Women’s EURO 2022: Junior Senior with Germany’s Jule Brand and Svenja Huth

Svenja Huth (above right), 31, is a two-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner and was a member of the Germany side that lifted the Women’s EURO in 2013. Jule Brand (left), now 19, was just ten when that tournament happened and is appearing at her first senior international tournament.

First, how did you start playing football?

Huth: I started playing relatively early because I come from a so-called "footballing family". I was always on the playing field with my brother and my dad used to do drills with us. I joined a club aged seven, with the boys. It was a lot of fun.

Brand: It was similar with me. My brother and I used to have a kickaround in the garden, then at some point he went to a football team and a couple of months later I also joined a club. I think I was five or six.

Brand in international Under-17 action in 2018Bongarts/Getty Images

Growing up, did you think you could become a professional and an international?

Huth: I didn’t play with the aim of becoming a Bundesliga or national team player, it was just that the sport was fun, I enjoyed the team mentality, playing with a team, fighting for each other, being there for each other and celebrating wins. I wasn’t told that I wouldn’t make it but when you say that you want to play in the Women’s Bundesliga or play for the national side, then people know that it can be a long and difficult path. But, I think if you can play with joy and a smile on your face, and you have a passion for football, then you can achieve it all.

Brand: When I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said professional footballer. It was always what I dreamed of as a kid. I really started to believe in it over time.

Who inspired you?

Brand: I always watched the tournaments on TV and I looked up to the team in general, but I remember that the young Sara Däbritz was also inspiring, so I’d say I look up to her. Playing in the same team with her now is cool, especially the first time. But it was also amazing to see all the other players who I only knew from TV. It felt great seeing them and being with them on the pitch for the first time.

Birgit Prinz lifts the cuUEFA Women's EURO trophy in 2005 Bongarts/Getty Images

Huth: For me it’s quite funny, because back then it was Birgit Prinz and now she’s our team psychologist with the women’s national side. It’s a small world - as a young girl I looked up to her. She had a lot of success, scored a lot of goals and shaped women’s football over many years. I was at that age where I looked up to her and wanted to achieve the same success.

Svenja, how has the game advanced since you started playing?

Huth: Women’s football has made enormous progress. On the pitch, on the one hand, when it comes to athletics, dynamics, technical skill, but also off the pitch. England is a trailblazer in women’s football in terms of marketing, media presence, visibility, so we can look forward to many spectators, which of course for women’s football is really nice and important. And we in Germany naturally hope that the hype will also reach us at the national team but also in the Women’s Bundesliga. So, yes, I see a tremendous development. We’re on the right path.

Huth is playing at her third Women's EUROUEFA via Getty Images

Finally, just how much are you looking forward to this tournament?

Brand: Hearing the anthem, on the pitch as well as on the sidelines, and realising that you are in fact in that moment playing for your country, it gives me goosebumps. I think it will be amazing to participate in a tournament like this, and to win [major] trophies. I think that’s a goal we all share. we need a team that sticks together, that gives their all for each other, that gives 100 percent on the pitch, but that also trains together, has fun together off the pitch as well, and that just functions on the pitch.

Huth: We have a good blend in the team of experienced players and younger bucks - players who will have advice or who know how to tackle stressful situations and can teach the younger ones that, but also the more experienced players can benefit from the easiness of the younger ones. This mix can and will be incredibly valuable at a tournament and is a very important component, alongside the football qualities. We all get along great and talk a lot among ourselves - we’re a fantastic bunch! We drew a very strong group, with Spain, Finland and Denmark, so we will have to deliver from the first second on. Looking at Spain in particular, there is a great opponent waiting for us with fantastic individual players.