Germany, the defending European champions, enters the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup with high expectations. Die Nationalelf will be gunning for the record-setting third title this summer and will be desperate for revenge after a quarterfinal loss to Japan on home soil in 2011.
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Roster
Goalkeepers: Nadine Angerer, Almuth Schult and Laura Benkarth
Defenders: Bianca Schmidt, Saskia Bartusiak, Leonie Maier, Annike Krahn, Babett Peter, Jennifer Cramer, Josephine Henning and Tabea Kemme
Midfielders: Simone Laudehr, Lena Lotzen, Dzsenifer Marozsán, Melanie Leupolz, Lena Goeßling and Sara Däbritz
Forwards: Melanie Behringer, Pauline Bremer, Anja Mittag, Célia Šašić, Alexandra Popp, Lena Petermann
Coach
Silvia Neid started coaching the under-19 squad and won the U-19 World Cup in 2004. She also served as an assistant for the senior team until 2005 when she took over. Neid has over 100 wins with the national team. The 51-year-old is set to retire in 2016 when Steffi Jones takes over.
Group B schedule
June 7: vs. Ivory Coast in Ottawa
June 11: vs. Norway in Ottawa
June 15: vs. Thailand in Winnipeg
How they qualified
Germany won Group 1 in UEFA qualifying with a perfect 10-0-0 record.
Team strengths
Much like the men’s side, the women’s squad has the perfect blend of youth and experience. Germany is an offensive juggernaut, but it also has a stingy defence. with goalkeeper Nadine Angerer anchoring the team at the back.
Team weaknesses
The only weakness for Germany is the lack of pace in defence. The back line reads the game well and is mentally strong, but if they face a team with pace up front, the German defenders may struggle.
Player to watch
Dzsenifer Marozsan will be Germany’s creative outlet at the World Cup. At just 23, Marozsan is a key player for her club, FFC Frankfurt – who won the Champions League in May. She missed the 2011 World Cup due to a knee injury, so she’ll have extra motivation this year.
Burning question
How will Germany cope without Nadine Kessler? The Women’s Player of the Year had knee surgery and will miss the World Cup as a result. Marozsan will be relied on a lot more without Kessler in the squad.
Prospects
Germany is one of the favourites to win the tournament. If it doesn’t lift the trophy at BC Place on July 5, then it would be considered a disappointment, especially with Neid stepping down next year.
World Cup history
Germany and the United States are tied for the most World Cups with two. On paper, the Germans should be able to win it all despite the key absences of Kessler and midfielder Fatmire Alushi, but it will be tough.
1991 – Semifinals (fourth place)
1995 – Runners-up
1999 – Quarterfinals
2003 – Champions
2007 – Champions
2011 – Quarterfinals