Linda Dallmann: Five Foot Two

‘1.58 metres full of energy’ – that’s how FC Bayern’s club magazine describes Linda Dallmann. Champion of Germany with Bayern (2021) and an attacking midfielder for Germany’s national team, Linda is known to be a highly-skilled dribbler, TikTok dancer and squirrel whisperer. What are her other top strengths that make her indispensable for Germany’s squad in EURO 2022?

A different No.10

Linda’s love for football comes from her family. Having four older brothers and two twin sisters, Linda grew up in a competitive environment and never had a shortage of training partners. Her passion for fitness and muscle building also comes from her siblings as she first started training with her brothers as a teen. Linda’s parents played a huge role in her football journey as well. They supported her decisions and dreams, even when it meant letting her move far away from home.

Linda defines herself as a family person. She often points out that her move to Munich was a large sacrifice as she had to leave her parents and siblings behind. Yet, Linda confesses, that there was hardly an alternative to this move that would feel just as right. Despite growing up in the Ruhr area, home to prominent German clubs like Dortmund, Shalke and Bochum, Linda was an FC Bayern fan from her earliest childhood. Pursuing her dream demanded that she moves away.

In FC Bayern, Linda plays as a central attacking midfielder, but the No. 10 on her shirt has little to do with her position. The ’10’ stands for the number of her family members, who often visit her in Munich.

Controlling the controllables

Linda’s modest height is mentioned in nearly every conversation on physical aspects of the game. Indeed, with the average of about 5’7″ in the German squad, Linda’s 5’2″ are on the shorter side. Instead of seeing it as a weakness, Linda focuses on the skills she can improve and on the comparative advantages a short stature gives her. This constructive approach makes Linda Dallmann one of the fittest and most technical players in her team.

Strength and muscle training are typically not given a lot of attention in women’s football. Linda is different in this regard. She has a small gym in her house and clearly never misses arm day… ↓

After suffering several injuries in 2018, Linda made her fitness and strength training an even greater priority. She notes, that her main motivation for strength training is coming not from blatant muscle building but rather from a desire to train in a balanced way. Linda places a lot of emphasis on stabilisation, mobilisation and muscle strengthening to stay injury-free and to be able to play as many games as possible.

Turning weaknesses into strengths

Linda approaches her game preparation strategically. Knowing that she will be confronted by physically larger opponents, she prioritizes qualities such as quick thinking, strength, speed and agility.

“I need to know how to play against bigger or heavier opponents. It’s important that I get off the ground quickly. If I get into a duel against them while standing, it will be difficult. So on the one hand, I have to be able to resist with strength and at the same time get out of the situation as quickly as possible. That’s why I focus my training on strength and agility.”

Linda Dallmann knows how to use her frame to her advantage. A low centre of gravity permits her to remain steady in duels against taller players, who need more time to change direction and enables her to remain on her feet even after the meanest tackles. Linda’s speed and agility make her a perfect No. 10, who can masterfully outplay defenders, score herself or create goal-scoring opportunities for her teammates.

“More strength is good for the game. If I get around my opponent in a stable and quick way, I can lift my head and initiate the next move. It’s all connected. And it’s important for my game because, due to my position, I often have to play the decisive pass after a duel. The extra stability buys me that time.”