Facing France will be a huge challenge for record champions Germany in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals but they will be ready for it, German women’s national team sporting director Nia Künzer has said.
Germany limp into the match coming off a crushing 4-1 defeat against Sweden in their final group game, while the French impressively won all their matches, including against title holders England and 2017 champions the Netherlands.
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“It was clear for us that a very difficult opponent would be waiting for us. I all saw and know which quality France have, which pace,” Künzer told broadcasters ARD.
Germany coach Christian Wück was in attendance when France wrapped up the group stage with a 5-2 triumph over the Dutch on Sunday.
Germany are considered underdogs, and lost against France in last year’s Nations League semi-finals.
But the Germans have never lost against Les Bleus at a Euros or a World Cup, and have eight Euro titles, two World Cups and one Olympic gold compared to France’s zero big titles.
Künzer, who scored Germany’s winner in the 2003 World Cup final against Sweden, insisted that the team will shake off the Sweden defeat and come back stronger on Saturday.
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“Everyone will have to go to their highest level, play at the limit, so that we don’t allow France into the game. Stress them, be nasty, that’s something they don’t like,” Künzer said.