Women's European Football Championship | Giovanna Hoffmann ahead of the European Championship match against Spain: "We can do it"

The quarterfinal against France was a real drama. Can you actually sleep after a game like that?

No. That wasn't possible that night. Eventually, the sun came up, and I still had n't slept a wink . I had so much adrenaline pumping through my body. Many of us felt the same way. It was the most exhausting game of my career – by far. And sleep is the most important thing for recovery.

What did you think after Kathrin Hendrich received a red card?

After the red card and the 0-1, I looked at the clock and thought there was still quite a long game to play. (laughs) But we sat in a circle and discussed how we would proceed tactically. Then we looked each other in the eye and said: "No matter what happens today: We can do it." And we said that to each other many times during the game.

What impact will the absence of Sjoeke Nüsken, Kathrin Hendrich and Sarai Linder have on Wednesday in the semi-final against Spain ?

Adversity doesn't set us back; it makes us even stronger. We have a high level of resilience in the team. Every player is capable of taking on responsibility. In a semifinal, we all have to rise above ourselves.

Her opponent Irene Paredes is one of the world's best defenders who can also dish out some serious punches.

I don't know how many close-quarters battles I had against France . Now it's Spain – the match will be on a similar level in terms of fighting spirit. Similar qualities will be important as in the quarterfinals . Hopefully, we'll stay with eleven players, so it'll be more about playing. (laughs)

It was a long road for you to the German national team .

I've been playing in the Bundesliga since 2016. That's a long time. The national team was no longer on my radar. For me, it was about enjoying football again and playing consistently. It's nice that it worked out after such a long time, of course, but people take different paths.

However, for a first nomination last year, Christian Wück had to become national coach.

Yes, but it also means being in the right place at the right time – and having people who trust you.

And now you are the center forward of the German national team at the European Championships.

I didn't expect to play at the European Championships at all. I knew my role. The match against France proved that everything we'd said before wasn't just empty words, that every player was needed. I take my hat off to Franziska Kett for putting in such a performance. Or what Sophia Kleinherne did, coming on after just a few minutes.

There's a picture of you after the penalty shootout, kneeling on the pitch with your arms outstretched. You're very religious.

For me, it was a very personal moment: We didn't just win a soccer game. Living with God means experiencing every day together. When you receive such a great gift, to be able to play in such a game with such a positive outcome, I fell to my knees in gratitude.

Do you have the Bible in your luggage ?

Yes, I have it with me and read it. For me, being a believer means believing what is written in the Bible. I've made the decision that it should be part of my life, that it is my life.

You've been playing in Leipzig since summer 2024. How tempting is it to take the next step?

I still have a year left on my contract with RB Leipzig and am not currently considering a transfer. The tournament is important now. My agent is only allowed to call me to congratulate me. (laughs)

What is your dream job after your football career?

I've always been sure that I wanted to become a judge or prosecutor. That's my dream, but we'll see what happens next in the legal world.

What about studying ?

I studied law from 2016 until my first state examination in 2021. I still need to complete my legal traineeship for the second. But football is currently not possible, so I've taken a break. During my time at SC Freiburg, I worked at the university there, at the chair of criminal law. Since coming to Leipzig, I no longer have a part-time job because it's not possible. But hopefully, I'll complete my legal traineeship at some point.