Relapse into the World Cup era - DFB women's team remains a major construction site
Horst Hrubesch wished them a "Merry Christmas" at the end of their trip to Swansea, but the German women's soccer team can go into the new year with little optimism.
Four months after the World Cup debacle in Australia, the interim national coach's team narrowly avoided the next major setback in a 0-0 draw against Wales. The women's team remains a major construction site for the German Football Association - even if the 72-year-old is carrying on for the time being and defender Sara Doorsoun announced: "Now we're going to go all out in the new year to make the Olympic dream come true."
The DFB women only reached the final tournament of the Nations League from February 21 to 28 as group winners, where two European tickets for Paris 2024 will be awarded, thanks to the support of Iceland, who surprisingly defeated Denmark 1:0. Hrubesch is looking forward to Monday's draw in the hope that his team will play France in the semi-finals. As the French are seeded to host the Olympics, third place would be enough for them to reach the final. In the event of a defeat, Germany would therefore have another chance - and would be in Paris if they won.
European champions England not at the Olympics
However, the runners-up in the European Championships led by captain Alexandra Popp could also face world champions Spain or the Netherlands. The Oranje team beat Belgium 4-0 in Group 1 with two goals in stoppage time to finish one goal ahead of England (6-0 in Scotland): This means that the runners-up in the World Cup and European Championships from the island will not be at the Summer Games.
The DFB team was just spared that. After a more than poor performance at the Liberty Stadium, the German women's soccer team will go into the decision on Olympic qualification as outsiders. "I would agree that we are not the favorites," said Hrubesch.
The 72-year-old will also be on the bench for the DFB team at the final tournament, as he confirmed at the press conference in Swansea: "That's the plan, that I'll still be there." Whether he will still be head coach in Paris if he is successful is still uncertain.
In any case, the search for a permanent solution in the coaching position after the lengthy delay following the illness of former national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg is ongoing at the association. Former world champion Nia Künzer is also to be introduced as the new sports director shortly.
Inexplicable drop in performance after Denmark game
National goalkeeper Almuth Schult, who won gold with the German women in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, was also quite shocked as an ARD expert in the face of the completely sluggish performance against Wales. "Unfortunately, I'm very disappointed with the German team's performance," said the former Wolfsburg player.
"We somehow couldn't play our game. It can't be that we put in such a performance against Denmark and then play a game like that today," said Chelsea FC midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken four days after the strong 3-0 win in Rostock. Against Wales, Hrubesch's team lacked any goal threat, with even regulars such as Popp, Svenja Huth and Klara Bühl submerged.
"We're still lacking consistency in the games, we have to look at ourselves - again and again," said Bühl from FC Bayern. "Nevertheless, we're happy to have progressed. Even if it was pretty nasty," she admitted.
"The fact that we played like that today was not our ambition. In the end, we also have to thank Iceland," said Hrubesch. "The positive thing is that we're still in the game." However, if the DFB women miss out on qualifying for the Olympics, they will not have another tournament until the summer of 2025 - the European Championship in Switzerland.
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Source: www.stern.de
