analysis
Against world champion Spain in the European Championship semi-final-you can lose: like the DFB women with 0: 1 after extra time. However, this European Championship has also raised questions. And national coach Christian Wück sees the association and the clubs as a duty.
Shortly after 11 a.m., the suitcases rolled over the small forecourt of the team hotel of the German team in Zurich on Thursday. The first players went back home in minibuses. A handful of fans was there to take photos with their favorites and collect autographs. After the defeat in the European Championship semi-final against Spain (0: 1 NV), the mood was still depressed. The gray rain clouds over the city hung deeply.
“The disappointment was great at first. But now the feeling of pride is slowly beginning and that we have done something big here”said sports director Nia Künzer. “We spent a special time together. I think that remains forever, that connects this group for a long time.”
The tournament is “A giant step” In the development of the team. With all the disappointment, it should be noted that Germany is one of the top four nations in Europe. Both in the Nations League and at the European Championship. And that in Switzerland under the special circumstances with locks and injuries: “It’s crazy.”
Missed your own big goals
The team itself had declared the goal of the European Championship title long before the tournament-and actually fueled hopes with the clear victories at the end of the Nation’s League group phase against the Netherlands (4-0) and in Austria (6-0). But the football achievements at the final round in Switzerland left a lot to be desired.
The violation of captain Giulia Gwinn, who had to be replaced with a knee injury after the first 40 European Championship minutes and has failed since then, must not be forgotten. At the same time, the influence of the right -back on the playful assets of her teammates is rather low.
Not everything interlocked perfectly. In the group phase there was not yet the experience in some moments, but that is completely normal. This is a process. But we have laid an incredibly good basis for the next few years. That makes you want more.
The successes against Poland (2: 0) and Denmark (2: 1) were deserved overall, but in view of the formulated goals. The Swedes then showed the DFB women (1: 4) for the first time. The red card for Carlotta Wamser must not hide it.
Because even against France (7: 6 ne) – also outnumbered – and Spain was clearly inferior to Germany. In terms of use and will, Gwinn’s representative Janina Minge and Co. were beyond any doubt. But there is a lot to do.
Wück sees great need to catch up
“We just have to improve in possession of the ball. We have to improve in technology. Because we had chances. We had these needles, of which I spoke before the game. But we didn’t play well. That is the big difference”, Wück explained at the press conference after the game. At this point, it must now be scheduled to continue progressing. The national coach found a clear word, because in his view the team was only like that “At some point again to win such tournaments”.
Unlanding will, but not at a top level football
Tournament discovery Giovanna Hoffmann found after the Spain game: “We can stand up to all opponents.” And Sara Däbritz emphasized after her 111th international use: “We played a great EM. We can be proud. Each one has got involved.”
We can be proud that we played such a tournament and that we have sparked such an euphoria – in Germany and in the stadiums. I hope that we were able to pay a little back to the spectators and fans who really took on a lot.
And that was exactly what the European Championship actually makes for the team. With the overwhelming will and the huge resillary, so that, like the team, fought out against France in more than 100 minutes, she knew how to inspire. Suddenly the DFB women were the subject of par excellence. Against Spain, 14.261 million viewers then pursued the live broadcast of the sports show. This corresponds to a market share of 57.6 percent.
However, the victory in the penalty shootout stands for an underdog history that moved people. And he was not the appearance of a (self -proclaimed) favorite on the way to the title. Rather like a subclass club that throws the Golliath out of the DFB Cup with a superhuman effort.
Wück profiled in women’s football
Wück won the profile at the latest with the appearances at the European Championship. The squad he put together has proven that he was very well put together for the tasks and challenges of such a tournament. And at least the game against Spain, not only from paper the most challenging opponent, was tactically a very good performance.
The central midfield of the Germans took the world stars Aitana Bonmati (over large parts) and Alexia Putellas (almost completely). This is one of the reasons why the Spaniards hardly got any chances for a long time. “We also had the Spaniards so far, except for the last four minutes that they would not have beaten us”Wück rightly noticed. The fact that it was not enough for the German victory was apparently (also) a question of the quality of the DFB women.
Will the Talent promotion “Lifted to the next level”?
Because it is the player in the player that worries him. It is no coincidence that he highlighted Carlotta Wamser and Franziska Kett. “We need a lot more players like them. We need speed – they both have them. They have good ball treatment and good duel behavior.” In other words, many other players lack these qualities.
“We all have to get it together, the association plus the clubs have to see that we will promote talent promotion to the next level. In the junior area we are much further than in the junior area”said the national coach, who had looked after the Male U17 of the DFB until last year and led to EM and World Cup titles.
DFB goes in Young area new ways
Also last year, the DFB turned the youth promotion to the juniors on the left. The federal leagues in the youth area were abolished, and the clubs were recommended to register their best girls teams in the game’s game. The players should be promoted more consistently at a high level.
There are young, highly talented players. And we are optimistic that we find players that players who represent Germany at the highest level.
However, the interim balance of the clubs was very different after the first season. Some clubs, especially in the north, have already made a role backwards. The North German Football Association has already founded a new regional league for the new season so that the girls can kick again.
However, other clubs see the advantages – and also put hopes in the new funding and performance centers that the association for the first time certified last summer. But: So far, there have been six (!) Such centers nationwide. It is not yet known whether which and if so how many this autumn.
Nia Künzer and Bernd Neuendorf want to continue using young players.
Surprising “visit” from the successful times
It was a picture with a symbolic character that suddenly opened an elevator door on Wednesday evening in the Mixed Zone of the Stadium’s Letzigrund and Silvia Neid, Ulrike Ballweg and Melanie Behringer looked out. The former national coach and her co-trainer who won everything there is to win, and the ex-international (world and European champion and Olympic champion) stand for a significantly more successful time of the DFB. The three belonged to a group of guests who invited the association to play in Zurich. A friendly smile in the round, door back and away.
The German demands were different for a long time than these games at the European Championship. But it will take at least longer before the team will be one of the big favorites at the big tournaments due to their playful fortune. “But we don’t let up. I spoke of a development. And we tackle it”announced Wück.
Final Four of the Nations League throws shadows ahead
It continues in autumn with the final Four in the Nations League (October 24th and 28th). Germany meets France again in the first and second leg. Sweden and Spain contest the other duel of the preliminary round. The DFB women are right in the middle of it and expect good chances of the final (December 2).
The experiences from Switzerland should become a fist pan. The team and especially the young players would have at the European Championship “An amazing development” taken and gained experience, “Which you do better for the next steps”according to Künzer.
It couldn’t be the goal of playing like the Spaniards in the future. “We want to concentrate in our way of playing football. If we can draw from the full, we can also keep up with these teams”the sports director is convinced. In addition to Gwinn, the blocked Kathy Hendrich and Sjoeke Nüsken and the injured Sarai Linder were also missing against Spain.
“With a bit of a distance, we look forward to the Final Four in autumn”said Künzer and added: “We can show that we are at eye level with the other three nations.”