Championship Qualification in Europe - 4-1 win following a lightning interruption: German women's football team moving forward towards the European Championships.
The German women's football team is on the brink of qualifying for the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland. Their recent 4-1 (1-1) victory over Poland in Rostock revealed some concerns for head coach Horst Hrubesch, just 55 days before the kickoff against Australia at the Olympics in Marseille. Despite an 89-minute reign over the match, Germany could only be certain of their victory in the final moments. Natalia Badilla-Bidas scored the first goal for Poland, startling the hosts, less than a minute into the game. The equalizer came after a German own goal, scored by Wiktoria Zieniewicz (34th). In the later stages, Lea Schuller (77th) and Giulia Gwinn (84th/88th, penalty) secured victory for the German team.
Currently, Germany is at the top of their group with nine points, leading Austria and Iceland (both with four points) and Poland (none). The team will face the Poles again on Tuesday (6:30 PM) in Gdynia, allowing them to solidify their position. Prior to the game in Ostseestadion, there was a pre-match hype with Hrubesch flashing a motivational banner as he made his way to the bench. However, this excitement was short-lived as Poland's Badilla-Bidas scored a shocking goal just 28 seconds in. Subsequently, the Germans gained the upper hand in possession. Lea Schuller and co. produced goal opportunities, but their insecurity continued to persist. Almost costing the Germans a two-goal lead, Pajor came close to scoring in the 17th minute. Merle Frohms, her former Wolfsburg teammate and now between the sticks for Germany, reacted swiftly.
The game was turning into a test of patience for the German players. Their sloppiness slowed the flow of the game. Captain Alexandra Popp (30th), who missed the last two national team games, failed to seize the best chance with a header. Later, Zieniewicz equalized for the hosts with a header into the back of her own goal, following a corner from Klara Buhl.
At the break, Hrubesch made three substitutions. Marina Hegering entered the field, replacing Bibiane Schulze Solano, while Elisa Senssen and Laura Freigang replaced Sjoeke Nüsken and Alexandra Popp in the attack. Germany's pressure increased, though their inaccuracies prevailed. In the 63rd minute, they were fortunate when Pajor hit the post of the German goal. Then in the 74th minute, a shocking event occurred: Marina Hegering sustained a calf injury and had to be subbed off after just 29 minutes in the game. Eventually, Schüller and Gwinn ended the game on a positive note.
DFB press release on the national team: - Updates on the squad - Olympic schedule - EM qualification information
