DFB women before the start of the World Cup: Oberdorf’s struggle with its own claims
Center field player Lena Oberdorf is one of Germany’s hopes for the women’s soccer World Cup. photo
© Daniel Karmann/dpa
The young Lena Oberdorf is one of the best soccer players in the world. What she recently had to learn: It’s not always possible to do 100 or 120 percent.
Lena Oberdorf felt the “very big emptiness” despite VfL Wolfsburg’s successful quarter-finals in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain. In March, after the final whistle, she apathetically high-fived her coach Tommy Stroot.
“I didn’t enjoy it at all anymore, it was like a mandatory task,” said the international in a media round before the upcoming World Cup. Super talented, highly rated in every respect, multiple awards. How does a 21-year-old, especially with irrepressible ambition and commitment, deal with it in the long run – without losing herself? Oberdorf speaks surprisingly openly and reflects on it.
The eyes of the German team, which will start against Morocco in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on July 24 in Melbourne, are more than usual these days in Wyong, north of Sydney, on the all-important defensive midfielder: Oberdorf is struggling with her a muscle injury in the right thigh and has to slow down first. Exactly what the Vice European Champion finds difficult.
Excellent, but untitled
Coping with the fact that you’re not always 100 percent and can’t always give 120 percent, that was perhaps your biggest development step in the past season: “You just don’t expect too much from yourself. And if it’s not a good game is, then that’s the way it is.” What you hardly know from Oberdorf.
For national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, the ex-Essenerin is one of the world’s best in the sixth position. Awarded “Best Young Player” at the EM 2022 in England and in the past premier class season. “I would have preferred the Champions League trophy and the European title back then,” says Oberdorf after losing two finals on the international stage. And the quarter-finals at her first World Cup in 2019 against Sweden in France is still nagging at her, because she missed the big chance to make it 2-2.
With a market value estimated at 350,000 euros, the Wolfsburg player is by far the most highly valued German player. And also one that speaks as straightforwardly as she plays: Oberdorf’s statement “women’s football, men’s football – it’s a football” was voted football slogan of the year.
“Need to take care of mental health”
“We must not underestimate the hype that has arisen and what that does to you,” says Voss-Tecklenburg, not only with a view to Oberdorf and emphasizes: “We have to pay more attention to this mental health: You don’t always have to be perfectionist on the road be, but also treat yourself to something. We say: Allow yourself to have this supposed weakness, which isn’t actually a weakness, it’s a strength.”
It helps that Oberdorf has the confidence “to discuss this with us and that has matured. One consequence for us is that we simply took Lena Oberdorf out in many phases last year. Not in football, but above all in media appointments.” Making something like this public also helps other people: “You can’t function permanently and run at 100 percent. It’s just not possible.” Not even with a power woman like Lena Oberdorf.
For the athlete, not only the national coach and club managers are important contacts. Above all, her friend helps her – “because she has no connection to football. She works for the police”. A championship-defining defeat against FC Bayern? “Then she says: It was only one game. Next season there will be a new league again. I’m like: Yes, actually she’s right. For me it’s outstanding, because then I get out of this rut a bit that I always have to perform.”
dpa
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