Just in time for the European Championship quarter-final against Austria, Bundesliga top scorer Lea Schüller has returned to the training pitch.
The 24-year-old FC Bayern München striker had to take a week off due to a positive coronary test, but was well represented by captain Alexandra Popp and will probably only be considered for a wild card role this evening (9pm CET). After three wins in three group matches without conceding a goal, the DFB team will go into the neighbourly duel as favourites.
Let’s do this! QUARTER FINALS!
WE IMTEAM hungriGER WEURO2022 GERAUT
UEFA pic.twitter.com/yAUnlRw5r2– DFB-Frauen (@DFB_Frauen) July 21, 2022
Nicole Billa: “Enjoy the game “
Austrian international striker Nicole Billa said after the final training session at Brentford Community Stadium, where the match kicks off at 9pm CET: “In football you always have a chance. Of course Germany are the favourites, there’s no denying that. But those who know us and watch and follow us know that we will go into the match with everything we have and try to keep our heart on the pitch to enjoy the game. “
V I E R T E L F I N A L E!
We’re ready to go! OneHeartOneGoal ❤️Together AUSTRIA WEURO2022 pic. twitter.com/lp0B4JkJa5
– ÖFB – oefb.at (@oefb1904) July 21, 2022
The Austrians have left the two-time European champions from Norway behind them in the group phase. As many as 13 players in team manager Irene Fuhrmann’s squad are under contract in the German Bundesliga. Austria already reached the semi-finals at the 2017 European Championship.
England have already qualified for the last four after their thriller against Spain. The winners of the German-Austrian duel will face France or defending champions the Netherlands on 27 July. So the DFB women still have a long way to go before they win their 10th European Championship.