2023-12-05 22:38:00
The Olympic dream is alive thanks to support from Iceland: With a zero number in Wales, the DFB women are trembling for the final round in Paris. They will also be looked following by Horst Hrubesch there.
It was a tough game with a good outcome for the women’s national team. Interim coach Horst Hrubesch’s team mightn’t get past a disappointing 0-0 draw in Wales, but Iceland enabled the German team to win the group in the Nations League with a 1-0 win once morest Denmark.
6th group game day arrow right To the live ticker: Germany – Wales arrow right
“Of course we can’t be happy with the game, we wanted it to be completely different. We took a bit of a beating and were lucky that we weren’t 2-0 down at half-time,” said Hrubesch in the Sportschau interview. “We have to thank Iceland today for bringing them home at the end today. We achieved the goal.”
Two out of three make it to the Olympics
One victory is now missing to take part in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024: four teams will fight for two tickets from February 23rd to 28th. Whoever makes it to the final is there. In addition to the DFB women, Spain, France and the Netherlands are there.
The draw will take place on Monday (December 11, 2023) – and Hrubesch and Co. are hoping for France as their opponents. This constellation would offer a second chance in the event of a defeat: the French are set for Paris as Olympic hosts. If they reach the final of the final tournament, the third place would also be at the Summer Games.
One thing is certain: Hrubesch will also be on the bench at the final tournament in February. The 72-year-old will remain the interim national coach of the German footballers, as he himself confirmed on Tuesday evening. “So it’s planned that I’ll still be there.”
Goalkeeper Frohms has to intervene
Germany won the first leg 5-0, but in the Rüsk game the German team started the game nervously and lost too many balls. Wales played with more purpose and were particularly attentive. Luckily for the Hrubesch team, the opponents weren’t accurate enough.
After eight minutes, goalkeeper Merle Frohms had to give everything following a corner to prevent a deficit. The hosts repeatedly took advantage of uncertainties in the German setup to create opportunities.
Martina Knief, sports show, December 5th, 2023 10:08 p.m
Unfocused and unsettled
Rachel Rowe had the best shot following 16 minutes, hitting the post with her shot from 17 meters. Germany seemed very unsettled for long stretches and only rarely got into combination play offensively. And only once did it become dangerous, when Sarai Linder tried a long-range shot but didn’t aim it precisely enough.
Sjoeke Nüsken made it clear how unfocused and unsettled the German team was. The midfielder wanted to pass the ball back to keeper Frohms from 30 meters unchallenged and actually produced a corner for Wales.
He will carry an oar
Things got at least a little better in the second half. The visibly dissatisfied Hrubesch reacted and brought regular Giulia Gwinn for Krumbiegel and Linda Dallmann for the unfortunate Svenja Huth. The changes helped and Germany stabilized. When Senß shot (55th), Welsh goalkeeper Olivia Clark had to stretch a lot.
But there was still a lack of ideas and determination and it was still a game with fire. Hrubesch followed up with further offensive changes in the exciting final phase and played fully for victory.
“We are happy that we are through, but of course we are not satisfied with the game. But the positive thing is that we achieved our goal,” said Kathy Hendrich. “I might list so many things that weren’t our expectations, but for now we’re happy that we’ve moved forward – but we also know that there’s still a lot to do.”
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