"..., what is pressure?": Hrubesch and Hendrich confident
National soccer player Kathrin Hendrich is confident that the German team will be able to cope with the tricky starting position in the important Nations League match against Denmark. "We are aware of the current situation. But we players have been in the game for a long time. I think we can handle pressure well," said the 31-year-old central defender from VfL Wolfsburg ahead of this Friday's home game in Rostock (20:30/ZDF). The German team must win by at least two goals to have a good chance of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
"I mean, what is pressure?" asked interim national coach Horst Hrubesch (72), who sees no problem for the DFB team. His squad has a lot of quality and experience. In particular, captain Alexandra Popp (133 caps), Sara Däbritz (102), vice-captain Svenja Huth (85), Lina Magull (75) and Hendrich (65) have been playing internationally for a long time.
"We actually have an established structure, we have players who are already familiar with these pressure situations - and can pass that on to the young (players)," said Hrubesch.
In the event of a defeat or a draw, the Germans would no longer have a chance of qualifying for the Olympics. A win with only one goal difference would reduce their chances to a minimum.
This is because the German footballers will only be allowed to play for one of the two European Olympic places in the final four-team Nations League tournament at the end of February if they finish top of their group. In the event of a tie, the direct comparison and then the goal difference will decide.
The DFB team are currently in second place in their group with nine points, three points behind the leading Danes. After the 2-0 defeat in the first leg, Hrubesch's players will be aiming for a win with at least a two-goal difference against Denmark. They would then take the lead ahead of the final matchday and have the group win in their own hands going into Tuesday's final game in Wales.
The German women's national soccer team, led by interim coach Horst Hrubesch, boasts experienced players like Alexandra Popp, Sara Däßritz, and Kathrin Hendrich, who have often faced pressure situations in the past. Hendrich, a central defender for VfL Wolfsburg, is confident that her team can manage the pressure during their Nations League match against Denmark, as they aim to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Source: www.dpa.com
