The injury-plagued captain of FC Bayern and the German national team appears to have been injured once again.
A moment of concern for FC Bayern and the German national team: Captain Giulia Gwinn had to be substituted after just over half an hour during the 5-1 (1-0) victory in the World Cup qualifier against Austria, following a nasty tackle.
Gwinn was pursuing a loose ball when she was unfortunately, but forcefully, brought down by Melanie Brunnthaler at full speed (28th minute). In the collision, Gwinn landed heavily and unimpeded on the turf with her shoulder and immediately cried out in pain. Brunnthaler received a yellow card for the tackle.
After a lengthy period of treatment, Gwinn initially indicated she could continue, but was nevertheless taken off a few minutes later – despite protesting the decision of national coach Christian Wück.
The 26-year-old was apparently able to move her shoulder and arm without major issues or complaints and therefore wanted to continue playing. However, Wück insisted on the precautionary measure and brought Carlotta Wamser into the game. Gwinn immediately headed to the locker room for further examinations to rule out any possible acromioclavicular joint separations or clavicle injuries.
«I don’t know yet, we took her off as a precaution. Further examinations will follow and I hope it’s nothing serious,» Wück explained directly after the final whistle to *ZDF*.
Gwinn’s Absence Would Be Devastating for FC Bayern Ahead of Crucial Weeks
A prolonged absence for Gwinn would come at a particularly difficult time for FC Bayern. The Munich-based team is still competing in all three competitions. While the German championship is virtually secured, they face the formidable FC Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals. In the cup final on May 14th, the Bayern women will play against what is currently their biggest national rival, Wolfsburg.
Gwinn has already been set back by several, at times severe, injuries in her career. She has torn her cruciate ligament twice. Last summer, her European Championship ended after just the first game. During a heroic save in the opening match against Poland, she suffered an inner ligament injury in her knee and was ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
Without their captain, the DFB selection reached the semi-finals after a mixed group stage and a tremendous quarter-final battle against France, where Aitana Bonmatí’s goal in extra time against Spain dashed all title dreams.
Germany Leaves Austria Little Chance
Aside from the injury shock surrounding Gwinn, the German national team experienced a successful evening – the spirited Wück-led team ultimately secured a comfortable victory in the neighborhood derby against Austria in Nuremberg.
Nicole Anyomi (17th minute), Vivien Endemann (52nd), Sarah Puntigam with an own goal (68th), the impressive Jule Brand (76th), and substitute Lea Schüller (83rd) scored the German goals in front of 24,237 fans. Chiara D’Angelo (77th) had pulled one back for Austria. Germany consolidated their lead in Group A4 on the road to the 2027 title hunt in Brazil. A reunion with the previously harmless ÖFB selection awaits on Saturday (6 PM) in Ried.
Wück predominantly fielded the starting eleven at the Max-Morlock-Stadion that had also started the 4-0 victory in Norway in early March. The only change was that Linda Dallmann replaced Carlotta Wamser in midfield, with the Munich player moving to the center, and Brand starting on the right wing.
Following the official farewell of Olympic gold medalist Sara Däbritz, who retired from the national team in October after 111 caps, the German team searched for gaps in Austria’s five-woman defense. And they found them – Anyomi (10th) and Sjoeke Nüsken (11th) missed the first chances.
As it wasn’t possible to score from open play, a set piece helped. After a corner from Brand, goalkeeper Mariella El Sherif saved Rebecca Knaak’s header and Janina Minge’s follow-up shot, before Anyomi bundled the ball over the line. It was only the fourth international goal for the Eintracht Frankfurt forward in her 33rd cap.
Germany remained in control even after the unplanned Gwinn substitution, with Kett (37th), Anyomi again (41st), and Brand (42nd) missing chances to make it 2-0. However, it quickly came after halftime, as the DFB team continued to play purposefully forward: after excellent work from Brand, Endemann only had to tap the ball in. Brand was also involved in the third goal with a corner, before the OL Lyonnes attacker herself scored.
After D’Angelo from Bremen scored a consolation goal for Austria, Schüller provided a quick response shortly after coming on with a precise finish.