This DFB player takes hearts by storm

The DFB women have their sights firmly set on the final tournament for Olympic qualification - even against Wales. Sjoeke Nüsken's personal fairytale is also part of the revived success. The World Cup debacle was followed by a move to England and a rocket start in her favorite position. Only one problem remains.

Her name makes fans and commentators in England despair by the dozen, but otherwise Sjoeke Nüsken has taken hearts on the island by storm. Following the announcement of her move to Chelsea FC in the Women's Super League, Germans were asked for help with pronunciation in podcasts - and asked what the 22-year-old is actually capable of and why star coach Emma Hayes, who is moving to the US team after the season and will become the highest-paid female coach in the world according to their association, wanted her at all costs. No one asks that anymore, the Hammer-born player has fitted seamlessly into the star ensemble of the champions. And Nüsken also shone for the DFB women in the all-important 3:0 win against Denmark, which opened the door to the final tournament at the Olympics.

Within just a few months, she has gone from being a loose cannon to a dominant player in the national team. Before the World Championships in Australia, she still had to fear for her place in the squad; she had already been dropped by former national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg before the 2022 European Championships. And she is not in the squad this summer either. But under interim national coach Horst Hrubesch, there is no longer any sign of the insecurity she confessed to in the documentary "Born for this".

Against Wales (5:1) and in Iceland (2:0), he had substituted Nüsken at the break, with the aim of revitalizing Germany's error-prone attacking play. Against Denmark, she was allowed to start from the beginning - playing in the six-man position for Lena Oberdorf, who had long been considered indispensable but had to pull out due to back problems. She did her job brilliantly, distributed the ball intelligently, got involved both offensively and defensively - and was even involved in two goals.

Hrubesch had nothing but praise for Nüsken. "I don't really need to say anything about Sjoeke," Hrubesch began his answer: "She's in top form. It's true that some people will have to stretch themselves to get past her." It's a compliment that should spur on the competition in the squad. She is there when others are weak or injured. Long-serving eighth Melanie Leupolz withdrew from the national team after the World Cup, while midfield greats Lina Magull, Linda Dallmann and Lena Lattwein were only on the bench against Denmark.

"In a really good mood right now"

The 22-year-old is an all-round talent. While she previously only played in defense in the national team - as she did at her former club Eintracht Frankfurt - she feels at home in central midfield. At Chelsea, the versatile Nüsken usually plays in central midfield, "sometimes even in the ten", she said at a press conference ahead of the Denmark clash. "For me personally, it's definitely my favorite position: on the ten or on the eight. I'm further forward and have the opportunity to score goals."

Midfield partner Sydney Lohmann was effusive in her praise afterwards: "Sjoeke is made for this double-six, the six-man position. She can cover spaces, both defensively and offensively, she can also drive, she can hold the ball up well, she does it incredibly well at Chelsea and then she also exudes a goal threat." Her team-mate is simply "in a really good mood at the moment, you can tell in training too".

This is also evident in the English league: she has already scored four goals, including a treble against Brighton and Hove Albion, for the current leaders of the Women's Super League. She also has one assist. At Chelsea, she plays alongside top stars such as Australia captain Sam Kerr and England's young star Lauren James - and has featured in seven of eight league games so far despite the fierce competition. "Being on the pitch with world stars has been a huge experience," explained Nüsken. "I already have the feeling that I've learned a lot in the first few months." On and off the pitch, she has "developed personally".

Lohmann also notices this: "She's an outstanding player and a good type. Not extremely vocal, but simply clever and in top form." Nüsken has now played 22 international matches and is well on the way to becoming a permanent fixture in the DFB team.

Already in the DFB team in 2019

Nüsken almost didn't become a footballer at all, but would have continued playing tennis. As a nine and ten-year-old, she was twice the best German player in her age group. But then she decided to play soccer. In a DFB interview, she once said: "I'm simply a team player. It's so much more fun for me to celebrate with the whole team than just on my own. And above all, my sister was also a soccer player, which made the decision easier." The DFB recognized her great talent early on, she played for all of the U-national teams and made her debut in the Bundesliga for 1. FFC Frankfurt (now Eintracht Frankfurt) at the age of just 18.

Voss-Tecklenburg, who was still in office at the time, also took notice of her and nominated her for the winter training camp for the first time in January 2019. However, she did not make the leap onto the pitch and things became quieter around her. She didn't make her national team debut until February 21, 2021 against Belgium.

Contrary to fears, she was not dropped from the squad again before leaving for Australia, but the World Cup debacle was also dramatic for her personally. A hamstring ligament slowed her down when she would have been needed in defense due to numerous absences. When she was then allowed to play part-time in central defense, she had to accept the blame for the South Americans' late winning goal in the second group match against Colombia due to a lack of resolute intervention.

The embarrassment in Australia was followed by the move to London, the rocket start in the star ensemble and now the resurrection of the national team with her active participation - a rollercoaster of emotions. The high could last for the time being: With a win against Wales, who are still without points (7.30pm/sportschau.de and ntv.de live ticker), the German team will top their group in the Nations League and advance to the final tournament for the Olympic tickets. It would be a stage victory on the way to the biggest possible dream. And the French stadium announcers could start practising how to pronounce Sjoeke Nüsken.