US-abortion puts DFB women not in panic
After the convincing start, the German women's football team encounters a harsh setback at the Olympic Tournament. The DFB selection loses clearly to the USA. Bundestrainer Horst Hrubesch remains calm, as next up is surprisingly Sambia.
The German women's team aims for a win in the last group game against Sambia to make it to the Olympic Quarterfinals. "We got a good lesson from the USA - that's all that happened", said Bundestrainer Horst Hrubesch after the 1:4 defeat against the four-time gold medalists in Marseille.
The US team, coached by English trainer Emma Hayes, leads the group B with six points. Germany is second, ahead of Australia (both three), which won wildly against the next DFB opponent Sambia with a score of 6:5. For the Hrubesch team, it's a Wednesday (19.00 Uhr/ARD and Eurosport as well as in the liveticker at ntv.de) in Saint-Étienne against the pointless table last.
"We're not that arrogant and saying we'll win all games and sail through. There's no reason to lower our heads", said the 73-year-old looking at the entire group stage and reminding of the 3:0 in the first game against Australia: "I just told the girls, we'll play like we did in the first game. Maybe we'll meet the Americans again in the semifinals. Then we'll see what happens."
No good memories of Sambia
Panic was the last thing Hrubesch wanted to let show. "There are many world champions who didn't win all their games and still became world champions. So for me, it's about taking it step by step in form", said Hrubesch. "We don't have a team that plays everything perfectly. We have to work hard for every win, which we will."
The US women's team outmaneuvered the DFB team in the second group game. Giulia Gwinn (21. minute) equalized Sophia Smith's (10.) goal in Stade Vélodrome. Mallory Swanson (26.) and again Smith (44.) scored more goals for the quick attacks of the American team in the first half. Lynn Williams sealed it in the closing phase (89.).
Now it's Sambia's turn. Surprisingly. The team with the two top scorers Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji has already given the German women a cold shower: In the last test game before the WM 2023, the German team lost to the Africans in Fürth with 2:3. Captain Alexandra Popp emphasized after the setback on the way to the hoped-for medal: "With three points, we're not that bad, but we want to win all games. That's our route against Sambia."
Since the two best third-placed teams from the groups advance, there's still all to play for the German women. The hope of advancing as group leaders to Paris and the Olympic Village has, however, sunk to a minimum.
Despite the 1:4 loss to the USA, DFB-Women's bundesrainer Horst Hrubesch remains optimistic for the last group game against Sambia, as a win could secure their spot in the Olympic Quarterfinals. However, Germany has no good memories of playing against Sambia, having lost to them 2-3 in a friendly match before the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Despite the setback against the USA, the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris remains a significant goal for the Football-NationalTeam, with every game being crucial, including the match against Sambia.
