The Japan Times - Germany eye return to women's football summit at Euro 2025

By far the most successful side in the history of the competition, eight-time winners Germany have not lifted the trophy since 2013.

But with a core of young players eager to honour the achievements of past generations, Germany are hopeful of a return to the summit this summer.

Germany open their campaign against newcomers Poland on July 4 in St Gallen, followed by matches against Denmark in Basel, which will host the final, and Sweden in Zurich.

- 'We can do it' -

Two-time World Cup winners, a run spanning more than 20 years as the dominant team in the women's game in Europe shaped Germany's history and identity as the continent's top side.

Since winning their first European crown as West Germany in 1989, the Germans have hoovered up seven more titles.

Norway, the next best, have won two titles while Sweden, England and the Netherlands have one apiece.

In recent years however, the Germans have been inconsistent at major tournaments as other nations have started to catch up.

After going out in the quarter-finals in 2017, Germany finished runners-up at Euro 2022 after losing 2-1 in extra time to England.

At the 2023 World Cup, Germany suffered a shock group stage elimination for the first time in their history.

A year later however, they rebounded at the Paris Olympics to finish third. Captain Giulia Gwinn scored the only goal as Germany beat world champions Spain to win bronze, finishing as the highest-placed European team.

Coach Christian Wueck's side are young -- only two of the 23 squad members are over 30 -- but many have several years experience in the Germany set-up.

Speaking last month in Berlin, striker Laura Freigang said her team was ripe for a shot at a record ninth European Championship.

"We believe in the title... We know we can do it. That's the motivation," Freigang said, adding her side had "absolute conviction" they could go all the way.

Her strike partner Lea Schueller mirrored those sentiments.

"We're Germany. We definitely want to win a title," she said in an interview with Web.de last month.

"We're not just taking part in the tournament for the sake of it."

- Red-hot form -

Forward Alexandra Popp's retirement last year could have hampered Germany's preparations, but the Germans are well stocked up front, with Schueller, Freigang and Klara Buehl posing a consistent threat.

Germany boast impressive depth, but have also been hit by injuries. Midfield enforcer Lena Oberdorf failed to return from a cruciate injury in time, while Eintracht Frankfurt striker Nicole Anyomi also misses out.

Wueck, who led Germany to the Under-17 boys' World Cup title in 2023, has been in the hot seat for less than a year but has the side in terrific form.

Germany have five wins and a draw from six Nations League matches heading into the tournament, with their recent 4-0 win over the Netherlands and a 6-0 thumping of Austria particularly impressive.

"It was important for us to have two games in which we delivered our full performance for 90 minutes," Freigang said.

"We've learned a lot in the past few months about ourselves as a team. We know what we need... it's time to put it into practice."

When announcing the squad, Wueck said Germany were "good and balanced" and that their recent form would "boost" their self-confidence.

"We want to play with a mix of joy, enthusiasm, desire and conviction. That's what the team stands for," he said.

"If we manage to do that, we'll go very far."

T.Shimizu--JT