The DFB women are going against USA, Popp issues a warning
The German team starts well into the Olympic tournament but suffers a setback in the second game: The footballers of Horst Hrubesch are no match for the quick American forward lines. Now it's about the game against Sambia.
The German women's team was heavily disorganized against the USA at the top of their group in Marseille and must fight for a place in the quarterfinals at the Olympics. Horst Hrubesch's team lost 1:4 (1:3) to the four-time gold medalists in a fast-paced game. The hopes of the DFB women for a medal eight years after the triumph in Rio received a strong blow.
Giulia Gwinn (21st minute) equalized the score against Sophia Smith (10th) in Stade Vélodrome, but Mallory Swanson (26th) and Smith (44th) scored again for the quick American attacks. Lynn Williams sealed the deal in the closing minutes (89th).
The US squad of English coach Emma Hayes took the lead in Group B before the last group stage match with six points. Germany is second, ahead of Australia (both three), which won wildly against the next DFB opponent Sambia (0) with a score of 6:5. "We had it several times on our feet, we also had chances to take the lead. Then we showed the US how it is to effectively play those chances. It wasn't necessarily the better team that won, but the more effective one. With us, it was often that the last pass, the last shot didn't fit. That cost us the three points," said Gwinn on ZDF.
Rodman's daughter sets up a goal
Since the two best third-placed teams from the three groups also advance, there's still everything to play for in the game against Sambia on Wednesday (19:00/ARD and Eurosport as well as in the liveticker at ntv.de). The hope of advancing as group leaders to Paris and the Olympic Village significantly shrank. The way to the medal matches will also be more difficult, as a possible rematch with the US girls could come in the semifinals.
"That's going to be a tough one," Lea Schüller had predicted before the game. The striker from FC Bayern could have given the US team a dampener just four minutes in - but failed after a solo run by Jule Brand against goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. The American forwards then put the German defense through its paces, with Trinity Rodman, the 22-year-old daughter of Basketball-Star Dennis Rodman, making her way through on the right and setting up Smith for the lead.
Left back Felicitas Rauch could only watch from behind. The 28-year-old former Wolfsburg player was called up as a late replacement for the injured Sarai Linder. Right back Gwinn then scored the equalizer with a determined shot from 18 meters.
Berger makes an unfortunate figure
But the German team was caught again in the turbulent first half: Ann-Katrin Berger, the new number 1 in the German goal from the US club NJ/NY Gotham FC, could not hold onto a ball from Smith. Swanson scored the third goal for the US, and Rauch made an unstable pass for Berger that led to the fourth goal.
After the break, the DFB-Women were able to better control the game following captain Alexandra Popp. In the end, the European Championship runners-up had little left to offer, despite Popp and Sjoeke Nüsken attempting to increase the pressure from midfield. Chelsea-pro Nüsken unfortunately had bad luck with a close-range finish, as the ball did not go over the goal line. Popp went off the field with knee problems in the 77th minute. The big comeback did not materialize, instead Williams extended the US lead during a counterattack. Popp later gave some reassurance: "It's my kneecap, it speaks up from time to time," said the 33-year-old: "Nothing serious has happened. It probably just said I'm tired and I don't feel like it anymore." She is "good things" for the further course of the tournament.
Despite the German team's strong start in the Olympic tournament, Alexandra Popp and the DFB-Women struggled against the United States of America's quick forward lines, led by Sophia Smith. Horst Hrubesch's team faced a setback, losing 1:4 to the four-time gold medalists in a fast-paced game, which dealt a significant blow to Germany's hopes of a medal, especially considering Trinity Rodman, the daughter of Basketball-Star Dennis Rodman, contributed to the US's victory by setting up a goal.
