National squad gets new members announced - A 4-1 win occurred following a lightning interruption, firmly positioning DFB women for the European Championship.
Germany's women's football team is on the brink of earning a spot in the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland. However, their 4-1 (1-1) win against Poland in Rostock has coach Horst Hrubesch worried, with only 55 days left until their first match against Australia in Marseille for the Olympic Games.
The display of dominance for almost 90 minutes was not enough to convince Hrubesch. Poland's Natalia Badilla-Bidas took the lead within seconds, causing a shock to the home crowd with her goal for the visitors. Wiktoria Zieniewicz's own goal tied the score at 1-1 for the hosts. Later, Lea Schuller (77th) and Giulia Gwinn (84th/88th, penalty kick) netted their goals to secure the home team's victory.
Poland Takes an Early Lead Again
Germany currently tops the group with nine points, followed by Austria and Iceland (both with four points) and Poland (no points). Before kickoff in Rostock's Ostseestadion, Hrubesch motivated the crowd on his way to the coach's bench. But Poland's incessant pressure paid off in just 28 seconds with Badilla-Bidas' free goal, assisted by Wolfsburg's Bundesliga top scorer Ewa Pajor.
The German side kept the initiative, but showed insecurities throughout the game. Pajor proved a constant threat, coming close to making it 2-0 in the 17th minute. She was challenged by former Wolfsburg teammate Merle Frohms in the German goal, who luckily kept her out.
Late German Goals Save the Day for the National Team
As the game wore on, the German players faced a patience-testing battle. Inaccuracies disrupted the flow of play. Popp (30th) had the best opportunity, but her header missed the mark. Four minutes later, Zieniewicz equalized, scoring off Klara Bühl's corner kick.
Hrubesch made three substitutions at halftime, bringing in Bibiane Schulze Solano in place of regular defensive captain Marina Hegering, and Elisa Senßen and Laura Freigang for Sjoeke Nüsken and Alexandra Popp in attack. The Germans' attack became more intense, but inaccuracies remained. In the 63rd minute, they luckily avoided giving away a 2-0 lead as Pajot's shot struck the post of the German goal. In the 74th minute, another scare: Hegering was forced to leave the field early due to a calf injury. Schüller and Gwinn then sealed the victory.
