Roaring Hrubesch has to postpone his coaching pension
Horst Hrubesch is in his element in the game of his DFB women against Zambia. Full of commitment, to postpone his pension as a coach - with success. The football national team is in the Olympic quarter-finals. The next opponents are the Olympic champions from Canada, for whom the progress is almost a miracle.
"It's now about eating or being eaten. These are the games I love the most," says Horst Hrubesch, who is about to leave the German Football Association (DFB) but is still very much in the heat of the moment. The women's national team has made it to the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games. The team around captain Alexandra Popp won sovereignly 4:1 (1:0) against Zambia and has thus postponed their interim coach's pension.
Hrubesch will step down after the Olympic Games and then return to his job as youth coordinator at Hamburger SV, for which the 1980 European champion was released for the DFB women's Olympic mission. His successor as national coach will be Christian Wueck. However, it could still take some time for Hrubesch to return to HSV, as the final in Paris is on August 10.
But first, the quarter-finals are coming up, against the "top draw" Canada, as the 73-year-old puts it. The North Americans are the defending champions and won bronze in Rio 2016 - when Germany won the Olympic title. But this time in France, the women are going through a chaotic time.
Before Canada's opening match against New Zealand (2:1), there was a scandal because a drone was used twice during the opposing team's training. First, assistant Jasmine Mander and video analyst Joseph Lombardi were sent home by the federation, and coach Bev Priestman voluntarily withdrew from the opening game as an apology. Then Priestman was also suspended, and all three have since been banned from all football activities for a year. Lombardi was apparently not the first offender and was sentenced to eight months' probation.
German "minimum goal" achieved
Although Canada was sanctioned with a heavy deduction of six points by FIFA, the team has made it to the quarter-finals by winning all three group games. 2:1 against New Zealand and France, 1:0 against Colombia. "The task is tough enough. But we're looking forward to it," said Hrubesch. He had previously stated that the quarter-finals were the "minimum goal".
The DFB women achieved this sovereignly, the victory against Zambia was easy. Lea Schüller scored twice (10/61), her twice-assisting Klara Bühl (47) and Elisa Sennß (90+7), while only Zambia's star Barbra Banda (49) scored after a big mistake by goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. The Olympic organisers had obviously been listening to "Major Tom" at the men's European Championship, as it also echoed through the stadium in Saint-Etienne.
Otherwise, Hrubesch was mainly heard in the stadium with just 3000 spectators. A microphone must have been very close to the coach's bench, as almost every instruction from the national coach could be followed on TV. Most of the time, Hrubesch sat on a box within the coaching zone, sometimes shouting the names of players loudly, sometimes giving instructions like "just play forward" or "we'll only make a substitution in the 75th minute!". He seems full of energy, there's no sign of a slow transition into retirement.
Concerns about central defence
Two concerns still occupied Hrubesch. Even before kickoff, Marina Hegering had to be replaced in the starting lineup by Bibiana Schulze-Solano. In the 22nd minute, Kathrin Hendrich also had to be substituted out after colliding with Banda twice. She had already received the arm of the Sambian against her head in the first minute. Sara Doorsoun successfully completed her task. However, as both injured players are central defenders, it could be tight in the squad. Or? Hrubesch remains optimistic: "I assume she will return," he said about Hegering. And Hendrich? "The doctor said it was a bit of flickering in the eyes. Then I said, let's make the substitution, let's see."
While the defense is weakened, the offense is shining. The Germans scored eight goals in the three group games. And there's no sign of stopping, especially with the two "scoring queens" Schüller and Buhl having so much fun. "She has become a very, very good friend of mine," Buhl said about Schüller, whom she also plays with at FC Bayern: "She's up for any fun. I love spending time with her." Their friendship is also paying off on the pitch: "In certain situations, she just knows where the ball is going - and when she slides it in so beautifully, it's perfect," explains Buhl.
They should be just as accurate against Canada. After all, they and their coach would much rather be the ones doing the eating than being eaten.
Despite the injury concerns with central defenders Marina Hegering and Kathrin Hendrich, Horst Hrubesch remains optimistic about their returns. Meanwhile, the DFB women's offensive line, led by scoring queens Lea Schüller and Klara Bühl, continues to shine, having scored eight goals in the three group games, and are eager to continue this form against Olympic champions Canada.
In the DFB women's squad, the 1980 European champion Horst Hrubesch, who is set to retire after the Olympics, is still full of energy, leading his team with commitment and success, as they progressed to the quarter-finals after beating Zambia 4-1.
