German women rally around Carlotta Wamser and Janina Minge as Euros progress | OneFootball

At the current 2025 Women’s European Championship in Switzerland, DFB squad captain Giulia Gwinn’s tournament-ending injury forces a leadership reshuffle in the German national team ranks. Makeshift central defender Janina Minge has assumed responsibility for donning the armband whilst Chelsea Ladies star Sjoeke Nüsken will take over Minge’s role as the team’s vice-captain.

In terms of who will physically replace Gwinn as the starting right back, another out-of-position player must assume the burden. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Carlotta Wamser takes up Gwinn’s mantle as the German women prepare to face the Danes in their second group stage fixture on Tuesday evening. All players have received vocal support from their teammates.

Starting left back Sarai Linder was on hand at a Sunday DFB press conference to discuss Minge’s future role. Wamser received immediate backing from all professionals involved with the national team after Friday night’s victory. There’s since been still more praise printed in the pages of Kicker’s coverage of the competition.

“It’s not the first time Jani [Minge] has taken on a captaincy role,” Linder said of her former Wolfsburg teammate at the Sunday press conference. “She’s a very calm person. But if there’s anything going on with the team, she stands in front of the team and communicates with the coaching staff. That’s why Janina will be able to do it very well.

“I think it’s great that she’s been given the chance to play her way into the squad here,” Linder added with reference to Wamser, “She has a striking presence without putting herself under too much pressure.“

“Those who wondered why [Wamser made it into the European Championship squad] saw why today,” head coach Christian Wück said after Friday night’s victory. “I’m 100 percent satisfied [with her]. She confirmed to me and the coaching team that selecting her was definitely the right decision.”

“Carlotta did a fascinatingly good job for her first game at a European Championship,” keeper Ann-Kathrin Berger added on Friday. “She was just thrown in at the deep end.“

“Carlotta is just such an incredible bundle of energy on the pitch,” Wamser’s club teammate Laura Freigang was quoted as saying. “She hasn’t been playing at left back for that long, but somehow this position magically combines all her strengths. She pushes forward, but also wins one-on-one duels at the back and is incredibly fast.”

Minge also praised Wamser’s performance in the Friday post match interviews, noting that the 21-year-old “went from zero to one hundred without much of a warm up“.

Those hoping that the DFB Mädels can capture their first European crown in 12 years will be hoping that Wamser can sustain that speed throughout the course of the campaign.

GGFN | Peter Weis