Oberdorf Remains Unshaken in the Face of Hatred
Prior to the Olympics, Lena Oberdorf has a couple of responsibilities to attend to before she's finished - as soon as the pair of EM qualifying matches against Poland are completed. The controversy surrounding her transfer from Wolfsburg to Munich has caused a lot of commotion, some of it quite harsh. The 22-year-old has grown from the experience.
Transforming from a fan favorite to a target for online criticism, Lena Oberdorf has experienced some dark times. Vicious messages like "I hope you hurt yourself" were sent to the national team player on her social media accounts. Yet she refuses to be scared off by internet haters. "I took a step forward," she declared confidently at the DFB Campus during her first press conference since the uproar surrounding her transfer from VfL Wolfsburg to fierce rival Bayern Munich.
This emigration was reported to be the biggest German transfer deal ever, with at least 400,000 euros in February. With her transfer being the focus of so much negative attention, she "dealt with it very well - now the spotlight is entirely on the national team." After her team's DFB Cup victory against Bayern, she made it clear she wouldn't become the receptacle for anonymous hate comments. "Of course it's upsetting," she admitted: "But you need to be in a healthy environment. You have to know who you can trust, who's opinion matters."
Two years ago as a Schalke fan, she expressed that she would never go to Bayern. But for world-class striker Lena, there was only one option after four years in Wolfsburg.
Her buddy Lea Schüller, a Bayern striker, was also entangled in the situation. Even at the World Cup her summer, Lea disclosed that the friends had been in touch, saying "so we can play together again, my mother also suggested it's time for us to play on the same team again." Like the old days when they first made their Bundesliga debuts at SGS Essen.
Coached by Horst Hrubesch, the team is trying to secure the direct ticket for the 2025 EM in Switzerland as fast as possible. In order to accomplish this, the leader of Group A4 seeks two victories against Poland on the 8th of May (8:30 p.m./ZDF and live ticker at ntv.de) in Rostock and four days later in Gdynia.
"We're aiming to create a solid foundation," Oberdorf explained," while also getting prepared for the Olympics." It's a fine line to walk - just like her tight moving schedule: "I hope to be all wrapped up by June 10th, then I can take some time off." Perhaps even with her brother Tim, who's seeking respite after the unsuccessful promotion with Fortuna Düsseldorf in the Bundesliga relegation. "His penalty kick is really in the style of a great defensive midfielder from the left," she beamed proudly: "His penalty kick is mirroring a great defensive midfielder from the left."
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- The calm before the upheaval: Nagelsmann's European Championship plans
- Despite the ongoing EM qualification matches against Poland, Lena Oberdorf's transfer to FC Bayern Munich from VfL Wolfsburg (Women) continues to be a subject of transfers and rumors in German soccer.
- The DFB Women's national team, coached by Horst Hrubesch, relies on Lena Oberdorf's performances as they strive for European Championship qualification, even amidst the controversial transfer news.
- Amidst the commotion surrounding her transfer, Lena Oberdorf is focused on contributing to FC Bayern Munich's soccer success while representing Germany in the upcoming international match against Poland.
- Lena Oberdorf's former team, VfL Wolfsburg (Women), remains in the European Championship qualification picture as well, keeping a close eye on their star player's performances for both club and country.
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