The dream of the DFB women's team is becoming more concrete
Germany's women's football team avoids the big scare and advances to the Olympic quarter-finals. In a dominant 4:1 (1:0) win against Zambia, the team coached by the US coach bounces back and delivers a focused performance. The momentum is to be carried into the knockout phase.
The medal dream is alive: "Without" defense, but with two scoring queens, Germany's women's football team has overcome last year's World Cup trauma and advanced to the Olympic quarter-finals. 363 days after the embarrassing group stage exit at the tournament in Australia, the 2016 Olympic champion won 4:1 (1:0) against Zambia in the group finale. In the first knockout round, the German team will face the runner-up of Group A in Marseille on Saturday.
Lea Schüller (10th/61st), her twice-assisting Klara Bühl (47th), and Elisa Sennß (90+7) scored for Germany, which found itself without its regular center-back due to injuries within minutes. Nevertheless, the two-time world and eight-time European champion secured second place in Group B. Even Zambia's star Barbra Banda's goal (49th) after a big mistake by goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger didn't change that.
"Whether I finish third or first or second, I want to reach the quarter-finals. That's all that matters to me," coach Hrubesch had stated as the team's goal. Just minutes before kick-off, however, he had to make a crucial change to his team. Captain Marina Hegering was ruled out due to "minor muscular complaints" and was replaced by Bibiane Schulze Solano.
Playing in front of around 3,000 spectators in Saint-Etienne, Germany, which had previously beaten Australia (3:0) and lost to the USA (1:4), appeared nervous in the early minutes. Under the watchful eye of DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, Hrubesch's team made some mistakes against the typically robust Africans in the heat.
Schüller scores twice
At least, the team was efficient: The first meaningful attack led to the lead. After Bühl's setup, Schüller had little trouble. The joy of the lead was short-lived, however, as the second regular center-back also had to be substituted. Kathrin Hendrich was replaced by Sara Doorsoun in the 22nd minute. Hendrich had already been injured early in the game after a collision with Banda.
Without their key defensive players against the world's most expensive striking duo (Banda and Racheal Kundananji), Germany struggled. Zambia, which had beaten Germany 3:2 in a World Cup warm-up match last year, posed some threat. "Simple balls," Hrubesch demanded from the sidelines to avoid mistakes.
His players heeded his call. The end of the first half belonged to Germany. Schüller could have extended the lead three times (33rd, 38th, 41st). At the start of the second half, substitute Vivien Endemann missed a great chance to make it two (46th), but Bühl made no mistake from distance seconds later. The comfortable lead didn't last long, though, as Berger made a blunder, allowing Banda to score.
But Schüller restored the old advantage after Bühl's assist. After that, the scoring queens kept turning. Bühl hit the crossbar (63rd) and Schüller the post (67th). Even Janina Minge hit the crossbar (90+1), but Sennß had the final say with a volley.
The DFB women's team, despite missing key defensive players, managed to overcoming the challenge posed by Zambia's strikers Banda and Kundananji, securing a 4-1 victory. Lea Schüller, one of the 'scoring queens' for Germany, delivered a stellar performance, netting two goals in the match.
