Nina Ehegötz was four or five years old at the time, she doesn’t quite remember now, but the Germany Women’s U19 player always likes remembering the situation. “My big brother took me with to football training,” says Ehegötz. “At the start I just stood on the sideline, but later I joined in for a kick about.” Her talent was apparent and the coach brought her into the team. The first league game, then the first goal. “Since then football hasn’t let go of me,” she says.
Nina Ehegötz now plays for Germany and she is currently with the team at the European U19 Championship in Israel. Together with the rest of the team, she wants to stay at the tournament for as long as possible. The minimum goal is to reach the semi-finals, and therefore qualify for the U20 World Cup in 2016. The team are already on track – thanks to Nina Ehegötz.
Ehegötz scores opener against England
Germany won the first group game 2-1 against England, and Ehegötz scored the opening goal in the 25th minute. “Lea Schüller moved into the middle and played the ball well to me,” says the striker as she describes her goal. She lifted her head, looked beyond the goalkeeper and placed the ball into the corner of the goal. “I was a worried that a defender would clear the ball off the line,” says Ehegötz. But the ball made it over the line for her first tournament goal. Her movement into the box is a feature of her way of playing.
Messages of congratulations came flying in from all corners after that. “I never would’ve thought that so many people would see that at home,” rejoices the 18-year-old, who will be playing for 1. FC Köln in the 2015/16 Women’s Bundesliga season. At the same time she restrains herself: “we didn’t celebrate – we haven’t achieved anything yet.” Determined, driven and modest, after the final whistle Ehegötz and her teammates simply got on with their regeneration measures.
"The Norwegians are a very robust team"
On Thursday then analysed some action on video. “We were very good defensively,” says Ehegötz. “Everyone played their part to keep the pitch narrow.” The team wants to maintain that, as well as the good mood. Between matches and training the players unwind together, “we live right on the beach, and that’s ideal for going on walks.” The DFB has also organized an excursion to the memorial in Beit Terezin, and this is an important experience for the young team. But now it’s time to focus on the sport again.
The U19s face Norway on Saturday (18:30 CEST) in their second group game, a fixture which Germany lost 1-0 in March. Ehegötz was in the side that day and says, “The Norwegians are a very robust team. It will be really difficult but we want to win.” More goals from the striker would definitely help, and her brother, who first introduced her to football, will be celebrating every goal with her.
