After years as a professional soccer player, Sara Doorsoun is not only sure-footed with the ball, but also with her choice of words.

Verbally dribbling about topics or escaping into truisms is not her thing.

When she switched from Wolfsburg to Eintracht Frankfurt during the past winter break, she said: Third place and the Champions League qualification should be what she came for.

When she took her seat on the press conference podium as a German national player, she said with a view to the European Championship: "We want to win the title." And so that no doubts could germinate about her statement, she added: "Of course. And further: "We know what our strengths are and what kind of team we can be."

Doorsoun's career stalled in Wolfsburg

For years there has been talk that German women's football is no longer among the very best internationally, which is also illustrated by the failure in the quarter-finals of the last two tournaments - EM 2017 and World Cup 2019 - including the missed qualification for the Olympics in Tokyo.

But Sara Doorsoun takes the view that as a German national team and record European champions, you should naturally reach for every title.

At the end of last year, the fact that the native Rhinelander was present at the so-called pre-camp of the national team in the Frankfurt DFB campus from Whitsunday to Thursday seemed far away.

Mostly a reservist at top club VfL Wolfsburg and no longer the first choice for the national coach, her career began to falter.

“Not much wrong”

In any case, your first promise to play internationally with Eintracht next season has been fulfilled.

“My personal assessment is all positive.

I wanted us to finish third.

That worked, and the fact that I'm getting more playing time and being able to focus shows that I haven't done much wrong," said the 30-year-old.

With Sophia Kleinherne, eight years her junior, the 36-time national player formed a well-harmonized duo in central defense in the second half of the Bundesliga season.

Even if Doorsoun's SBU debut went horribly wrong with a red card in the match against Freiburg.

With their athleticism, speed and strength in duels, Doorsoun and Kleinherne were an asset to Eintracht as a team.

Eintracht sextet

“Sara was a leading player from the very first training session.

She blossomed again with us and complemented each other perfectly with Sophia," says Eintracht head coach Niko Arnautis.

Now the two defenses are still united in the DFB dress.

You two belong to the sextet with which the SBU sent the 28-man squad of the national team.

In addition to the number one goalkeeper Merle Frohms (officially employed in Wolfsburg from July 1st), this also includes midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken and the offensive players Laura Freigang and Nicole Anyomi.

After the next preparatory course in Herzogenaurach, which starts this Sunday, the squad will be reduced by five players.

Not a minute missed

The 22-year-old Kleinherne, who made his debut for Frankfurt at 17 and for the national team at 19 (in front of 77,000 spectators at Wembley), made an impression in the last league round and didn't miss a single minute.

“Sophia has made another great leap and has matured as a personality.

She hardly lost tackles and has also improved in the way she initiates attacks,” said Arnautis.

Kleinherne's plus could be that she is mostly used for Germany on the outside of the chain of defense, but can of course also help out inside.

“The processes there are not identical, but it is always nice to have this added value and to bring what you have learned from the club and vice versa.

That complements each other very well.

I'm taking a lot with me and I know what I still have to work on," said Kleinherne.