Euro 2022: Germany’s crown has slipped but can they surprise?

But the mix of youth and experience isn’t quite working at the moment. Voss-Tecklenburg’s side have fallen to fifth in Fifa’s rankings, and suffered an embarrassing defeat by Serbia in a World Cup qualifier in April.

Germany are no longer guaranteed winners – or even finalists – at major tournaments. At Euro 2017, they went out to Denmark in the quarter-finals. At the 2019 World Cup, there was another last-eight exit, this time at Sweden’s hands.

So forecasting their fate at Euro 2022 is tough. From an early exit to a great triumph at Wembley, anything seems possible.

There are many reasons for Germany’s struggles. There have been errors in youth development, but also a certain laziness at the national football association, among the clubs and ultimately also among the players.

Voss-Tecklenburg would like a return to the mentality of her playing days, when she was part of a Germany side with were European champions four times between 1989 and 1997. That was why she brought a true German great into her coaching set-up – three-time world player of the year Birgit Prinz.

The publicity-shy Prinz – who won 214 caps and scored 128 goals for Germany, both national records – won her last major international title at the 2009 Euros in Finland, when she scored two goals in the 6-2 win over England in the final. Prinz, who studied psychology, is now putting that degree to use as the team psychologist, alongside her vast experience.

The 44-year-old, together with the national coach, is aiming to ensure that the German footballers have clear heads going into the tournament.

Voss-Tecklenburg added: “Other nations are perhaps a little ahead of us. I still believe that we will be a really good team at the European Championship if our players have an inner conviction of their ability.”