Women's World Cup: Germany Women's Team Profile

Serial winners in the European Women's Championship with eight titles to their name, Germany rarely disappoint and will be worth keeping an eye on at this year's Women's World Cup.

Only the USA are above them in the FIFA world national teams rankings and, after making the final of Euro 2022, DFB-Frauen will be hungry for more in Australia and New Zealand.

Under the steady stewardship of Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, Germany will be up against Morocco, Colombia and South Korea in Group H at this year's Women's World Cup.
 

Germany's World Cup record:

Germany are Europe's most successful side in Women's World Cup history and are the only team other than the United States to have won the tournament on more than one occasion.

They were first crowned champions in 2003, defeating Sweden in the final in the USA, with Birgit Prinz finishing as player of the tournament and top scorer with seven goals.

Four years later in China, Germany became the first team in Women's World Cup history to successfully defend their title, destroyig Argentina 11-0 in their opener and not conceding in any of their six matches.

They were also runners-up in 1995 and finished fourth in both 1991 and 2015.

At the most recent Women's World Cup in France in 2019, Germany bowed out at the quarter-final phase, losing 2-1 to Sweden in Rennes.
 

How Germany qualified:

There were some exceptional performances from European teams during qualifying for the 2023 Women's World Cup and Germany ranked among the best.

In Group H they won nine of their ten matches to pip Portugal to top spot, racking up 47 goals and conceding only five in the process.

They recorded two 8-0 demolitions as part of their qualifying campaign against Turkey and Bulgaria and their sole slip-up was a 3-2 defeat to Serbia in April last year.

Only Belgium's Tessa Wullaert (17 goals) scored more than Germany forward Lea Schuller (15) during European qualifying.
 

The Manager - Martina Voss-Tecklenburg:

Having extended her contract until after the 2025 European Championship earlier this year, it is fair to say Voss-Tecklenburg has had a positive impact on the Germany team since her arrival, initially on an interim basis, in 2018.

The former Switzerland head coach made an immediate impression at her first major tournament last year, guiding DFB-Frauen to the final of the Women's Euros 2022.

Germany won all three of their matches without conceding in the group stage, before edging past Austria and France in the knockout stage to set up a showdown with England in the final at Wembley.

Germany held their own at the national stadium, taking the game to extra-time, but they ebentually had to settle for the runners-up spot.

It was nonetheless a strong tournament performance from Germany, who possess a terrific blend of youth and experience and look to be in good hands under Voss-Tecklenburg.
 

Confirmed Germany Squad:

Preliminary squad of 28. Final 23 set to be confirmed at the end of June.

Goalkeepers: Merle Frohms, Ann-Katrin Berger, Stina Johannes, Ena Mahmutovic.

Defenders: Kathrin Hendrich, Sophia Kleinherne, Marina Hegering, Felicitas Rauch, Sara Doorsoun, Sjoeke Nusken, Sarai Linder, Carolin Simon.

Midfielders: Lena Oberdorf, Sara Dabritz, Melanie Leupolz, , Paulina Krumbiegel, Svenja Huth, Lina Magull, Jule Brand, Chantal Hagel, Lena Lattwein.

Forwards: Lea Schuller, Sydney Lohmann, Laura Freigang, Alexandra Popp, Tabea Wassmuth, Klara Buhl, Nicole Anyomi.
 

Germany's Key Players:

The focal point of Germany's attack at the Women's Euros last year was talismanic striker Alexandra Popp and the 32-year-old will once again be crucial to their 2023 World Cup campaign.

Popp finished as joint-top scorer with Beth Mead on six goals at Euro 2022 and was similarly prolific in last season's Frauen-Bundesliga, contributing 16 goals for Wolfsburg.

She is a danger in the air and a key presence in the dressing room as Germany's captain.

Behind Popp, Germany are expected to operate with the same midfield base that excelled in the Euros.

Sara Dabritz, Lina Magull and Lena Oberdorf were all in inspiring form in 2022, aiding Germany's possession-heavy approach, with Oberdorf picking up the young player of the tournament accolade in England.

Also be sure to keep an eye on versatile full-back Felicitas Rauch, whose delivery from the flanks could be a valuable attacking weapon.
 

Germany's Group Fixtures:

Group H
Germany vs Morocco, Melbourne, 24th July 2023
Germany vs Colombia, Sydney, 30th July 2023
South Korea vs Germany, Brisbane, 3rd August 2023