"Then Brand is unbeatable": Even Spain is worried about Germany's surprising model fighter

Delicate on the ball, tough against it: Jule Brand is working her way through the European Championship quarterfinals. The 22-year-old, who will play for the record Champions League winners in the future, is making her coach happy. Her teammates have nothing but praise for her anyway. Against Spain, she'll need just as much commitment.

It's the 106th minute of Germany's quarterfinal against France at the European Football Championship in Switzerland. For almost 100 minutes, the German team, shorthanded, has been fighting back against defeat. In midfield, Sjoeke Nüsken and Elisa Senß fail to control the ball, which falls to Melvine Malard. The French player has a clear path toward the penalty area and starts running – but is suddenly prevented from shooting.

Because a German player who was just standing at the halfway line comes sprinting towards her. Jule Brand is there in time, is able to block, and throws herself into the net. What's more, she quickly gets back up, grabs the ball, plays it past Malard, and comes out of the penalty area. Danger averted for the time being. It's a scene that shows Brand's self-sacrificing fight in the quarterfinals. "The Brand Mentality" is the title of the DFB's video on Instagram. The game was "the perfect example of fight, will, passion," says Rebecca Knaak, already looking ahead to the semifinal against Spain (9 p.m./ARD, DAZN, and in the ntv.de live ticker) . That will be important again in the next game.

Change out of the comfort zone

Jule Brand is known to most as an attacking player. Her fine ball control impressed top French club OL Lyon, to whom she transferred from VfL Wolfsburg after the tournament. She then formed a team with some of her counterparts. She signed a contract with the French serial champions and record Champions League winners until mid-2028. "Getting out of my comfort zone, learning a new language, really taking the step on my own," is how the 22-year-old explained her move. "I don't know anyone there, and I have a lot of respect for them. But I just know I need it."

Away from Wolfsburg, where she has played since her move in 2022. Away from the club where she was also criticized. Women's football director Ralf Kellermann even accused her of a lack of professionalism in November 2023: "If Jule wants to become a top player, she has to work hard and live 100 percent for football." It wasn't easy for Brand, who made her Bundesliga debut at TSG Hoffenheim at the age of 17, was hyped as a child prodigy, and received the Golden Girl award as Europe's best U21 player in October 2022. The past Bundesliga season was sluggish; although she only missed three games, Brand only managed five goals and five assists.

She's still considered an exceptional talent, even though this is her fourth European Championship. Brand is a beautiful player, with great dribbling, precise crosses, and beautiful shots. Like her goal in the opening game against Poland. She cuts into the center from the left, firing a shot into the far corner with her left foot from 21 meters. A beautiful goal, the first DFB goal of the tournament. Her thanks go to the player of the match award. She was also on hand against Denmark, setting up Lea Schüller for the 2-1 winner.

Against France, the winger wasn't just busy on defense. While her runs were impressive, she dribbled past French players several times, but then missed the decisive final pass. However, she did have one success in attack: Her one-on-one with Selma Bacha, according to the data, created the only big chance for the German national team. She was fouled, earning a penalty – which Sjoeke Nüsken missed.

12.3 kilometers run against France

Nevertheless, Brand underscores what it means in the game, with the words of teammate Sophia Kleinherne: "You have to enjoy and love defending." Brand herself didn't want to go that far. "We simply needed it in that game," she told ARD. Especially when they were outnumbered, "it was my job to defend at the back." And the German national team had been outnumbered since the 13th minute, when central defender Kathrin Hendrich was sent off with a red card for pulling her braid.

The statistics demonstrate her dedication to her task. According to UEFA, she ran 12.3 kilometers, while the Sofascore portal reports 34 tackles for her, ten more than any other player in the match. She won 18 of them. Her total of 41 duels makes her the best tackler of the tournament to date.

National coach Christian Wück is "very, very satisfied": "She has proven that she has developed in the right direction, both offensively and defensively. And it is incredibly important for all of us that the offensive players also understand that they have to contribute defensively. And the defensive players must understand that they are also responsible for our offensive performance."

Fire causes headaches for opponents

Against the Spanish, a compact and passionate defensive effort will likely be necessary again. The German team will be faced with two world-class attacking stars, especially Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati. "We'll give the Spanish a run for their money, too. Just as they will, of course, defend against us with everything they have. And then we'll see who prevails in the end," said Wück.

Former international player Inka Grings sees opportunities, Spain is beatable, she told ntv/RTL: "Especially in the group stage against Belgium and Italy, we saw how vulnerable they are when they lose the ball. With quick transition play, with the first touch into the depth – we're well positioned with players like Klara Bühl, Giovanna Hoffmann, and Jule Brand." Former international player Melanie Leupolz is also betting on the offensive: "I hope that we can exploit the weakness in the Spanish defense with our strong wingers, break through there and score a goal or two," she told "Bild." Julia Simic also believes Brand is someone who will give Spain a headache. Every opponent "pays close attention to Jule Brand during their preparations," she told ran.

Her DFB teammates also know what they have in Brand: "I think when she's confident on the pitch, she's unbeatable," says Nüsken. "I think Jule has a long way to go," says Linda Dallmann. If it weren't for Brand's reputation as a clumsy and scatterbrain, her teammates also tease her about it. The now-injured captain Giulia Gwinn says in the ARD documentary "Shooting Stars - Germany's New Football Generation: Brand, Gwinn, Nüsken": "I think if Jule's head hadn't grown on her, she'd forget about him."

At 22, Brand is still one of the younger players on the German national team, but she has already earned 64 caps. "I'm no longer one of the youngsters," she says of herself. "I just want to play consistently and help the team, with assists, with goals." And with endless sprints for the defense. Because her goal is clear: the title. "We lost the 2022 European Championship final, and that still bothers me."