Olympic Games - Popp leads the DFB women's Olympic squad
Captain Alexandra Popp leads the 18-member squad of footballers for the Olympics in Paris. The 33-year-old is the only remaining player in the German national team, coached by Horst Hrubesch, who stood on the pitch during the gold triumph in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The footballers are part of the fourth nomination round, in which the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) granted tickets to 215 athletes and athletes for Paris.
Four footballers on standby
Hrubesch had to reduce his squad of 23 players from the European Championship qualifiers. Long-term regulars Sara Däbritz of Olympique Lyon, who is recovering from a knee injury, and Lina Magull (Inter Milan) are completely absent.
"The Olympic experience is fantastic, unique, and incomparable. Our goal is clear: We're going to France, not just to participate - we want to play for the medals," said Hrubesch in a DFB statement. His team faces the Olympic tournament in the group stage on July 25 against Australia, on July 28 again in Marseille against record world champions USA, and on July 31 in Saint-Étienne against Zambia.
Grozer leads the volleyball team - Handball and basketball teams still without concrete squads
Tickets were allocated to athletes in 23 sports during the fourth nomination round, including the volleyball team led by the 39-year-old Georg Grozer, who are participating in the Olympics for the first time since 2012. The squads of the handball and basketball teams were not yet named according to DOSB statements for both women and men.
There were no surprises in the Paris team. The second place finisher at the bars in Tokyo, Lukas Dauser, is in the squad despite an injury. Among the biggest medal contenders in the German Olympic team is gymnastics star Daria Varfolomeev.
Road cyclist Degenkolb not going
Medal hopes are also pinned on the track cycling duo Lea Sophie Friedrich and Emma Hinze. On the road, veteran John Degenkolb is not going, as he has to make way for Nils Politt and Maximilian Schachmann.
Modern pentathlete Annika Schleu (Zillekens) receives a ticket to Paris. She was a tragic figure at the Tokyo Games, as she unsuccessfully tried to get her assigned horse to jump using reins and spurs.
Now, more than 380 German athletes and athletes have been nominated for Paris. The last official nomination round takes place on this Friday.
- Captain Alexandra Popp, the only remnant from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro gold-winning team, will lead the 18-woman German Olympic football squad in Paris.
- The German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) has granted tickets to 215 athletes and athletes for the Paris Olympics, including the German football team led by Horst Hrubesch.
- Lina Magull, a regular in the German national team who plays for Inter Milan, and Sara Däbritz, recovering from a knee injury at Olympique Lyon, are both absent from Hrubesch's squad for the Olympic Games.
- Grozer and his volleyball team will make their Olympic appearance again after 2012, following the fourth nomination round, which saw athletes in 23 sports receive tickets.
- The basketball and handball teams have yet to announce their squads for the Olympics, according to DOSB statements.
- Hrubesch's football team, competing in the group stage, will face Australia on July 25, USA on July 28, and Zambia on July 31.
- Modern pentathlete Annika Schleu (Zillekens) has secured a ticket to Paris after a disappointing appearance at the Tokyo Games.
- Medal hopes rest on track cyclists Lea Sophie Friedrich and Emma Hinze, while veteran tour cyclist John Degenkolb will not be part of the team due to the inclusion of Nils Politt and Maximilian Schachmann.
- Now, with more than 380 athletes and athletes having been nominated for Paris, the final official nomination round will take place on this Friday.
