DFB women award each other and coach Hrubesch with bronze
The German women's football team wins bronze at the Olympic Games. Also, because goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger saves a penalty against the world champions from Spain in extra time. Thus, the DFB women bid farewell to their outgoing coach Horst Hrubesch successfully.
Horst Hrubesch has fulfilled his last major mission and goes into coaching retirement with bronze, thanks to the ice-cold penalty queen Giulia Gwinn and the equally ice-cold penalty preventer Ann-Katrin Berger: Calmly from the spot, Gwinn led the German women's football team to a 1:0 (0:0) win against world champions Spain in the fight for third place at the Olympic Games. With the end of extra time, Berger also saved a penalty from Spanish top player Alexia Putellas. Thus, the DFB team also secured the hoped-for medal for the outgoing national coach.
The Olympic champion of 2016 won bronze for the fourth time after 2000, 2004, and 2008. Hrubesch and his players can pick up the medals at the award ceremony after the final between Brazil and the USA on Saturday (17:00 CET) in Paris.
"It will certainly be something missing afterwards, but it's not nostalgia," said the 73-year-old Hrubesch, who won silver with the men in Rio in 2016 and will be succeeded by Christian Wück with the women, before the game: "But the time was just too beautiful for that." The former header monster had taken over the twice world and eight-time European champions again after the World Cup fiasco in Australia last year and the separation from coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. Hrubesch's first time as a helper with the DFB women had ended in a 0:0 draw against Spain in November 2018. The EM hero of 1980 now wants to fulfill his contract with Hamburger SV as head of the youth academy until 2025.
Under Wück's guidance, the Euro Championship in the coming year in Switzerland is the next goal for the German Football Association (DFB) team. The new coach already has a highlight test game awaiting him. On October 25, the 2022 Euro final rematch (1:2 a.e.t.) will take place at London's Wembley Stadium.
Schüller misses the deciding moment
In Lyon, the Germans found their way into the game three days after their semi-final loss to the USA (0:1 a.e.t.). Alexandra Popp, who had returned after an illness, played her first game at the Olympics in her usual position in the storm instead of in central midfield, with Hrubesch praising her from the sidelines.
Under the eyes of DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, the DFB team, which had to do without the ill Sydney Lohmann, could not create any chances in the first 15 minutes. Only Klara Bühl caused some danger (19.). Two minutes later, a free kick from Spanish player Teresa Abelleira hit the bar. In the 44th minute, the Germans had more luck. Aitana Bonmati hit the bar first, and Jennifer Hermoso could not convert the rebound.
At the beginning of the second half, Lea Schüller came on for Klara Bühl. In the 55th minute, Janina Minge needed a better finish, three minutes later, Gwinn had the lead on her head. Shortly afterwards, the 25-year-old made it better from the spot, after she herself had been fouled by Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll. In the 71st minute, Schüller had the deciding moment at her feet. In the final phase, Berger held on to the victory.
Despite the team's struggle to create chances in the initial stages, they managed to secure a crucial opportunity when Lea Schüller entered the game. Unfortunately, Schüller missed the decisive moment, which could have sealed an even more comfortable victory. Regardless, the 'other' vital contributions from players like Giulia Gwinn and Ann-Katrin Berger played a significant role in securing the bronze medal for Germany.
