When Steffi Jones gave her the call for the first time, Lea Schüller did not have her phone to hand. “I actually missed the first call,” told the 19-year-old. She can now look back and laugh on what was a memorable day for her.
When she later read the news that the Germany head coach wanted her to return the call, Schüller had a hunch as to what the call might be about. “I did think that she might invite me but I had not thought that it would be to prepare with the team for the European Championships,” said Schüller. Her heart was certainly beating a lot faster during the telephone call. “Obviously I was very surprised and was absolutely delighted, but also very nervous.”
Jones: “Will give her experience”
Jones called up the U20 international to train with the squad as they prepare for the European Championship in the Netherlands. “Lea is an interesting player. Her performances have been very positive in the youth teams and in the Bundesliga,” said the head coach. “She should be able to collect some good experience playing at this level.”
The Germany national team have been preparing to defend their title since the 18th June and this is the first time that Lea Schüller has been training with them. “I’m really enjoying it. Everyone has welcomed me nicely and it is a very relaxed atmosphere,” she reported.
Knee injury at U20 World Cup
Schüller has competed at the U17 World Cup in Costa Rica, the U19 European Championship in Israel in 2015 and last spring, she was in Papua- New Guinea for the U20 World Cup. After Nina Ehegötz suffered a cruciate ligament rupture, Schüller was called up in her place by DFB head coach Maren Meinert. However the highlight of sporting the DFB shirt was overshadowed by a painful setback, injuring herself against Venezuela shortly after scoring her side’s third of the afternoon.
Five months rehabilitation
“I wanted to shoot but my right knee twisted and my knee cap popped out,” she said, describing the painful moment. A difficult time would follow for her. She tore a tendon and spent a long five months after her operation in rehab. She made her comeback in the league in April and despite her long time on the sidelines, she still finished as SGS’ top goalscorer with eight goals from 13 appearances.
Schüller has been rewarded for her hard work and is learning something new every day as she trains with the Olympic champions. “The tempo is a lot higher and physically it is at another level. There is much more competition for places but not in a nasty way,” said Schüller, who is also studying industrial engineering at the Hochschule Niederrhein in Krefeld.
Schüller believes that Germany are one favourites at the tournament. “The team’s objective should be to win the title. I believe they can do that,” she stressed. And it is clear to see that Schüller is really enjoying this exciting time preparing with her fellow internationals. “I am just really glad to be here.”
created by dfb
###more###
When Steffi Jones gave her the call for the first time, Lea Schüller did not have her phone to hand. “I actually missed the first call,” told the 19-year-old. She can now look back and laugh on what was a memorable day for her.
When she later read the news that the Germany head coach wanted her to return the call, Schüller had a hunch as to what the call might be about. “I did think that she might invite me but I had not thought that it would be to prepare with the team for the European Championships,” said Schüller. Her heart was certainly beating a lot faster during the telephone call. “Obviously I was very surprised and was absolutely delighted, but also very nervous.”
Jones: “Will give her experience”
Jones called up the U20 international to train with the squad as they prepare for the European Championship in the Netherlands. “Lea is an interesting player. Her performances have been very positive in the youth teams and in the Bundesliga,” said the head coach. “She should be able to collect some good experience playing at this level.”
The Germany national team have been preparing to defend their title since the 18th June and this is the first time that Lea Schüller has been training with them. “I’m really enjoying it. Everyone has welcomed me nicely and it is a very relaxed atmosphere,” she reported.
Knee injury at U20 World Cup
Schüller has competed at the U17 World Cup in Costa Rica, the U19 European Championship in Israel in 2015 and last spring, she was in Papua- New Guinea for the U20 World Cup. After Nina Ehegötz suffered a cruciate ligament rupture, Schüller was called up in her place by DFB head coach Maren Meinert. However the highlight of sporting the DFB shirt was overshadowed by a painful setback, injuring herself against Venezuela shortly after scoring her side’s third of the afternoon.
Five months rehabilitation
“I wanted to shoot but my right knee twisted and my knee cap popped out,” she said, describing the painful moment. A difficult time would follow for her. She tore a tendon and spent a long five months after her operation in rehab. She made her comeback in the league in April and despite her long time on the sidelines, she still finished as SGS’ top goalscorer with eight goals from 13 appearances.
Schüller has been rewarded for her hard work and is learning something new every day as she trains with the Olympic champions. “The tempo is a lot higher and physically it is at another level. There is much more competition for places but not in a nasty way,” said Schüller, who is also studying industrial engineering at the Hochschule Niederrhein in Krefeld.
Schüller believes that Germany are one favourites at the tournament. “The team’s objective should be to win the title. I believe they can do that,” she stressed. And it is clear to see that Schüller is really enjoying this exciting time preparing with her fellow internationals. “I am just really glad to be here.”
###more###
