Jule Brand, once dubbed the “Golden Girl” of women’s football, is eager to demonstrate her true potential at this year’s European Championship. Reflecting on the unforgettable final at Wembley in 2022, where she was visibly nervous and ultimately substituted at halftime, Brand recalls wishing she could have enjoyed the moment more. Now, three years later, the 22-year-old national player is determined to shed any remnants of being an inexperienced newcomer.
With a significantly grown experience of 60 international matches, Brand states, “My role has changed. I am no longer one of the young ones.” As the German team prepares for the tournament in Switzerland, she has set high personal goals: creating opportunities, scoring goals, and maintaining consistent performance to contribute to the team’s success.
Despite her aspirations, consistency has been a challenge for Brand, which has seen her performances fluctuate between moments of brilliance and some less focused instances. Off the field, she describes herself as “a bit scatterbrained and clumsy.”
Following her recognition as Europe’s best U21 player after the EM 2022, Brand is making a significant move by transferring from VfL Wolfsburg to the Champions League winners Olympique Lyon. This transition marks an exit from her comfort zone, stepping into an international setup that promises growth and new challenges. “I have a lot of respect for this. But I know that I need it,” she stated about adapting to a new country and language ahead of her fourth tournament with the DFB team.
Her coach, Christian Wück, believes in allowing Brand the freedom to play her style without strict limitations, emphasizing her natural talent. He remarked, “If you were to put Jule Brand into a rigid concept, you would strip away everything that makes her special.”
In a broader context, Germany’s women’s football is experiencing unprecedented popularity, bringing both opportunities and pressure for players like Brand and her teammates. They are featured in the ARD documentary “Shootingstars – Deutschlands neue Fußballgeneration,” which offers a glimpse into their lives as professionals.
Looking ahead, Brand’s immediate focus is on the opening match against Poland on Friday night. Following this, Germany will face Denmark and Sweden in the group stage, where the stakes are high but hopes remain elevated for a successful tournament run. This competitive environment showcases the growing talent and ambition within women’s football in Germany, signaling a bright future for players like Jule Brand.