Thanks to double lightning start
As of: March 3, 2026 8:09 p.m
Dream combinations, strong substitutes and a first goal: Germany’s footballers have made a successful start to their World Cup qualification. The DFB women won comfortably against Slovenia 5-0 (2-0) in Dresden on Tuesday evening.
Fans had written “Road to Brazil” on a poster as both teams arrived – and a good 90 minutes later it was clear: the German women’s national team has successfully taken the first step on the way to the World Cup in Brazil in 2027: in many phases with great enthusiasm, sometimes wasteful – and in a short sequence also defensively erratic.
“I’m very pleased that we cleared things up pretty quickly and picked up the pace, especially in the second half.”
National coach Christian Wück
In the ARD interview, captain Giulia Gwinn was pleased that “we started the halves well twice”, but she also criticized some “inaccuracies” in her team’s game. National coach Christian Wück was “very satisfied that we cleared things up pretty quickly and improved, especially in the second half.”
Overall, the victory against the Slovenians, who were overwhelmed in many situations, was confident and also went well at the height. Vivien Endemann (6th), Elisa Senß (12th), Linda Dallmann (48th), debutant Larissa Mühlhaus (53rd) and Lea Schüller (71st) scored for the DFB women, who continue the second game of the World Cup qualification in Stavanger on Saturday. The game against Norway (6 p.m.) will certainly be a different way of determining our position in Group 4.
Video:
Germany vs Slovenia – Voices & Analysis (18 Min)
DFB women with a lightning start
In the center of the attack, Shekiera Martinez from the English club West Ham United was preferred by Wück over Nicole Anyomi from Frankfurt – and the 24-year-old was immediately extremely dangerous. After a nice hook to the left of the penalty area, she pulled the ball straight towards the Slovenian goal. Zala Mersnik reacted strongly (5th). But a minute later the goalkeeper was beaten. Endemann – sent on his way by Dallmann after winning the ball in midfield – ran towards them alone and cheekily tunneled them.
1-0 for the DFB women, who stuck with it straight away: Martinez’s goal didn’t count due to a previous offside position (10th), but Senß’s powerful shot from the center of the penalty area after a nice shot from Endemann did – 2-0 (12th). The German team was quite happy to play – but also increasingly wasteful. Martinez (17th), Gwinn (20th) and Endemann (23rd) missed the third goal.
Video:
Five goalscorers for DFB women against Slovenia (6 min)
Berger parries strongly, Dallmann and Mühlhaus raise
After 30 minutes of power football, the Wück team took a break – at this point the fans in Dresden sent the first waves of enthusiasm through the arena because of the offensive performance they had shown up to that point. Shortly before the half-time whistle, the spectators rubbed their eyes in surprise at the increasing negligence. The Wück team invited the guests to three shots, and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who had been largely unemployed until then, defused attacker Zara Kramzar’s best attempt with a strong foot save (41′).
The Wück team then dominated the start of the second half as they had the beginning of the game – and scored twice again early on: First, the strong Dallmann initiated the game herself, got the ball back with a fine pass from Sjoeke Nüsken and tunneled through Mersnik at the right post (48th). And then debutant Mühlhaus, who came on as a substitute at half-time, scored her first goal. Mersnik made a strong save from a Nüsken shot and the Werder Bremen striker nailed the rebound under the crossbar, half sliding and half as a side kick (53′).
Schüller ensures the final score
Little happened for almost 20 minutes, then the next substitute scored. After a foul in midfield, Nüsken quickly switched gears and passed to Endemann on the left. The Wolfsburg player served Schüller, who had just been substituted, who put the ball past Mersnik into the far corner with a fine touch (71′).
“One more goes, one more goes in,” the fans sang. However, Nüsken (81′) and Mühlhaus (86′) narrowly missed out, and a goal from Schüller that was supposed to be regular didn’t count because referee Eleni Antoniou from Greece incorrectly ruled it offside (87′). It didn’t matter – and so the fans were singing “Oh, how beautiful that is” even before the final whistle.
