Germany at the Women's World Cup 2023: Best players, fixtures, route to final & more

  • Germany one of the strongest teams at the 2023 Women's World Cup
  • Die Frauen-Nationalmannschaft were runners-up at Euro 2022
  • Martina Voss-Tecklenburg overseeing team of stars including Alexandra Popp and Lena Oberdorf
Will Germany become world champions again?
Will Germany become world champions again? / CHRISTOF STACHE/GettyImages
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Germany are among one of the favourites to go all the way at the 2023 Women's World Cup, with Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's side looking to avenge their Euro 2022 heartbreak.

Die Frauen-Nationalmannschaft took hosts England all the way to extra-time in that final and were beaten by a late sucker-punch from Chloe Kelly.

Unlike some of the other contenders to become world champions this summer, Germany have most of their star and core players fit and available.

Here's everything you need to know about their quest to win the World Cup for the first time in 16 years.



Germany Women's tournament history

Women's World Cup

Year

Result

Pld

W

D

L

1991

4th place

6

4

0

2

1995

Runner-up

6

4

0

2

1999

Quarter-finals

4

1

2

1

2003

Winner

6

6

0

0

2007

Winner

6

5

1

0

2011

Quarter-finals

4

3

0

1

2015

4th place

7

3

2

2

2019

Quarter-finals

5

4

0

1


Women's European Championship

Year

Result

Pld

W

D

L

1984

Did not qualify

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

1987

Did not qualify

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

1989

Winner

2

1

1

0

1991

Winner

2

2

0

0

1993

4th place

2

0

1

1

1995

Winner

3

3

0

0

1997

Winner

5

3

2

0

2001

Winner

5

5

0

0

2005

Winner

5

5

0

0

2009

Winner

5

5

0

0

2013

Winner

6

4

1

1

2017

Quarter-finals

4

2

1

1

2022

Runner-up

6

5

0

1


Germany Women's World Cup 2023 qualifying record

Germany, as expected, were able to waltz through their qualifying group without breaking too much of a sweat. They won nine of their ten matches and were victorious by three or more goals in seven.

Their only defeat came in a shock 3-2 loss at Serbia, by which point they had essentially punched their ticket to Australia and New Zealand anyway.

