- DFB women hope for bronze and a party in Paris
At the end of a long and grueling Tour de France, Germany's women's football team hopes for a final point in bronze and a festive conclusion in Paris, right in the heart of the Olympic Games. "We want to give our best and then happily go to the closing ceremony in Paris and simply enjoy it," striker Klara Bühl said before the challenging game for third place against the world champions from Spain on Friday (3:00 PM CEST/ZDF and Eurosport) in Lyon.
Medal or nothing tangible to show for it?
After the bitter 0:1 defeat against the USA, the German women's team is walking a tightrope in the bronze medal match: the medal goal is within reach, a year after the debacle in Australia and after a noticeable upward trend at the Summer Games. On the other hand, the national team would have nothing tangible to show for it with a defeat in the farewell match of Horst Hrubesch, who will be succeeded by Christian Wück as head coach after the Olympics.
"In terms of will, we are all ready and want to go home with something to show for it, not empty-handed," said Giulia Gwinn, who wore the captain's armband against the USA. Whether the Wolfsburg player will return against Spain is uncertain. The Olympic champion of 2016 was in bed during the USA game due to a cold. "It takes a day, sometimes two or three," said Hrubesch, who is more concerned about the injured Lea Schüller, who has scored three tournament goals, than about Popp's infection.
Hrubesch: "Spaniards will have to deal with us"
Hrubesch sees the physical aspect as the most important factor after three weeks of tournament play with games in a three-day rhythm. "At the moment, we all have the same load. It will depend on who is still physically fresh," says the 73-year-old. His team has shown what it is capable of in recent games: "We will try to bring that into the last game. Then we will see how the Spaniards deal with us."
The team around world footballer Aitana Bonmatí missed the final after a 2:4 defeat against Brazil. The footballers reacted to their semi-final defeat with tears, but also with defiance. "We did it really well for most of the game," said Gwinn.
DFB hopes for an exclamation mark
DFB sports director Nia Künzer also praised the passionate and tactically clever performance: "We were close to playing for gold. I think we have delivered an outstanding performance. If we seize the opportunity on Friday, it will be a real exclamation mark."
Hrubesch stood in the interview zone of the Groupama Stadium after the nerve-wracking game, but quickly looked ahead with the routine of his long football life: "Today we'll take it easy, tomorrow we'll be back up."
Eight years after the gold triumph in Rio, it would be the fourth bronze medal for the German women's football team at the Summer Games. "No one would have thought we'd even be here before. We still have a chance for bronze, a second match ball," said Hrubesch. "We'll try to use it. I can only congratulate the girls on the way they played."
Horst Hrubesch, set to step down as head coach after the Olympics, expressed his team's determination, saying, "In terms of will, we are all ready and want to go home with something to show for it, not empty-handed." Despite Giulia Gwinn's uncertain availability due to illness, the outgoing coach was more concerned about the injury of Lea Schüller.
After the USA game, Giulia Gwinn, the captain, expressed her satisfaction with the team's performance against a strong opponent, saying, "We were close to playing for gold. I think we have delivered an outstanding performance."
