fifa Women’s Goalkeeper award.
Wolfsburg keeper Merle Frohms is currently expected to edge out Berger for Germany’s No 1 jersey Down Under, having kept four clean sheets during her team’s run to the Uefa Women’s Euro final last year. This season she lifted the DFB Women’s Cup, finished second in the league and reached the Uefa Women’s Champions League final.
In addition to her agility between the posts, Frohms is also renowned for her technical skill and supreme confidence with the ball at her feet, with few goalkeepers in the women’s game able to match the 28-year-old in this department.
Kathrin Hendrich
Position: Defender
Date of birth: 6 April 1992
While we could also mention Wolfsburg’s Marina Hegering at this point, the defensive stalwart’s string of recent injuries means her club teammate Kathrin Hendrich may be called to take on greater responsibility at Australia & New Zealand 2023.
Born in the German-speaking Belgian town of Eupen, Hendrich is vastly experienced and known for her excellent positional play and uncompromising tackles. The 31-year-old also possesses decent pace that should not be underestimated.
If Hegering’s recurrent injury problems flare up once more, Germany can still count on a well-organised backline with Hendrich in the centre of defence. Nevertheless, Voss-Tecklenburg will not object to being able to select both players as a centre-half pairing.
Lena Oberdorf
Position: Midfield
Date of birth: 19 December 2001
At just 21 years old, Lena Oberdorf is one of the German game’s rising stars. In March, the Wolfsburg central midfielder was named in the FIFPRO Women’s World11 at The Best Fifa Football Awards – a major endorsement of her footballing ability.
Oberdorf is already considered to be an extremely mature and complete player. Her excellent technique and fighting spirit have prompted many to draw parallels with Joshua Kimmich, who plays an almost identical role for the men’s national team.
Voss-Tecklenburg is well aware of what a leader she has in her midfield. Despite being renowned for never singling out individual players in public, the Germany head coach was full of praise for Oberdorf after Wolfsburg reached the semifinals of the 2021-22 Uefa Women’s Champions League, commenting: “The way she played in that position, at such a young age… Wow, that is fantastic.”
Svenja Huth
Position: Midfield
Date of birth: 25 January 1991
Svenja Huth is another bastion of experience in the Germany team. Usually deployed down the right flank, the midfielder is one of the first names on the teamsheet for both Wolfsburg and the national side.
Having already played at several major tournaments, the 32-year-old winger will be sure to showcase her skills on the pitch as well as taking younger players under her wing to help integrate them into the squad.
Huth is renowned less for her goalscoring prowess than for running the hard yards and putting in work for her team. She can also pose a threat down the wing and provide the central striker with assists as part of a front three.
Alexandra Popp
Position: Striker
Date of birth: 6 April 1991
Alex Popp is undoubtedly one of the most influential players in German football. As the national side’s captain, spokesperson and ‘mentality monster’, the 32-year-old Wolfsburg striker consistently leads the way both on and off the pitch, never shies away from a tackle and throws herself at every ball.
On the pitch, Popp is particularly known for her aerial dominance and nose for goal. At the Women’s Euro 2022, she became the first player to score a goal in every group match as well as the quarterfinal and semifinal, before missing Germany’s final defeat through injury.
When German football magazine Kicker named Popp as their Personality of the Year for 2022, she followed in the footsteps of Robert Lewandowski, Hansi Flick and Jurgen Klopp, once again underlining her status within German football.