Last-minute goal saves DFB women from the big shootout
The DFB women get back on track after the World Cup debacle. Interim coach Horst Hrubesch's team secured a strong win against Denmark. The dream of qualifying for the Olympics is alive. Thanks to a goal in stoppage time, there is no need to look elsewhere in the decisive match.
The German women's soccer team can continue to dream of taking part in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. After beating Denmark 3:0 (2:0) in Rostock, interim national coach Horst Hrubesch's side now have their fate in their own hands ahead of their final group game in Wales on Tuesday. Captain Alexandra Popp (14th minute), Marina Hegering (26th) and Klara Bühl (90+3) scored in front of 19,180 fans in the sold-out Ostseestadion.
There was already loud applause from the stands at the break. The score was 2-0 after 45 minutes for the strong home team, which was exactly the result the Germans had hoped for beforehand. The German team was industrious, combined strongly at times and struggled to find many solutions in attack. With success in the end. After the 0:2 in the first leg, the direct comparison against the Danes now goes to the German team. While the DFB team will play in Wales and can clinch everything with a win, the Danes will host Iceland at the same time. The DFB team will only qualify for the final four-team Nations League tournament at the end of February, where the two European Olympic places will be decided.
Against Denmark, the absence of defensive midfielder Lena Oberdorf from VfL Wolfsburg and Bayern striker Lea Schüller - both of whom had to withdraw due to injury - was hardly noticeable. In any case, Hrubesch had called up six players compared to the recent 2-0 win in Iceland, including captain Popp and Chelsea FC's Sjoeke Nüsken. While the recovered Popp proved her heading prowess early on after a cross from left-back Sarai Linder, Nüsken then continued to distribute the ball cleverly from central midfield.
The Germans also often attempted to play down the flanks, where Linder and right-back Giulia Gwinn were busy pushing forward. However, the 2:0 was the result of a corner that Klara Bühl delivered sharply in front of goal and found the perfect recipient in Hegering. However, it was annoying that the 33-year-old Hegering was yellow-carded shortly afterwards - she will now be missing in Wales.
There was little from the Danes overall, despite the many drumbeats from the "Fanklubben Blok G". Sanne Troelsgaard and Amalie Vangsgaard, the double scorer from the first leg, had the best chances, while Merle Frohms, who was back in goal for Germany after suffering a concussion, made two saves. The DFB team, in which Leverkusen's Elisa Senß made her debut, remained more effective after the break. Lohmann shot powerfully at goal, but missed the 3:0, as did Popp, who missed the post. It remained unnecessarily tense, even though the visitors looked quite harmless. Coach Andrée Jeglertz's team were unable to compensate for the absence of Bayern's Pernille Harder.
In the meantime, the German fans sent one laudatory cheer after the next through the stadium. The atmosphere matched a game in which Hrubesch's team did so much else right. Bühl provided the perfect finishing touch in stoppage time.
The DFB Women's soccer team aims to participate in soccer at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, following their victory against Denmark. With a last-minute goal by Klara Bühl, they managed to secure a strong win and avoid a big shootout. Despite the absence of key players, the team's performance was commendable, keeping the dream of qualifying for Olympia alive.
Source: www.ntv.de
