4-1 win following a lightning interruption: German women's football team moving forward towards the European Championships.

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

Read also:

1. The German women's football team, currently leading their group in European Championship qualification, will face Poland again in Gdynia, aiming to solidify their position.
2. Horst Hrubesch, the head coach, expressed concerns after Germany's 4-1 victory over Poland in Rostock, which took place 55 days before the team's Olympic Games match in Marseille against Australia.
3. Despite controlling the game for 89 minutes, Germany could only secure their victory in the final moments against Poland, with Lea Schüller scoring the third goal (77th minute) and Giulia Gwinn adding two more (84th and 88th min, penalty).
4. In the Polish team, Natalia Badilla-Bidas scored the first goal less than a minute into the game, momentarily startling the hosts, while their own player, Wiktoria Zieniewicz, equalized with an own goal in the 34th minute.
5. Germany's top position in the group comes with nine points, followed closely by Austria and Iceland, both with four points, and Poland with none.
6. In the upcoming match in Poland, Germany aims to extend their lead in their group, with the European Championship qualification round being held in Switzerland in 2025.
7. Giulia Gwinn's two penalties in the game against Poland made a significant contribution to the German team securing the win, demonstrating her importance to the squad.
8. The German women's football team encountered some challenges during their victory, including an 89-minute reign without sealing the deal and narrowly escaping a two-goal lead when Ewa Pajor came close to scoring.
9. Horst Hrubesch made three substitutions in the break, bringing Marina Hegering, Elisa Senssen, and Laura Freigang into the game, aiming to increase pressure and improve accuracy.
10. In the pre-match hype before the game in Rostock, head coach Horst Hrubesch displayed a motivational banner, only for the German team's start to be disrupted with Poland's Natalia Badilla-Bidas scoring a shocking goal just 28 seconds in.

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