Football-NationalTeam - Easily bad": DFB women lose Olympic test against Iceland
Two weeks before the Olympic opening match, the ambitious German women's football team and Horst Hrubesch experienced a major setback. The 73-year-old national team coach's selection faltered in the penultimate warm-up game before the Summer Games and lost to Iceland in the European Championship qualifier in Reykjavik with a score of 0:3 (0:1).
"We saw that there was a holiday beforehand. Getting back to the beginning was difficult," said Hrubesch. "But it's clear that we have to accept these two-front battles from the start, and what we played was simply poor." The defeat was also deserved at this level. "We also saw that we helped our opponents in all three goals," criticized the European champion of 1980 after the lesson. "We made many wrong decisions in front." It was the highest defeat of his two tenures as coach of the DFB Women.
Playing at twelve degrees and much wind
With twelve degrees and much wind, Iceland's Ingibjorg Sigurdardottir scored in the 14th minute, Alexandra Johannsdottir scored in the 52nd minute, and Sveindis Jonsdottir scored in the 83rd minute for the home team. In front of 5,243 spectators, the Icelandic players celebrated their European Championship participation exuberantly, while the German players listened to Hrubesch's words with frustrated expressions after the final whistle. His team had already qualified for the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland beforehand.
Without captain Alexandra Popp (foot injury), Lena Oberdorf (yellow card), and Sydney Lohmann (muscle problems), the German team struggled. The following Tuesday (7:00 PM/ARD) will see a match against Austria in Hannover. Forty thousand fans are expected, and then the team will bid farewell to the Olympics.
Hrubesch often shook his head on the sidelines. He had fielded Elisa Senß, the future Frankfurt player, instead of Mittelfeld-Ass Oberdorf. Up front, Lea Schüller of Eintracht and Nicole Anyomi of Frankfurt stormed.
Marina Hegering was spared
In defense, the 73-year-old head coach spared the injured Wolfsburgerin Marina Hegering and had Sara Doorsoun play alongside Kathrin Hendrich. The German team made a miserable start, as Sveindis Jonsdottir from VfL Wolfsburg gave up the first chance against the disorganized defense. Sigurdardottir then headed in from close range – Merle Frohms, the goalkeeper, did not look good.
However, the 29-year-old Wolfsburger cannot be sure of her place in the squad for the Summer Games, as Hrubesch has not yet decided on a number one and also has Ann-Katrin Berger from the US club NJ/NY Gotham in mind.
The vice European champions failed to get into rhythm. Iceland's defensive chief Viggoosdottir had little trouble organizing her teammates. A goal by Schüller just before halftime was incorrectly disallowed for offside – there was no video technology used in this match.
DFB-Women want to play for a medal
Neither Senß nor Chelsea professional Sjoeke Nüsken could provide decisive impulses from the midfield. Viggoosdottir saved on the goal line during a header by the substitute Laura Freigang. The forward created more pressure, but no goal was scored.
At the German squad at the Summer Games in France, a year after Australia's WM debacle, will compete for medals. The DFB women, 2016 Rio Gold Medal winners, face Australia (25. July), the USA (28. July), and Zambia (31. July) in the group stage. Hrubesch has little time left to prepare the Vice-European Championship runners-up in top shape.
- Despite the setback against Iceland in the European Championship qualifier, Lea Schüller and Nicole Anyomi were determined to make an impact up front for the DFB Women during the tournament.
- Horst Hrubesch, the national team coach, had to deal with several absences in his squad, including Alexandra Popp, Lena Oberdorf, and Sydney Lohmann, making it challenging to maintain their form.
- The German team's struggle was evident in their penultimate warm-up game before the Olympics, resulting in a 0:3 loss to Iceland, which was the highest defeat of Hrubesch's two tenures as coach.
- Marina Hegering, the Wolfsburgerin defender, was spared from playing in the game against Iceland by Hrubesch, who had Sara Doorsoun take her place alongside Kathrin Hendrich.
- Despite the hard-fought match, the DFB Women, who had won gold in Rio, remained optimistic about their chances in the upcoming tournament in France, aiming to once again compete for medals.
