The new national coach of the women’s national soccer team has many new names on the list. Christian Wück wants to subordinate everything to his goal of winning the European Championship next year. Nobody can be sure, even captain Giulia Gwinn only guaranteed Wück the armband for four games.
Christian Wück is particularly looking forward to the music in the cabin. The new national coach of the German women’s footballers led the men’s U17s to the World Cup title in the winter, but mostly had to endure gangster rap. This Friday, the 51-year-old will make his women’s debut. With a test against England at Wembley (8.30 p.m., ARD) – and completely new tones.
“With my U17 boys it was very difficult for me musically. I was very happy when I heard that the girls in the dressing room were playing Ballermann hits and pop songs,” says the German music fan, who wants to change the face of the DFB team.
Next Monday in Duisburg against Australia (6.10 p.m./ZDF), key players from the national team will say goodbye with captain Alexandra Popp, goalkeeper Merle Frohms and defense chief Marina Hegering. “We need a change,” says Wück, who therefore wants to use the next “four games so that players can show themselves internationally.” Casting for the European Championships next summer begins.
Wück is already bringing in a lot of new faces. Frankfurt’s Lisanne Gräwe (21) is considered the next strategist of German football. Hoffenheim’s Selina Cerci (24) and Leipzig’s Giovanna Hoffmann (26) have what it takes to become new goalscorers
to become. More talent is to follow.
The fact that the squad is not yet undergoing a complete overhaul is also due to the fact that at the first meeting Wück wants to select the established players who will take on leadership roles under him. “I want to get to know the players off the pitch – see how they behave in meetings, whether they speak up,” says the coach.
Who will follow in the footsteps of top scorer Popp?
Therefore, he assures Munich’s leading player Giulia Gwinn (25) the captain’s armband only for the next four games. Afterwards, Wück would like to be clear about the new hierarchy – and possibly also redistribute offices.
And he wants to let other important impressions take effect on him. For example, whether Wolfsburg’s Janina Minge (25) can also lead the defense of the national team. Whether Bayern’s Linda Dallmann (30) will be the offensive strategist. Or whether Nicole Anyomi (24) from Frankfurt will follow in Popp’s footsteps as a photographer.
Wück doesn’t want to throw everything overboard. “A lot will stay the same, but a lot will also change. We want to continue what Horst Hrubesch built and how he dealt with the players. His way of communicating is close to mine.” But everything is still under scrutiny. In his inaugural speech to the players, Wück said: “The performance principle prevails. Everyone has to be there on point and show that they can perform at their best.”
He will have to be without two other players against England on Friday. After substitute goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs from FC Bayern, her club colleague Lea Schüller is also out due to persistent knee problems. Another striker, Frankfurt’s Laura Freigang (cold), will miss her Wück debut. 23-year-old Vivien Endemann from VfL Wolfsburg is moving up.
Wück wants to see dominant and surprising football. “The goal is to bring our idea to the pitch and for the opponent to follow us,” says the former Bundesliga professional (Nuremberg, Karlsruhe, Wolfsburg): “We want to give the players courage. We don’t want to be predictable. Games are often decided by individuals. It also depends on craziness.”
The goals are high. Wück wants the European title in 2025. “But above all I want the team to be convinced that they can become European champions. “That’s how we have to get the team together,” says the national coach – and he would be very happy about a cup party with German hits.
The article was written for the Sports Competence Center (WELT, SPORT PICTURE, BILD) written and first published in SPORT BILD.
