Olympia-Football - 1:4 against USA: Herber Dämpfer for DFB-Female team
German women's football team was disrupted at the group summit in the USA and must tremble for a place in the quarterfinals at Olympics. Horst Hrubesch's team lost to the four-time gold medalists in a rapid game in Marseille with a score of 1:4 (1:3). The German women's team's hopes for a medal eight years after the triumph in Rio received a heavy blow.
Giulia Gwinn (21st minute) equalized the lead given by Sophia Smith (10th) at Stade Velodrome. Mallory Swanson (26th) and Smith (44th) scored again for the American team in their quick attacks. Lynn Williams made it clear in the closing phase (89th).
The US team coached by English trainer Emma Hayes took the lead in Group B with six points before the last group stage match. Germany is second, ahead of Australia (both three), which won wildly against the next German opponent Sambia (zero).
Chances of advancing still good
Since the two best third-placed teams from the three groups will advance, the German women have a chance against Sambia on Wednesday (19:00 hours/ARD and Eurosport) in Saint-Étienne, but the hope of advancing as group leaders to Paris and the Olympic Village shrank significantly. The further way to the Medal Games will also be more difficult, as there is a possibility of a rematch with the US girls in the semifinals.
"That's a board," Lea Schüller had predicted before the game. The striker from FC Bayern almost gave the US team a setback in just four minutes - but failed after a solo run by Jule Brand, who was denied by goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
Rodman's daughter sets up goal
The American strikers then quickly put the German defense on the back foot. Trinity Rodman, the 22-year-old daughter of basketball star Dennis Rodman, made her way through on the right and her pass set up Smith for the lead.
Felicitas Rauch, the 28-year-old left back from the US club North Carolina Courage, who was called up as a late replacement for the sick Sarai Linder, could only watch from behind. Right back Gwinn then scored the equalizer with a determined shot from 18 meters.
Berger makes unfortunate figure
But the German team was unlucky again in the turbulent first half: Ann-Katrin Berger, the new number 1 in the German goal from the US team NJ/NY Gotham FC, could not hold onto a ball from Smith. Swanson scored the second goal for the US, and Berger was unfortunate when Rauch made an uncontrollable clearance for her.
After the break, the DFB women were able to control the game a little better around captain Alexandra Popp. In the end, they had little to add, although Popp and Sjoeke Nüsken from the midfield tried to increase the pressure. Chelsea professional Nüsken had bad luck with a finish from close range, as the ball did not go over the goal line. Popp went off the field with knee problems in the 77th minute. The big comeback did not materialize, instead, Williams extended the US lead during a counterattack.
- Despite the setback in Marseille, Germany's women's soccer team still has a chance to advance from the Preliminary round at the Olympics.
- The United States, coached by Emma Hayes, currently leads Group B with six points, with Germany and Australia trailing close behind.
- Australia secured their place in the next round with a decisive victory over Zambia, scoring five unanswered goals.
- The German women's national team will face Zambia in their final group stage match, hoping to secure their advancement to Paris and the Olympic Village.
- If Germany finishes third in their group, they could potentially advance as one of the two best third-placed teams, setting them up for a potential semifinal rematch against the United States.
- In the recent match against the United States, German player Julia Gwinn scored a determined equalizer, but the American team responded with three more goals.
- Trinity Rodman, the daughter of basketball star Dennis Rodman, set up a goal for the United States squad, contributing to their victory.
- Felicitas Rauch, a German defender playing for North Carolina Courage in the United States, was unfortunate in her debut for the national team, as she couldn't prevent the American team from scoring.
- The German women's team will need to overcome the loss to the United States and regroup for their next match, with an eye on securing a medal at the Olympics.