Date

Result

Goalscorers

18 September 2021

Germany 7-0 Bulgaria

Schuller (2), Magull (2), Dallmann (2), Wassmuth

21 September 2021

Germany 5-1 Serbia

Schuller (4), Leupolz

21 October 2021

Israel 0-1 Germany

Huth

26 October 2021

Germany 7-0 Israel

Tag (OG), Schuller (3), Brand, Freigang, Nusken, Buhl

26 November 2021

Germany 8-0 Turkey

White

30 November 2021

Portugal 1-3 Germany

Schuller, Huth, Leupolz

9 April 2022

Germany 3-0 Portugal

Oberdorf, Buhl, Rauch

12 April 2022

Serbia 3-2 Germany

Schuller, Wassmuth

3 September 2022

Turkey 0-3 Germany

Rauch, Buhl, Schuller

6 September 2022

Bulgaria 0-8 Germany

Schuller (3), Freigang (3), Lohmann, Huth


Germany Women's World Cup 2023 squad

Position

Player

Age

Club

Goalkeeper

Merle Frohms

28

Wolfsburg

Goalkeeper

Ann-Katrin Berger

32

Chelsea

Goalkeeper

Stina Johanes

23

Eintracht Frankfurt

Defender

Chantal Hagel

24

Hoffenheim

Defender

Kathy Hendrich

31

Wolfsburg

Defender

Sophia Kleinherne

23

Eintracht Frankfurt

Defender

Marina Hegering

33

Bayern Munich

Defender

Felicitas Rauch

27

Wolfsburg

Defender

Sjoeke Nusken

22

Eintracht Frankfurt

Defender

Sara Doorsoun

31

Eintracht Frankfurt

Midfielder

Lena Oberdorf

21

Wolfsburg

Midfielder

Sydney Lohmann

23

Bayern Munich

Midfielder

Sara Dabritz

28

Lyon

Midfielder

Lena Lattwein

23

Wolfsburg

Midfielder

Melanie Leupolz

29

Chelsea

Midfielder

Lina Magull

28

Bayern Munich

Midfielder

Jule Brand

20

Wolfsburg

Forward

Lea Schuller

25

Bayern Munich

Forward

Svenja Huth

32

Wolfsburg

Forward

Laura Freigang

25

Eintracht Frankfurt

Forward

Alexandra Popp

32

Wolfsburg

Forward

Nicole Anyomi

23

Eintracht Frankfurt

Forward

Klara Buhl

22

Bayern Munich


Germany Women's World Cup 2023 best players

Alexandra Popp

Alexandra Popp
Popp will captain Germany / Sebastian Widmann/GettyImages

Germany legend Alexandra Popp headed to Euro 2022 off the back of some nasty and major injuries, facing a race against time to even make the tournament.

She managed to prove her fitness but was expected to play second fiddle to the emerging Lea Schuller, but the veteran won back her place and finished as the competition's top scorer alongside Beth Mead.

Popp was, however, forced out of the final with an injury in the warm-up and Germany were beaten by hosts England. Following a prolific season back at club level with Wolfsburg, she'll be determined to lead her country to glory whatever the cost this year.


Lena Oberdorf

Lena Oberdorf
Oberdorf runs the show in the middle of the park / Sebastian Widmann/GettyImages

While Germany were losing finalists in their last major tournament, they were at least able to rest a little easier knowing their long-term future was safe with Lena Oberdorf in midfield.

The Wolfsburg starlet won the tournament's best young player award, exclusively telling 90min during their run to Wembley that she was desperate to continue learning and playing at the highest level.

In the lead up to the World Cup, Oberdorf has been one of the poster girls of adidas' usual pre-tournament campaign. They don't just hand out those spots to any old player.


Sara Dabritz

Sara Daebritz
Dabritz brings a wealth of experience / Sebastian Widmann/GettyImages

With 97 caps at the age of only 28, Popp is the only player to have made more Germany appearances than Sara Dabritz in this summer's squad.

One of just three players to ply their trade outside of the Frauen-Bundesliga, the midfielder remains a crucial cog in Germany's system and will take on more importance now that Dzsenifer Marozsan has decided to hang up her international boots.


Germany Women's World Cup 2023 manager

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg won several titles with Germany as a player but never a World Cup / Sebastian Widmann/GettyImages

After establishing Switzerland as a competitive European outfit in six years in charge, Germany legend Martina Voss-Tecklenburg was drafted in as Die Frauen-Nationalmannschaft's new manager on the eve of the 2019 World Cup.

They crashed out at the quarter-final stage, but after an impressive Euro 2022 campaign in which they silenced a lot of doubters who were uncertain over their progress, Germany and Voss-Tecklenburg have established themselves as powerhouses once more.

Voss-Tecklenburg retired from playing shortly before Germany won their two World Cups in the 2000s. She'll be desperate to get her hands on a gold medal as a manager instead.


Germany Women's World Cup 2023 fixtures - Group H

Fixture

Date

Time (BST)

Germany vs Morocco

24 July 2023

09:30

Germany vs Colombia

30 July 2023

10:30

South Korea vs Germany

3 August 2023

11:00


Germany Women's World Cup 2023 route to the final

With a relatively easy group stage draw, Germany should be able to secure a route to the last 16 without too much hassle.

However, they are likely to face one of Brazil or France in the last 16, though they should fancy their chances against anyone Down Under.

England could await them in the quarter-finals and allow Voss-Tecklenburg's charges a perfect shot at revenge for the Euros. Australia are expected to make the last four, with the United States pretty much pencilled in for the final.


Germany Women's World Cup 2023 prediction

Germany provide a promising mix of experience and youth, veteran stars with young up-and-comers. Most of their current cohort are still sore from the wounds of the Euros and there would be no greater comeback than conquering the world, particularly if they do meet England along the way and dump out the hosts.

Their roadmap to such glory is daunting on paper, but there are few nations that have continually rolled through the globe's most menacing teams the way that Germany historically have.

It's been 16 years since Germany last won the Women's World Cup, 16 years since they even reached a final to cement their spot as a top-two team. It's about time that changed.

Prediction: Runner-up