Hrubesch heals the deep wounds of the DFB team

Hrubesch heals the deep wounds of the DFB team

At the World Cup in Australia, things are not only going wrong on the pitch, but also within the DFB team. But the players already have to focus on the next career highlight. Interim coach Horst Hrubesch is apparently also proving his qualities as a therapist

Lots of laughter, a snowball fight and a Laura Freigang who was forced onto the cold, wet, white surface by a cheering Lina Magull. The players of the DFB team are having fun. Instead of perfect grass, the team of interim national coach Horst Hrubesch suddenly found themselves on a thick blanket of snow at the SV Wittenbeck grounds. Not ideal for training, but nobody wanted to be put off. Two days before the all-important match, second division club Hansa Rostock has now prepared its training ground.

Because time is of the essence, everyone has that in mind. On Friday (20:30/ZDF and in the ntv.de live ticker) , the preliminary decision will be made as to whether the DFB women can continue to dream of taking part in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The team must win by two goals to one against Denmark in Rostock to keep their chances alive. On Tuesday (7.30 pm/sportschau.de and in the ntv.de live ticker), the last group match will follow at bottom-placed Wales. Only the group winners will be allowed to fight for the last two European tickets for Paris at the final tournament in February - so far Denmark are ahead thanks to their 2:0 win in the first leg.

But the players are smiling away the pressure. "We know that we are capable of beating Denmark," says goalkeeper Merle Frohms, who has returned to the team after a concussion. No "miracles" are needed for that. She has "one hundred percent confidence in the team". Midfield ace Sara Däbritz pointed out that the DFB women had already been in such a "pressure situation" once before: in September 2018 - with the same coaching team, Horst Hrubesch and Thomas Nörenberg. Back then, the team had to win against Iceland to secure their World Cup ticket. The mission succeeded.

Back to a relaxed DFB team

This time too, the players are convinced of their abilities. "The coaching team exemplifies conviction, I can feel the belief in the whole team," says Däbritz. Nobody within the DFB can avoid the coaching questions. Hrubesch had only stepped in as an interim solution after the then national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, whose contract has since been terminated, went on sick leave following the World Cup debacle.

Like five years ago, the 72-year-old is expected to bring the team to the tournament as the savior. Whether he will be there himself remains to be seen. It is not planned - but not ruled out either. "With his personality and his matter-of-fact manner, he has brought the German team a lot of reputation," former national goalkeeper Almuth Schult, who is currently without a club after the birth of her third child, told the German Press Agency about Hrubesch. "The players really appreciate something like that after things have gone a bit haywire in recent months."

Little by little, it is becoming clear just how serious the tensions were within the team before and during the World Cup in Australia. From the late nomination of the squad at the end of the training camp and the associated long period of uncertainty, to ridiculous signs such as "Stay Hydrated" ("Drink throughout the day and check your urine"), "The right sleeping clothes" and "Your bed has one function: sleep!" in the apartments, to the annoyance that the team accommodation chosen by the DFB in Wyong was around 100 kilometers north of Sydney and therefore in the "wasteland", as Lena Lattwein called it. "For the first time, we were extremely far away from the action, which I didn't see as ideal," said captain Popp in the current part of the documentary "Born for this", which will be shown on the ZDF media library on Friday alongside the international match, which means the broadcaster has created its own competition.

Däbritz, Popp and Huth already Olympic champions

The sharp cut from Voss-Tecklenburg to Hrubesch, who has been in contact with many players since 2018 and is popular in the team, is obviously a balm for the battered souls. According to Däbritz, the two games under his leadership - a commanding 5-1 win over Wales and a meagre 2-0 victory over Iceland - have brought back the joy of playing and the confidence in their own quality that had been lost. The game against Denmark now also shifts the focus. Svenja Huth and Sjoeke Nüsken do not want to dwell on the past and all these unfortunate details at the moment and have not yet watched the two new documentary episodes. They don't want to reopen the wounds.

The dream of the Olympics is important. Captain Popp and Huth were already there when they took part in 2016, as was Däbritz. It was "unforgettable" and "indescribable" in Rio - probably also because the DFB women returned with the gold medal around their necks. It was "something special because you're representing your country, you're there with other sports," said the 28-year-old from Olympique Lyon. "It's worth fighting for, giving it your all, and I hope we can experience that as a team."

If this dream comes true, it still remains to be seen who will be on the touchline. However, the players cannot and do not want to answer the question of whether Hrubesch will stay. "That is certainly a question that is currently on the minds of those in charge and one that they are giving enough thought to," says Frohms, who also describes Hrubesch and Nörenberg as "super guys".

Her former goalkeeper colleague Schult has also raised the question of man or woman: "Basically, I don't see any difficulties if a coach is brought in who doesn't come from the women's game. You can learn the ropes. It would be no different with someone from abroad, for example." The Wolfsburg goalkeeper can only agree: "The important thing is that it fits. How old, what gender - it doesn't matter." Däbritz agrees: "It doesn't matter." It fits now. And as it is now, the Olympic qualification is the goal. Snow doesn't count as an excuse.

1. The DFB Women's team is preparing for their crucial Nations League match against Denmark, aiming to secure their spot in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Interim coach Horst Hrubesch, known for his therapeutic skills, is leading the team.
2. Horst Hrubesch, the interim coach of the DFB Women's team, had previously showed his qualities both as a coach and a therapist during the World Cup in Australia, helping the team heal from internal struggles.
3. Despite the challenges, Horst Hrubesch has managed to bring joy and confidence back into the team, with players like Sara Däbritz and Alexandra Popp expressing their faith in their abilities, recalling their successful Olympic experience in 2016.

Source: www.ntv.de