Women's World Cup 2015: Germany Team Guide
The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada is upon us, and Germany coach Silvia Neid has put the finishing touches to her squad as Die Nationalelf look to try and win a record third World Cup.
Four years ago, Germany were hosting the tournament but couldn’t get past the quarter-final stage, beaten by eventual winners Japan. Now, Neid’s side, even without FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Nadine Kessler, look hungrier and stronger and will take some stopping this summer.
The Road to Canada
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Germany qualified for the Women’s World Cup thanks to a perfect campaign. They won all 10 of their qualification games in Group 1, scoring 64 goals and only conceding four.
Two of those goals came in the away match against the Republic of Ireland. Stephanie Roche scored in the 89th minute to level the game at 2-2, but Melanie Leupolz’s injury-time winner broke the home team’s heart.
UEFA Qualifying Group 1
 Germany | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 4 | +58 | 30 | ||
 Russia | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 22 | ||
 Republic of Ireland | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 17 | ||
 Croatia | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 20 | −13 | 8 | ||
 Slovenia | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 34 | −27 | 6 | ||
 Slovakia | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 29 | −23 | 4 |
Top Scorers
Anja Mittag, 11 goals; Celia Sasic, 9; Dzsenifer Marozsan, 8; Fatmire Alushi, 5; Nadine Kessler, 5.
September 21, 2013: Germany 9-0 Russia
Goals: Sasic (22' pen), Kessler (25', 85'), Marozsan (26', 37'), Alushi (73'), Leupolz (76'), Goessling (80'), Schmidt (87').
October 26, 2013: Slovenia 0-13 Germany
Goals: Sasic (4' pen, 32', 66'), Maier (10'), Mittag (16', 20', 65'), Krahn (19'), Laudehr (42'), Alushi (62'), Goessling (85', 87'), Popp (93').
October 30, 2013: Germany 4-0 Croatia
Goals: Sasic (52'), OG (56', 62'), Wensing (80').
November 23, 2013: Slovakia 0-6 Germany
Goals: Kessler (8', 83'), Mittag (57', 65'), Popp (84'), Marozsan (87').
November 27, 2013: Croatia 0-8 Germany
Goals: Marozsan (12', 22, 68', 80'), Sasic (13'), Mittag (53'), Popp (72'), Bartusiak (91').
April 5, 2014: Republic of Ireland 2-3 Germany
Goals: Quinn (3'), Roche (89').
Laudehr (65' pen), Lotzen (84'), Leupolz (91').
April 10, 2014: Germany 4-0 Slovenia
Goals: Leupolz (18'), Mittag (21', 67'), Lotzen (63').
May 8, 2014: Germany 9-1 Slovakia
Goals: Alushi (2', 35', 70'), Mittag (24', 80'), Kessler (39'), Marozsan (40'), Leupolz (73'), Laudehr (76').
Biroova (85').
September 13, 2014: Russia 1-4 Germany
Goals: Tsybutovich (9' pen).
Laudehr (6'), Sasic (19', 28', 72').
September 17, 2014: Germany 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Goals: Behringer (28'), Mittag (34').
Squad List
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The final squad was revealed on May 24:
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Coach Profile: Silvia Neid
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Before the World Cup, legendary Germany coach Silvia Neid announced she would be retiring from her position in the summer of 2016. Therefore, this will be her last World Cup in charge of the team—and with it, the chance for Germany to win a record third world title.
"I took a long time to make this decision—I've been connected to the national team for 34 years," she said, relayed by DW.de. "I don't want to retire, I want to try something new."
She is thought to be moving on to a new coaching and development role at the DFB, and there is no one better placed to control the future of women’s football in Germany.
Neid has done it all, both as a player and a coach. Germany have won eight European Championships, and the 51-year-old was involved in every one, either on the pitch or on the sidelines.
As an assistant coach, she helped Germany win their first World Cup in 2003. Neid was then in charge as they retained their title in 2007.
In 2010, she became the first coach to be crowned FIFA Ballon d’Or Coach of the Year. She won it again in 2013. Meticulous in her preparation, even without two of her top scorers, with Neid in control, Germany are the favourites to go all the way this summer.
Star Player: Anja Mittag
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With the absence of both Nadine Kessler and Fatmire Alushi in Canada, pressure will fall on the shoulders of Anja Mittag. It’s nothing new for the 30-year-old, who scored goals for fun during the World Cup qualifiers.
After scoring the winning goal as Germany lifted the 2013 European Championship, she solidified just how important she is to Die Nationalelf during the qualification process, scoring 11 times in just nine games.
Wherever you play Mittag, be it on the wing, as a No. 10 or at the front of the attack, she will find a way to score. Although she is not the tallest, her strength and pace make her a nightmare for defenders.
Germany work hard to limit space for their opponents, and when they win the ball back, Mittag is already playing off the shoulder of the last defender, racing through on goal to finish with either foot.
On the eve of the tournament, the 30-year-old signed with Paris Saint-Germain, leaving Rosengard after scoring 61 goals in 68 games for the Swedish team. The Champions League finalists wanted a proven goalscorer, and you can back Mittag to bolster her reputation as Germany try and live up to their tag of tournament favourites.
One to Watch: Dzsenifer Marozsan
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Daughter of former Hungary international Janos Marozsan, Dzsenifer Marozsan is fast becoming one of the most talented players of her generation.
She made her debut for Bundesliga club Saarbrucken when she was just 14 years old, scored her first goal in under a year and then won a move to German powerhouse Frankfurt when she was still only 17.
It was clear to see why they pounced for the midfield playmaker. Marozsan picked up the Golden Shoe and was awarded the Silver Ball at the Under-17 World Cup in 2008, going one better four years later by being crowned the best player at the Under-20 World Cup.
You can instantly see she is naturally gifted with the ball at her feet. With sublime close control and the vision and imagination to create chances out of nothing, the 23-year-old is one of the most enjoyable players to watch in the women’s game.
Behind the likes of Celia Sasic and Mittag, and in the absence of Kessler and Alushi, Marozsan will be crucial to Germany's bid to claim a third World Cup.
World Cup Record
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1991 China: Fourth place
After winning all three group games, they were beaten 5-2 by the USA in the semi-finals. They would then lose 4-0 to Sweden in the third-place playoff.
1995 Sweden: Runners-up
After beating England and China in the knockout stages, Germany fell 2-0 to Norway in the final.
1999 USA: Quarter-finals
They finished second in their group behind Brazil and lost 3-2 to hosts and eventual winners USA in the quarter-finals.
2003 USA: Winners
Comfortable wins over Russia and the USA in the knockout stages set the Germans up for their 2-1 victory over Sweden in the final.
2007 China: Winners
After dispatching North Korea and Norway, they lifted their second consecutive World Cup by beating Brazil 2-0.
2011 Germany: Quarter-finals
As hosts, they were gutted to lose in extra time to eventual champions Japan at the quarter-final stage.
Group Fixtures
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Apart from the threat of 1995 World Cup winners Norway, Germany should advance through Group B without too many problems. The Ivory Coast will give them a game, but don’t be surprised if Germany advance to the last 16 with an unblemished record.
Germany vs. Ivory Coast
June 7, 2015, 4 p.m. local time
Lansdowne Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario
Germany vs. Norway
June 11, 2015, 4 p.m. local time
Lansdowne Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario
Thailand vs. Germany
June 15, 2015, 15 p.m. local time
Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg, Manitoba
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