Germany’s Euro 2025 campaign faced an early setback as captain Giulia Gwinn was forced off with a knee injury during the team’s opening match against Poland. The 26-year-old sustained medial ligament damage to her left knee while attempting to block a shot from Ewa Pajor in the first half. She was substituted in the 40th minute and replaced by Carlotta Wamser — making only her third international appearance. Although the injury is not as severe as initially feared, Gwinn is expected to be sidelined for several weeks. The blow is particularly tough given her injury history, including ACL tears in both knees — the most recent of which ruled her out of the 2023 World Cup. Her absence now leaves Germany without one of their most experienced and influential players at a critical point in the tournament.
Despite the early disruption, Germany maintained their defensive shape and secured a hard-fought victory. Head coach Christian Wück praised Gwinn’s commitment, noting that although her knee was affected, she prevented a crucial goal before leaving the pitch. With UEFA regulations preventing a replacement call-up after the tournament has started, Germany must now navigate the Euros without their newly appointed captain — placing greater responsibility on the squad’s depth and leadership.
As previously mentioned, this sadly isn’t Gwinn’s first experience with serious injury. In 2020, the Bayern Munich player ruptured the ACL in her right knee during a Euros qualifier against Ireland. That first major injury sidelined her for nearly a year,. However, Gwinn fought her way back and reached the final of the European Championship in 2022. In October 2023, she then ruptured the ACL in her left knee during a training session with the DFB Frauen. Now, almost two years later, the German defender is only expected to miss a few weeks. This is a significantly shorter recovery than the typical 9–12 months required for an ACL tear. Still, this injury is a heavy blow for both the national team and for Gwinn herself.
Although she will miss the remainder of this year’s Euros, her resilience and determination to return remain vital. They’re important for both her own journey and for her teammates, at club and international level. Co-captain Janina Minge has taken over the armband, while young defender Carlotta Wamser steps into Gwinn’s role on the pitch. Although Wamser’s debut came quite recently, the Eintracht Frankfurt player has already adapted well. She even assisted Jule Brand’s goal in Germany’s opener against Poland.
Nevertheless, Gwinn is irreplaceable — both on and off the pitch. She returned to Munich for rehabilitation before rejoining the team in Switzerland for their final group-stage match against Sweden. This came ahead of their progression to the quarterfinals. Even from afar, she continues to serve as a motivational figure — still leading in spirit. She remains a central presence within the squad, who have shown unwavering support since the moment of her injury. Support hasn’t just come from the team — while some players have worn wrist tape marked with “GG7,” representing Gwinn’s initials and number, fans have also shown their solidarity by holding up a banner reading “Together for Giuli – get well soon” in German.
“Of course, we are still shocked or sad about what happened to Giuli during the game but I think we handled it very well, even during the game. It’s nice to know that she is with us and that the serious case did not occur. This is why this definitely brings a good mood because we know that she won’t be out for long.” – Sarai Linder, ahead of their match against the Netherlands
Rather than faltering in the face of adversity, Germany have shown remarkable unity — with Minge stepping up, Wamser adapting quickly, and the entire squad rallying together. As Germany’s Euro journey continues, the narrative has shifted from loss to resilience — both individually and collectively.
https://fcbayern.com/frauen/en/news/2025/07/giulia-gwinn-sustains-ligament-injury-in-left-knee
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6474228/2025/07/05/giulia-gwinn-injury-update-germany/
https://www.stern.de/sport/fussball/giulia-gwinn–dfb-frauen-feiern-ihre-verletzte-kapitaenin 35878912.html
