Two European Championship games, two clean sheets, plus spectacular saves: Keeper Merle Frohms proves to be a strong support in the DFB team and even emulates Manuel Neuer. With "pure madness" she also suffocates discussions about her predecessor Almuth Schult.
First Merle Frohms cleared outside the penalty area in the style of Manuel Neuer, then she saved the DFB team with an amazing reflex in the final phase - and finally gave her teammates the unshakable belief in victory. At the latest with her convincing performance against Spain (2-0), the 27-year-old cemented her place as number one - and at the same time probably ended all discussions about Almuth Schult.
Frohm's record: two European Championship games, two clean sheets. "Of course it's great, you can't do better as a goalkeeper and defensively," enthused Frohms, who still had her spectacular feat against Mariona Caldentey (71st) in mind: "It was nice that I was able to send a signal: 'If you don't get everything defended, I'll still be there. You can count on me.'"
It wasn't just the moment when her teammates knew that "nothing burns anymore" (Svenja Huth). It was also a scene that probably removed the last doubts about the decision of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. Because Frohms defies the pressure and proves more and more to be the strong support that is needed for the really big dreams of the European Championship from the quarterfinals.
The goalkeeper question had caused plenty of discussion, criticism and irritation in the run-up. Frohms seemed all the more relieved given her sovereign performance after the opening win against Denmark (4-0), and all the more aggressive she presented herself after the Spain game ("This can definitely be the beginning of something really big").
The new goalkeeper of VfL Wolfsburg has been in the DFB goal since the experienced and publicly very present Schult was absent due to shoulder surgery and childbirth. She, in turn, felt overwhelmed by the communication of the national coach after a strong season, but after almost three years without an international match she is back and stands by her teammate.
Frohms repays the trust with strong performances - and praised the whole team effusively. "What we showed as a team was pure madness." More energy than in the win against Spain, you couldn't put more power on the pitch, she emphasized with a grin on ARD: "Of course, if you hit the ball like that, I'm very happy to go with it and then you get into a flow. "
