Women's soccer - Hrubesch confident ahead of Wales: "Cards clearly distributed"
Horst Hrubesch is confident ahead of the German national team's final Nations League group match this evening.
"On the whole, I think the cards are clearly dealt here," said the 72-year-old interim national team coach ahead of the clash with outsiders Wales. "Our goal is to win the game, and of course to win as high as possible," added FC Bayern attacker Klara Bühl (22).
The DFB team can take another step towards qualifying for the Olympics. Interim national coach Horst Hrubesch's team go into their final Nations League preliminary round match in Swansea as leaders of Group 3. A win against the bottom-placed team will secure qualification for the final round. The first leg ended 5:1 for the European runners-up.
Chance of an Olympic ticket
With the 3-0 win against Denmark last Friday in Rostock, the German team had achieved a very important success - and thus laid the foundation for having the necessary group win in their own hands before the last match day. At the final tournament with four teams in February, two European teams can still win the Olympic ticket. France are seeded as hosts.
"We want to confirm our performance, because otherwise the 3-0 win against Denmark would have meant nothing," said TSG Hoffenheim left-back Sarai Linder (24), who has been strong of late: "We just want to take the joy with us now." Bühl announced that they would "go in with the same attitude as on Friday evening".
Warning from Hrubesch
Hrubesch did, however, issue a small warning: "The last step is always the hardest," he warned. Wales, who have no points, are a team "who are in a worse position than they are at the moment, they can play soccer if you let them." Between 6,000 and 7,000 spectators are expected at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.
Hrubesch did not want to reveal who will replace the suspended defensive boss Marina Hegering (33). Central defenders Sara Doorsoun (32) and Sophia Kleinherne (23), who are both under contract with Eintracht Frankfurt, are considered candidates. "There will certainly be one or two changes," announced Hrubesch.
The 1980 European champion would like to face the French team in the semi-finals. That would give his team "a second chance" to qualify for the Olympics. As hosts, the French have already qualified for Paris 2024. If they make it to the Nations League final, a win in the match for third place will be enough for the other teams to qualify for the Olympics.
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Source: www.stern.de
