soccer - DFB women with four goals and flair to Olympics
"Completely detached" songs at the last Olympic test - but great concern for Lena Oberdorf: With a reconciliatory and swinging performance, the German women's football team bid farewell to the Olympics. 43,953 spectators in the sold-out Hannover stadium cheered for the team of national coach Horst Hrubesch in the 4:0 (2:0) final test against Austria. Nine days before the first group match against Australia, the DFB Women showed a completely different face than in Iceland with a 0:3 defeat and gave hope for a coup in Paris.
However, the crucial Lena Oberdorf had to leave the pitch with an apparent knee injury. "She screamed in pain," reported defender Kathrin Hendrich. It would be a "damned blow" for the team if she missed Olympics, Hrubesch said. "She was an important factor for us in the game. I hope it's not that bad. We'll wait and see," the national coach added, announcing detailed medical examinations.
Popp and Hegering only spectators
Clara Bühl secured an early lead (11th minute) and scored again in stoppage time for the 4:0 (90.+3). The other goals were scored by Jule Brand (39th) and Lea Schüller (52nd). The hosts played without captain Alexandra Popp, who was also rested like her Wolfsburg teammate Marina Hegering.
"For me, it was about showing what we can do and that we have a different face than in Iceland," Hrubesch said in ARD after celebrating with his players in front of the enthusiastic fans. "I'm thrilled that we have such a great setting."
For the European Championship 2025 in Switzerland, the German women had already qualified and could therefore recommend themselves for the Summer Games. Fans sang Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Completely detached)" like at the Men's EM during the half-time.
The German squad will face the USA in the Olympic tournament after the match against Australia on July 25, and Sambia on July 31 in Saint-Étienne. Hrubesch has repeatedly emphasized that his team wants to compete for medals. In 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Popp and Co. won gold. "What's important for us is that we take a positive result," Hrubesch said. We could have made the result even clearer.
Frohms in danger of losing her place in goal
Hrubesch sharpened the competition on the goalkeeper position further with his lineup: Merle Frohms, the undisputed number one goalkeeper for Wolfsburg for years, sat only on the bench. Between the posts stood Ann-Katrin Berger from the US club NJ/NY Gotham FC. "We'll decide what we'll do when both national team matches are over," Hrubesch had announced earlier.
Frohms had impressed for years with her solid performances, but such mistakes as the one that led to the 0:1 in Iceland were not typical of her. At the Olympics, Berger could now become the number one. The 33-year-old had no trouble with the few challenges against the Austrian players - and provided the assist for the 2:0 with a long ball. Brand finished off the move as Hrubesch had often demanded of her: The quick outside striker looked for the finish and scored.
Schreck with Lena Oberdorf
The yellow-carded Lena Oberdorf provided her team with structure and security as usual at the start. In contrast to many other matches this year, the DFB-Women did not fall behind. Bühl converted a rebound from her Bayern teammate Lea Schüller into the 1:0.
Every week, Austria-midfielder Manuela Zinsberger was under attack again. From the sidelines, future national coach Christian Wück watched as the German women continued to press after the break. Schüller missed a clear chance for a 3:0 (49.) and hit the post shortly thereafter. In their third attempt and with Elisa Senß's build-up play, they finally managed to score.
A moment of shock came after approximately 70 minutes when Oberdorf went down after a tackle. Unable to play and supported by medical staff, the future Munich player had to be substituted. For concerned Hrubesch, it was his 20th international match as interim coach for the women's team - and his last home game. The 73-year-old will retire after his Olympic mission.
- Despite a strong performance in Hannover, Germany's women's soccer team is worrying about Lena Oberdorf's knee injury, as she screamed in pain during the match against Austria.
- Horst Hrubesch, the national coach, expressed concern that Oberdorf's absence could be a significant blow to the team's Olympic dreams.
- Clara Bühl scored the opening goal for Germany in the 11th minute, and Lena Oberdorf provided her team with structure until her injury.
- Jule Brand and Lea Schüller also found the back of the net in Germany's 4-0 victory over Austria, with Brand scoring from a long pass by Ann-Katrin Berger.
- Horst Hrubesch has been experimenting with his goalkeeper position, with Merle Frohms sitting out the match against Austria and Anne-Katrin Berger starting in her place.
- Despite Frohms' impressive performances in the past, her mistake in Iceland led to Germany's 0-3 defeat, raising questions about her place in the team.
- The German women's soccer team qualified for the European Championship 2025 in Switzerland and will aim to compete for medals at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
- Germany will face Australia and Zambia in their first two group stage matches, with a match against the USA to follow in the final round.
- Christian Wück, who is set to become the future national coach for Germany's women's team, watched anxiously as his Austria midfielder Manuela Zinsberger was under attack during the match against Germany.
- Lea Schüller had a great chance to increase Germany's lead to 3-0 in the second half, but her effort went wide, and the team had to settle for a 4-0 victory.
- The German national team will have to regroup quickly as they prepare for their first match against Australia at the Olympics, with Lena Oberdorf's injury casting a shadow over their preparations.
- Austria will be hoping to build on their performance against Germany and improve their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Olympic tournament, starting with their match against Zambia.
