After the restart, Cora Zicai becomes Wolfsburg's key player

In the training centre in Eppelheim, the players of the German national team gathered to mark the start of the World Cup season. Winger Cora Zicai used the training to bring her current form from Wolfsburg into the DFB selection. After a long absence she was happy to see the team again and to live the "Neustart" project.

Form at Wolfsburg and national team start

The 21‑year‑old from Freiburg, who previously played for SC Freiburg, is considered one of the top talents in German football. As a wing speedster she impresses with pace and goal threat. After a difficult period she found her way back to form and wants to bring this strength into the national team.

“It was a bit of a longer period where I wasn’t involved. I was happy to see the girls again, to be back with the national team, because that is, of course, something very special,” Zicai said after the kickoff training. She emphasizes that she is physically fit and mentally confident.

Coach Christian Wück has nominated Zicai for the international matches against Australia on 09.10.2026 at 20 Uhr in Karlsruhe and against Japan on 13.10.2026 in Bremen. This gives her the chance to make herself a candidate for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Reflecting on her first season at VfL Wolfsburg she said: “Towards the end of last season I repeatedly had muscular problems and couldn’t reach my limit.” The difficult start at Wolfsburg is now a real fresh start for her.

Coach praise and outlook for the 2027 World Cup

Coach Wück praised: “I am extremely happy for Cora that she has found her old strength again. She had a very good start – two, three very, very good games – and, as is normal for a young player, fell into a small slump.”

He added that the time without the national team had done her good, helping her get back on her feet. Now she confirms what the coaching staff sees in her, and could become an important building block for the upcoming World Cup.