Schüller Shines as Germany Defeats Denmark in Euro 2025 Clash

Lea Schüller’s Rise and Impact on the German National Team

Lea Schüller has become a pivotal figure for the German national team, scoring the decisive goal in their 2-1 victory over Denmark. This win brought Germany closer to securing a spot in the knockout stages of the tournament. Despite not always having an easy path with the national team, Schüller appears to be reaching her peak at a crucial moment.

In the second game in a row, Schüller was substituted with 20 minutes remaining. This decision was not a reflection of poor performance but rather a strategic move by coach Christian Wück to protect his key striker, who had already fulfilled her role effectively. Schüller’s second goal mirrored her performance against Poland in the opening match, helping Germany come back from behind against Denmark.

Until recently, Schüller was often the one coming off the bench. However, the retirement of Alexandra Popp last year has solidified her position as the starting striker for Germany. “To be honest, it’s more of a media thing,” Schüller said before the tournament. “I didn’t feel that way when Poppi was still there. Our team always knew she was one of our most important players. I still felt like I was important too; that hasn’t changed.”

A Different Type of Leader

At 27, Schüller is now one of the most experienced players on the team. However, she isn’t the most obvious leader on the pitch, especially with captain Giulia Gwinn ruled out for the tournament. On Tuesday, she remained relatively anonymous until the 66th minute when she found space to the left of the penalty spot after some defensive errors by Denmark. She sidefooted the ball into the net, putting Denmark on the brink of elimination.

Earlier in the match, Sjoeke Nüsken had scored a penalty to equalize after Denmark took the lead at halftime. Schüller’s goal was similar to the one she scored with her head against Poland on Friday. While she is quick, good in the air, and a natural finisher, it is her movement in the box that contributes most to her impressive record of 53 goals in 75 games for Germany, a ratio comparable to the best strikers in the world.

The Euros and Schüller’s Career Path

The European Championship played a significant role in shaping Schüller’s career. As a child, it was this tournament that inspired her to take up football. “I took a holiday in France in 2004 and watched the European Championship. After that, I desperately wanted to play football so I joined a club,” she shared before the 2019 World Cup. From that local club, she moved to SGS Essen before joining Bayern Munich in 2020, making her debut for Germany in 2017.

Schüller has won four Bundesliga titles with Bayern, but international success has been elusive. She caught COVID during the 2022 Euros, which coincided with Germany’s loss to England in the final. She was a surprise starter in that match after Popp suffered a last-minute injury and struggled to make an impact. “I’d avoided it for two and a half years, and then at the Euros of all times. That was really galling,” she said later that year.

Personal Challenges and Future Plans

In addition to her football career, Schüller deals with endometriosis, a long-term condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other parts of the body. “It is an illness that sucks,” she told Vogue in 2023. “You don’t think about training and especially not playing games,” she added about when the illness strikes.

Despite these challenges, Schüller is considering life after football. Although she earns a decent income as one of the top female footballers in the world, women’s salaries in football still lag far behind those of their male counterparts. “Of course I can put some money aside, but it won’t be enough for a whole life after football,” she told Sky in 2022. To prepare for her future, Schüller is studying industrial engineering through distance learning. However, she admitted she is afraid of not starting until she’s 35, which would be more difficult than if she started at 24.

If Schüller continues her goalscoring form against Sweden in Germany’s final group game on Saturday and beyond, her endorsement contracts may see a boost. Her journey highlights not only her talent on the field but also her resilience and determination off it.