Last edition’s finalists, Germany, are looking to seal a record-extending ninth crown in Euro 2025 in Switzerland with a new, refreshing vibe around the team. Die Nationalelf have said goodbye to a lot of their stars but have an exciting group of players coming up with the hope of putting the team back to their glory days. Germany suffered a heartbreaking group stage exit from the Women’s World Cup three years ago, but replaced their disappointment with a bronze medal finish at the 2024 Olympics. They enter the Euros after a successful Nations League campaign, being one of the favourites for the finals as well. Germany will face debutants Poland, Denmark and Sweden in Group G, opening their tournament on the 4th July 2025.
History
Germany is the team of royalty in the UEFA Women’s Euro Championship, having won the competition a record eight times since winning their debut competition in 1989, which was hosted at home. In the following nine years, Die Nationalelf failed to win the Euros only once, with a staggering record of winning six straight championships from 1995 to 2013. They are the team with the most matches played in the competition, with the most wins registered and also finding the net the most time. The fact that their 2022 edition’s runners-up standing was the first time they ever lost a Euro final said everything about their dominance in the competition. Legendary forward for Germany Birgit Prinz has played the most matches in Women’s Euros history, while she and teammate Inka Grings have scored the most goals.
Qualification for Euro 2025
Die Nationalelf was in a pretty straightforward qualifying group with Iceland, Austria and Poland, so they faced no real problems in finishing top of the group. Apart from a surprise loss in the meaningless final qualifying game against Iceland away, Germany won the rest of the matches, clinching 15 points from six games to advance to their 11th Euro finals. Lea Schuller, netting six, scored the majority of the 17 goals her team managed in the qualifiers. Christian Wuck’s team are in great form, having also booked their place in the Nations League finals, to be played later this year. They topped their group unbeaten and won five of the six matches against Austria, once again, Scotland and the Netherlands, scoring a sensational 24 goals and conceding just four.
Germany squad for Euro 2025
Goalkeepers: Ann Katrin-Berger (Gotham FC), Stina Johannes (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ena Mahmutovic (Bayern Munich)
Defenders: Giulia Gwinn (Bayern Munich), Kathrin Hendrich (Chicago Stars), Franziska Kett (Bayern Munich), Sophia Kleinherne (Eintracht Frankfurt), Rebecca Knaak (Manchester City), Sarai Linder (Wolfsburg), Janina Minge (Wolfsburg), Carlotta Wamser (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Sara Dabritz (Lyon), Linda Dallmann (Bayern Munich), Sydney Lohmann (Bayern Munich), Sjoeke Nusken (Chelsea), Elisa Senss (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Forwards: Jule Brand (Wolfsburg), Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich), Selina Cerci (Hoffenheim), Laura Freigang (Eintracht Frankfurt), Giovanna Hoffmann (RB Leipzig), Lea Schuller (Bayern Munich), Cora Zicai (Wolfsburg)
Head Coach: Christian Wuck
The German squad is in a new generation, having a great blend of youth and tournament experience, with 11 players retained from last edition’s Euros, where they reached the competition’s final. Included in the squad is the 20-year-old talent Cora Zicai after an impressive season for her club and country. However, defender Felicitas Rauch and Eintracht Frankfurt striker Nicole Anyomi have not made the 23-player roster, despite being part of the squad in the last edition, having criticised head coach Christian Wuck for a lack of communication in not selecting them for earlier squads. Also part of the 2022 tournament, Bayern Munich’s Giulia Gwinn will captain the side, although clubmate Lena Oberdorf won’t be part of the action as she is still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.
Strength
Scoring 61 times since the U17 Boys Euros-winning coach took charge in April last year, with an average of 2.7 goals per game, it is not hard to know where the strength of Die Nationalelf lies. The fact that they have managed this without their star striker, Alexandra Popp, who retired from the national team in October 2024, makes it incredible. The goals are more spread in the team with Lea Schuler, filling in Popp’s vacant space, not alone to shoulder the responsibility. The midfield is also the most balanced in the competition, with additional goal sources coming from that area. The defence has improved a lot with the centre-back pairing of Janina Minge and Rebecca Knaak, with threats also coming from fullbacks Linder and Gwinn, who are full of stamina to bomb up and down. In short, Germany's structured football and trusted attack will make the difference in Euro 2025.
Weakness
So far, there are no glaring issues with the side, but the team is still untested against elite sides like Spain and England, having not faced any opposition of such calibre recently. Whether Germany can produce the mentality of a big tournament with a squad that doesn’t have a true leader, who they used to have in the previous editions, is a big question mark. However, the depth in quality in their squad helps them with a lot of options to tackle difficult situations if plan A fails.
How will Germany lineup at Euro 2025?
Wuck will be lining up for Germany in the 4-2-3-1 that worked wonders in the Nations League, with six players from the 2022 finalist squad in the starting eleven. The number could increase if Sydney Lohmann and Sara Dabritz come into midfield to partner Elisa Senss, an undroppable player under Wuck. Chelsea’s Sjoeke Nusken's presence will make it a balanced midfield, which seems to be ideal for a tournament like this. The attack will comprise a front four that has combined for 19 of the 26 goals scored in the recent Nations League campaign, while players like Laura Freigang and Selina Cerci have been involved in nine goals when they have come into the picture.
Germany's Euro 2025 opponents and fixtures
Group C
Germany
Poland
Denmark
Sweden
Germany's Group C Fixtures
5 July 2025
Germany vs Poland - Kybunpark, St Gallen (00:30)
7 July 2025
Germany vs Denmark - St. Jakob Park, Basel (21:30)
8 July 2025
Sweden vs Germany - Letzigrund Stadion, Zurich (00:30)
Prediction
Germany should take the top spot in their group by not allowing Denmark or Sweden to alter their path. However, winning the group won’t guarantee them an easy opponent in the quarterfinals. They face the runners-up from Group D, which is the ‘group of death’ in the competition, containing holders England, France, Netherlands and debutants Wales. The Lionesses are expected to win that group, so either the French or the Dutch will cross their path. Still, Germany has a good track record against them and with such a talented squad, it will be a surprise if they don’t progress further. If they are successful in making it to the semifinals, Die Nationalelf will be on the doorstep of back-to-back final appearances because they will face a lower-ranked side on the other side of the pathway. Christian Wuck’s side would at least be good enough to reach the showpiece, looking at their potential and their road in the knockouts. Whether the team could be champions ahead of the more favoured teams is a big ask.
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