Almuth Schult on Germany at the Women's European Championship: "I would find it presumptuous to declare the title as a goal"

Almuth Schult, a 66-time German national goalkeeper, ended her playing career last March during her third pregnancy. She won the 2013 European Championship and the 2016 Olympic gold medal with the German national team. In addition to her work as a TV expert for ARD, she is a columnist for RedaktionsNetwerk Deutschland (RND) and a contributor to the RND football podcast "Almuths Pausen-T."

Ms. Schult, the German women's team has warmed up for the European Championship with convincing victories in the Nations League against the Netherlands (4-0) and Austria (6-0). Where is this team in its development?

The team is inventive in attack; there seems to be a plan behind their set pieces, which creates dangerous situations that also lead to goals. Especially in the last two wins, I found the midfield to be very solid, both in terms of winning the ball and structuring the game. Errors in build-up play are decreasing, which is a good sign. However, I don't see Germany at 100 percent yet.

Where are the most sensitive weaknesses?

The defense hasn't always been solid so far. Insecurities regularly lead to opportunities for the opposition, although these haven't resulted in any goals conceded recently. Things might be different in a tournament, and mistakes will likely be punished more quickly. They'll need to be more focused and defend more consistently.

Has the duo of Janina Minge and Rebecca Knaak in central defense nevertheless emerged as a duo that we will also see at the European Championships?

It could well come down to that. Rebecca Knaak is calm on the ball, very composed, and delivers consistent performances. Her move to Manchester City has further enhanced her skill and routine, even though she hasn't played many matches at international level, i.e., in the Champions League. Her presence also helps Janina Minge, who, thanks to her experience in Wolfsburg, is increasingly acquiring a foothold in her new role and appears significantly more stable there.

There are plenty of options in attack, and national coach Christian Wück has tried out many alternatives.

Lea Schüller, now the sixth-best German goalscorer in history, plays up front, with an impressive scoring rate. She could even make the most of her opportunities at times. She's often in the right places and creates chances, which is positive. Second center forward Giovanna Hoffmann brings a lot of quality and energy as a substitute, contributing to the combination play in a different way. Behind the strikers, Germany has a line-up of really good players in Klara Bühl, Linda Dallmann, Selina Cerci, Laura Freigang, and Jule Brand. One of their greatest strengths is that they're all different types of players, allowing the team to operate with flexibility.

How does this show up in concrete terms using an example?

Christian Wück has rightly pointed out several times that there are two options at number ten, whether Dallmann or Freigang is deployed there. They each interpret positional play differently, offering different running routes. This makes it difficult for many opponents to adapt. With Cerci and Brand, there are players on the wing who can be deployed flexibly and who can also move towards the center during a game because they are used to doing so at their clubs.

In addition to you, former captain Alexandra Popp, Marina Hegering, Svenja Huth, and Lina Magull have recently stepped down. Sara Doorsoun, who was at least in the extended European Championship squad, has just joined. How do you assess the development of the new generation without long-standing key players since Wück took office in August 2024?

The approach has changed and differs significantly from that of his predecessor Horst Hrubesch, whom I know very well from our time together. It was more pragmatic and goal-oriented. Alex Popp played an important role in central attack, and the game was often geared towards her. The game went through the wings and a lot of emphasis was placed on crosses and passes. Under Wück, the attacking processes are more variable. You can see that just from the variety of positions and distances from which shots are created. Through balls and flat passes in the final third have become much more common. There isn't just one style of play. This makes it clear, however, that developing to the top level takes time and adaptation. Because the team is expected to take far more risks out from the back, the likelihood of mistakes being made close to their own goal, which can be punished more quickly, is higher.

Lena Oberdorf has been hotly debated recently. The FC Bayern Munich playmaker, who has been out for months and is normally a key defensive midfielder for both club and national team, will not travel to Switzerland due to her current condition following her serious knee injury. Was this the right decision?

Christian Wück certainly had a plan for how he wanted to integrate her into the system, but she's never been available to him since taking office. Elisa Senß, Sjoeke Nüsken, and Sidney Lohmann have also shown in recent matches that the position is by no means a problem area—even if Lena Oberdorf's qualities as a sweeper and driving force forward help any team. She simply lacks match practice, and a European Championship appearance could have entailed a high level of risk. However, it was unfortunate that the DFB, the national coach, and FC Bayern Munich didn't always seem to communicate smoothly regarding her health.

The media excitement showed just how much her name and her standing as one of the most famous German female footballers was causing a stir.

While I initially consider it extremely positive, I would like to point out that Wück invited them to get his own impression of his fitness level. However, this example also shows me that he apparently still has to get used to the extent to which he's now in the public eye. The characters within a women's team are also completely different than those within a men's youth team. Wück probably had to adjust a bit there as well.

He was undoubtedly successful with the U17 team, first becoming European and then World Champion in 2023. Where do the differences in approach become particularly apparent?

It depends on where the players are in their lives. They've completed an apprenticeship, worked another job, or are studying part-time – and often know what they want. They're very independent in what they do; many could, for example, create their own training plan without guidance and stick to it with determination. When some players are so firmly established in their opinions and ideas, the guidelines need to be clear.

So Christian Wück has to communicate his decisions differently than before?

I can well imagine that he'll have to provide more solid reasons for many things, as it's not just about emotions. He'll be judged differently by his statements. I'd say that girls listen very carefully and will refer to even the smallest details afterward. One or two words count. So, if a clear commitment was made, they'll still remember it clearly and will have a harder time dealing with it in the long run if it wasn't kept.

“He will be judged differently based on his statements”: Women’s national coach Christian Wück (l.), here in conversation with Almuth Schult on ARD.

Source: IMAGO/Fotostand

Now a sporting look at the upcoming tournament: Captain Giulia Gwinn flirted with the final in an RND interview, and also said that she didn't want to "go home with silver again" like in 2022. Is that realistic?

The difficulty level gradually increases in the group, which can be an advantage. Poland is no easy task, as we've seen in previous matches, but they're just as much of an underdog against Germany as the Danes, despite being a bit of a surprise package. The third group match against Sweden will be a real test. A clash could await in the quarterfinals, with the reigning European champions England or the strong French.

These are two favorite nations for the European Championship title.

Definitely. Along with Sweden, Spain is clearly one of them. The Dutch should also be among the favorites among the individual players, but they have recently disappointed in the Nations League. The Italians are also difficult to predict at the moment.

What would you consider a success for the DFB women?

If they reach the quarterfinals and manage to beat one of the top teams, that would be fantastic. I've said this several times before: I could live with Germany reaching the semifinals. In my opinion, that would also reflect their performance level in Europe and worldwide. I think it would be presumptuous to declare the title as a goal, because the team has been too fragile recently and, except for one occasion, has never consistently delivered their best performances for the full 90 minutes.