Giulia Gwinn Reflects on Injury Struggles and Captaincy at Euro 2024 Ahead of Nations League Final

Giulia Gwinn, captain of the German women's national football team, recently opened up about the toughest moments she faced following her knee injury at Euro 2024. In a candid podcast with Robin Gosens, the 26-year-old defender described the period as "unbelievably terrible," particularly emphasizing the hardship of staying with the team despite the injury sustained during the first group match against Poland. Gwinn highlighted her determination to fulfill her captaincy role by "wearing a mask" to prevent her personal struggles from affecting her teammates. This injury marked the most severe setback in her career, even surpassing the two previous ACL tears she endured in 2020 and 2022. She expressed a profound sense of loss when it became clear she could no longer participate in the tournament.

Looking forward, Gwinn is poised to lead Germany in the Nations League final against Spain, an opportunity to secure her first title as captain. Following a goalless draw in the first leg, the decisive match is scheduled for Madrid with 45,000 tickets already sold, signaling significant anticipation. Gwinn’s resilience through injury and leadership challenges underscores her commitment to the team and the pursuit of success moving ahead.