Chelsea duo Ann-Katrin Berger and Melanie Leupolz have been named in Germany’s provisional 28-player squad for this summer’s Women’s World Cup. Goalkeeper Berger was in the Germany squad which finished runners-up at Euro 2022, while midfielder Leupolz missed the tournament as she was pregnant. Head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg includes 20 of the 23 players involved in last summer’s European Championship. The World Cup gets under way in Australia and New Zealand on 20 July. Voss-Tecklenburg said support would be in place for Leupolz to travel with her child if the midfielder makes the final squad. “Melanie is ready for the long journey with her little son and will bring support with her,” she said. “We have looked at everything on site in Australia and how the little group will be accommodated. It’s nice that we can do this now, that we can support our mothers who play football. We’re pretty relaxed about it. A lot of players are probably already looking forward to playing nanny all day and entertaining the little man. We are prepared from all sides if it happens.”
Chelsea could have three players in the final squad with Eintracht Frankfurt defender Sjoeke Nusken, who is set to join the Blues in July, also included. Keeper Almuth Schult and Bayern Munich duo Giulia Gwinn and Linda Dallmann were involved last summer but miss out this time around, while Champions League finalists Wolfsburg have 10 players in the squad, including captain Alexandra Popp. Two-time winners Germany, who were knocked out in the quarter-finals at the 2019 World Cup, need to submit their final 23-player squad to Fifa by 9 July.
The provisional 28-player squad for Germany’s Women’s World Cup campaign includes Chelsea duo Ann-Katrin Berger and Melanie Leupolz. Berger was part of the Germany squad which finished runners-up at Euro 2022, while Leupolz missed the tournament due to pregnancy. Head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg has included 20 of the 23 players involved in last summer’s European Championship. The World Cup is set to take place in Australia and New Zealand on 20 July. Voss-Tecklenburg has stated that support will be provided for Leupolz to travel with her child if she makes the final squad.
Eintracht Frankfurt defender Sjoeke Nusken, who is set to join Chelsea in July, is also included in the provisional squad. Keeper Almuth Schult and Bayern Munich duo Giulia Gwinn and Linda Dallmann were part of last summer’s squad but miss out this time around, while Wolfsburg have 10 players in the squad, with Alexandra Popp as captain. Germany, who were knocked out in the quarter-finals at the 2019 World Cup, must submit their final 23-player squad to Fifa by 9 July.