Luchi Von der Heyde spoke about the decision to play for Germany

ByDavid Mitchell
Lucina von der Heyde: "It is surprised to be in Las Leonas"

“In these days when many things have been written and published about my decision to play for Germany, I feel the need to go out and tell my side of the story”. This is how Lucina Von der Heyde’s Instagram post begins after confirming that she is already training with the squad and will put on the German jersey.

After three years without playing for Argentina, the International Federation allows the pass to represent someone else. With this rule, Gonzalo Peillat, former Los Leones player and Olympic champion with Argentina in Rio 2016, was also able to make the change. In March, this time will expire for Lucina and they could already play their first official match. Furthermore, the World Cup will be in August and it could also be a moment of debut.

“Since I was a girl my dream was to represent Argentina (…) I represented Argentina with pride, dedication and responsibility. “No one is going to take that away from me and they can’t say that I didn’t try,” he expressed.

Von der Heyde explained the reasons that motivated her to accept the proposal: “Unlike what was said, there was no such resignation. There were long periods without a call, without communication and without a place within the processes. During all this time, no one communicated with me…”, and added: “My decision is not against Argentina, it is not against the coach or the team. It is simply a consequence of a concrete reality: it has been almost three years since I have had the opportunity to play at an international level in my country.”.

The Mannheimer midfielder assured that she is happy with the decision and maintains that Germany “valued her and gave her the opportunity to continue competing in high performance.”

At the end, the former Las Leonas player pointed out the leadership: “I hope those who lead hockey in our country, leaders, coaches and references, leave their ego and personal interests aside and learn to put the Argentine jersey above everything,” he said.

The full statement:

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.