- DFB women don't want to go home empty-handed
With tears, but also defiance, Germany's women's football team reacted to their semi-final loss at the Olympics against the USA. "We did really well for large parts of the game," said Giulia Gwinn, who captained the side in the absence of the ill Alexandra Popp, as they lost 0-1 in extra time to a goal from Sophia Smith (95th minute). After missing out on the final in Paris, the German women will now face the Spanish world champions in Lyon on Friday (15:00 CET) for the bronze medal.
"In terms of determination, we're all ready and we don't want to go home empty-handed," said Gwinn. Coach Horst Hrubesch, who will be succeeded by Christian Wück after the Olympics, said: "Today we'll take our hats off, tomorrow we'll stand up again."
After a 1-4 defeat in the group stage, the German women put up a passionate fight against the Americans this time and even had a chance to equalize through Laura Freigang.
"We were right in it. If it had gone to penalties, we would have won it," said Popp's replacement Sydney Lohmann, referring to goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger's penalty heroics in the quarter-final against Canada.
"Another chance at bronze"
Eight years after their gold triumph in Rio, this would be the German women's football team's fourth bronze medal at the Summer Games. "No one would have thought we'd even be here. We still have a chance at bronze, another match ball," said Hrubesch. "We'll try to use it. I've told the girls: I can only congratulate them on the way they played."
Leaving with a medal on Friday is not his main concern. "I already have one," said the former HSV striker, who won silver with the German men's team in Rio in 2016, losing the final to Brazil on penalties. "It's important for the girls to get one. That will be tough enough," said Hrubesch.
"I'm not concerned about my own medal at this point," repeated Hrubesch, sticking to his statement."Regardless, we're not going to accept anything less than giving our best on Friday," the coach reiterated, emphasizing their resolve.
