Almost every big team at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 has a key figure – a player that everyone knows and talks about. While several of these players enjoy the limelight, others prefer not to draw attention to themselves, instead letting their performances on the pitch do the talking. Germany playmaker Dzsenifer Marozsan belongs to the latter group.

"I’m a little reluctant when it comes to talking," she told FIFA TV, chuckling. "I think I can make an impact on the pitch and push the game forward with my playing style. At the end of the day, it’s about contributing to the team’s success."

Marozsan voluntarily relinquished the role of captain that she was originally given under former coach Steffi Jones. The 27-year-old, who has played for Europe’s most successful club Olympique Lyon since 2016, has won almost every piece of silverware at national and international level and was recently named player of the year in France for the third successive season. Yet, there is one title that still eludes her.

"Winning the World Cup would be a dream, especially in France, as that would be something very special for me," Marozsan said. "However, I know how tough it will be. Many countries have caught up and the gap between teams in the women’s game has narrowed considerably. Although I won it once at youth level (the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010), this would be something else."

Marozsan didn't play at Germany 2011 due to a knee injury, and struggled with ankle problems throughout Canada 2015. The semi-finals and final this time around are being held in Marozsan’s adopted hometown of Lyon.

"It’s a home crowd for me, so it would be wonderful to play there," she said. "I have to say, I’ve never eaten so much cheese in my life as I have in the last three years. It goes without saying that the food in France is amazing, so I feel completely at home here."

Last summer, however, she suffered a pulmonary embolism, and for a while there were fears that she would be forced to call time on her career. "That was a shocking moment for me and my family," she recalled, "but the fact that everyone was behind me gave me so much courage and strength. I returned to football at the end of October, I won the treble with my club, and now I can wear my national team’s shirt with pride at a World Cup."

Marozsan was in sparkling form before France 2019, and was at the centre of the action in the early stages of Germany’s opening 1-0 win over China PR. However, her foot was stepped on after less than 15 minutes, and although she trudged on inconspicuously for the rest of the game, it is still not clear whether she will be able to play a part against Spain on Wednesday.

"We need to find answers if our opponents manage to neutralise Dzsenifer Marozsan’s game," said legendary Potsdam coach Bernd Schroder, who has 12 domestic league titles and two UEFA Women’s Champions League winners' medals to his name, before the start of the tournament. The team may have to find precisely these answers as early as their second group match.