EM-Qualification - Whistlers for DFB Women: Hrubesch remains calm
Horst Hrubesch expressed his hopes for an Olympic medal despite the heaviest defeat of his tenure with the German women's football team against Iceland (0:3, 0:1). "I have no reservations about that, I believe it was a clear warning," said the 73-year-old, adding after the game: "I still have a good feeling about it, that's not the problem."
Just two weeks before the first challenge against Australia at the Summer Games, there was disappointment among the ambitious DFB-Women and head coach Hrubesch. The German squad missed out on almost everything in the penultimate warm-up game during the EM qualifier in Reykjavik. They aim to make amends on the coming Tuesday (19.00 Uhr/ARD) in Hannover against Austria. Around 40,000 fans are expected, before the team departs for the Olympics.
"It was difficult to get back to work after the holidays," Hrubesch said. "But one thing is clear: We have to accept these two-front battles from the start, and what we played was simply poor." The defeat was also deserved at this level.
"Many, many wrong decisions"
"We could also see that we helped out on all three goals," criticized the European champion of 1980. "We made many, many wrong decisions up front." It was the heaviest defeat of Hrubesch's tenure with the DFB-Women. The last time the National Team had lost so badly (0:3 against France) was in March 2018 – Steffi Jones' last game as head coach.
Hrubesch had taken over temporarily then and had steered the team back on course towards the Olympics. However, the HSV icon suffered a setback with the team, who had already qualified for the EM 2025, against the robust Icelandic players.
Even the World Champions from Spain stumbled
Defender Sarai Linder spoke of a "wake-up call, a wake-up call." Defender Kathrin Hendrich referred to it as a "wake-up jolt." No one spoke of the absence of Captain Alexandra Popp (foot injury), Lena Oberdorf (yellow card), and Sydney Lohmann (muscle problems) or the fact that Abwehrchefin Marina Hegering was rested. The players on the field were deeply disappointed.
The DFB-Women will face Olympic gold medalists from 2016 with coach Silvia Neid in the group stage against Australia (25. July), the USA (28. July), and Sambia (31. July). However, they were not the only ones who struggled on Friday evening: The World Champions from Spain lost 1:2 in the Czech Republic, ranking 30th on the FIFA World Ranking.
- In two weeks, the German women's national team, led by Horst Hrubesch, will face Australia in Hannover for their first Olympic challenge.
- Despite the heavy 0:3 defeat against Iceland during the EM qualifier in Reykjavik, the DFB-Women remain optimistic about their Olympic chances.
- Hrubesch mentioned that the team had a tough time getting back to work after the holidays, but they must accept the two-front battles from the start.
- Austria will be the German women's national team's opponent in Hannover before departing for the Olympics, and around 40,000 fans are anticipated for the match.
- Even the World Champions from Spain had a challenging game in the Czech Republic, losing 1:2 and ranking 30th in the FIFA World Ranking.
- The DFB-Women will compete against the Olympic gold medalists from 2016, led by coach Silvia Neid, in the group stage of the Olympics and will also face the USA and Zambia.
- The heavy 0:3 defeat against Iceland was the most significant loss suffered by the DFB-Women under Hrubesch's tenure, and it was partly due to numerous incorrect decisions and assisting on all three goals.
