VfL Wolfsburg: Guro Bergsvand injured, European Championship squad shrinks!

VfL Wolfsburg: Guro Bergsvand injured, European Championship squad shrinks!

VfL Wolfsburg will have to do without their new defender Guro Bergsvand, who is leaving the squad for the upcoming Women's European Championship in Switzerland due to injury. The team originally planned to send the eleven players to the European Championships, but with Bergsvand's absence there are only ten left. The 31-year-old Norwegian, who recently moved from Brighton & Hove Albion to the Bundesliga team, is suffering from ongoing pain, about which no further information is known. Bergsvand was scheduled to be a regular player for the European Championships and has already gained experience in international football, including her debut for the national team, where she immediately scored a goal.

With Guro Bergsvand, who was born in 1994 and has already played for renowned clubs in her career, VfL Wolfsburg will lose an important player. The Norwegian has left her mark on both club and international football. During her time at Stabæk and later at Sandviken, she not only played numerous games, but also won titles and was named Player of the Year. The team will now miss her clarity and leadership, while other players such as Justine Kielland and Thea Bjelde have been named to the European Championship squad for Norway.

Preparation for the new season

Preparation for the new season is picking up speed, even if Bergsvand and the European Championship participants have to take a break in the next few weeks. While the other players will begin their first performance tests and training on June 26th, the first training session on the pitch will take place on July 7th in Wolfsburg. The first two test matches that VfL will play without the national players are scheduled for July 17th against RB Leipzig and July 26th against Sparta Prague.

The full squad is expected back in early August before VfL plays against Bundesliga promoted Union Berlin at the AOK Stadium on August 10th. The test match against Bayer Leverkusen on August 22nd as part of the training camp in Weimarer Land will also be particularly interesting. The start of the season finally starts on August 30th with a competitive game in Karlsruhe, followed by the Supercup, where the runners-up face defending champions Bayern Munich.

Risk of injury in women's sports

Bergsvand's injury sheds light on a widespread problem in women's professional sports, where the risk of injury should not be underestimated. Sports medicine research shows that female athletes are particularly susceptible to knee and ankle injuries. Hormonal influences and anatomical differences play an important role. According to the latest findings, women tend to be three times more likely to suffer cruciate ligament injuries compared to men. These findings have increased interest in prevention strategies in women's sports in recent years.

A growing awareness of the need for appropriate measures is visible as injuries are more common among women compared to men. Initiatives like those of the DFB, which introduce biomechanical tests and injury prevention programs, show the need for action to protect the health and performance of female athletes.

The upcoming European Championships will certainly shed light on the challenges that the teams face. VfL Wolfsburg will be required to demonstrate their technical ability and strategic cleverness as they focus on pre-season preparation while keeping in mind the importance of effective injury prevention.