Nations League - With a lot of luck: DFB women keep their Olympic chance
After a nail-biting game and thanks to the help of Iceland, the German women's soccer team and interim national coach Horst Hrubesch have just about kept their Olympic chances for Paris 2024 alive.
A disappointing 0-0 draw against Wales in Swansea was enough for the DFB women to win their Nations League group, as rivals Denmark surprisingly lost 1-0 to Iceland. At the final tournament from February 21 to 28, this time the weak team led by captain Alexandra Popp will now fight for the two remaining European Olympic tickets. Possible opponents are world champions Spain and France.
The nervous runners-up in the European Championships were unable to build on their strong 3-0 win over Denmark last Friday at any stage. In the fourth game under Hrubesch, the 72-year-old missed out on a win for the first time.
Competition continues to flare up
The HSV idol underlined with his starting eleven that he is continuing to ignite the competition: Leverkusen's Elisa Senß, who made her DFB debut in Rostock, played from the start, as did Hoffenheim's Paulina Krumbiegel for the otherwise set Giulia Gwinn and Jule Brand, who has been given little consideration of late. Sara Doorsoun replaced the suspended Marina Hegering in central defense.
Although the German women had easily won the first leg 5:1, they started off extremely sloppy at the Liberty Stadium, losing the ball a lot. Goalkeeper Merle Frohms was lucky after a quarter of an hour when Rachel Rowe's ball first hit the post and then her back before ending up in the net. The very weak first half was reminiscent of the performances at the botched World Cup in Australia in the summer. Sarai Linder missed with a shot just over the crossbar (41') - there was not much more in the attack around Popp.
Changes for the second half
After the break, Hrubesch brought on two new players in Munich's Gwinn and Linda Dallmann. Although the DFB women stepped up the pressure somewhat, they continued to struggle. Senß almost made it 1-0 in the 55th minute, however, when goalkeeper Olivia Clark deflected her lob around the post.
Popp was hardly used as a striker. The Wolfsburg striker also received a knock to the head from Sophie Ingle and went into the final phase with a slight injury. With a win, no matter how big, the German team would have been sure of winning the group without any outside help.
Hrubesch and his team are now hoping to face France in the semi-finals, which will be drawn by UEFA on Monday. This constellation would offer the DFB women a second chance in the event of defeat: As Olympic hosts, the French are seeded for Paris. If they reach the final of the final tournament, the third-placed team would also be at the Summer Games. Apart from France, only two other European teams will receive an Olympic ticket. The German women missed out on the Games in Tokyo, but won gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Read also:
- Despite the draw, Germany's soccer national team, led by interim coach Horst Hrubesch, managed to maintain their Olympic chances for the Nations League in Paris 2024.
- The 0-0 result against Wales on group match day enabled Germany to clinch first place in their Nations League group, as Denmark lost to Iceland.
- Great Britain's women's soccer team faced Germany in Swansea for a crucial group match day, with both teams competing in the Nations League.
- The DFB women's soccer team's Olympic hopes were boosted by a surprising 1-0 loss by Denmark to Iceland, making it possible for them to qualify for Paris 2024, should they win their remaining group matches.
- In Swansea, Germany's National team showcased their skills against Wales in a game that ultimately ended in a draw, securing their position in the Nations League.
- Meanwhile, in the French capital, Horst Hrubesch and his team were preparing for potential competition against world champions Spain and France in the upcoming final tournament.
- Denmark's disappointing performance against Iceland on group match day pushed them down in the Nations League group, potentially opening an opportunity for other teams to advance towards the Olympics.
- Swansea's Liberty Stadium played host to a tense encounter between Wales and Germany, both teams striving to make their mark in the Nations League and secure a spot at the Summer Games.
- The Hamburg-born Horst Hrubesch, known for his time at HSV, is leading the German women's soccer team as interim coach, and his starting eleven demonstrated a determination to ignite the competition in their recent group match day victory.
- Germany's defensive star Marina Hegering was suspended for their game against Wales, creating an opportunity for youth player Sara Doorsoun to step up and fill her shoes in the game at Swansea, demonstrating the depth of talent within Germany's soccer team.
Source: www.stern.de
