Despite the victory, this question still haunts Germany

Despite the sweeping victory in the World Cup qualification

This question still haunts Germany

Germany is off to a confident start to its World Cup qualification with five different goalscorers. A crucial question still remains open.

Kim Steinke reports from Dresden

Christian Wück spent most of Tuesday evening on the bench at the Rudolf Harbig Stadium. No constant directing in the coaching zone, no hectic instructions. The national coach sat and watched. The reason was obvious: Germany hardly came under pressure at the start of the World Cup qualification against Slovenia and started the 2027 World Cup project with a clear 5-0. And yet, especially in this calm, an old construction site came back into focus: Which striker can reliably carry the team in close games?

Since Alexandra Popp’s retirement, the German national team has been looking for an attacker who is more than an option – one who decides games. Popp himself recently complained about what was missing for the title: a photographer. In the Nations League finals as well as in the European Championship semi-finals last year, Germany remained goalless against Spain’s world champions. Too often the goal threat depended on individual actions by exceptional players like Klara Bühl.

This is probably why national coach Christian Wück was relieved about the high efficiency against Slovenia. “It was pretty important that we cleared things up quickly,” he emphasized after the game. “This efficiency, this cleanliness in front of the goal, will stay with us for a long time,” said Wück, knowing full well that his players sometimes lack the coolness in front of the goal. Wück now made it clear that the team was grateful for every goal. Five different goal scorers are also a good sign.

But: The question still simmers over the DFB team as to who can reliably exploit the scoring opportunities not only against small opponents like Slovenia, but also in the decisive moments against big opponents. So this evening in Dresden developed into more than just a mandatory victory in the World Cup qualification against an outsider who was no benchmark for the European Championship semi-finalists. It became another test run in the “post-Popp era”. Four candidates are currently being considered as the Wolfsburg woman’s permanent successor.

Lea Schüller continues to be at the center of the debate. She was long considered Popp’s designated heir, but recently fell into a dip in form. At the European Championships in Switzerland, Giovanna Hoffmann, who is currently missing due to injury (torn cruciate ligament), overtook her. Her winter move from FC Bayern to Manchester United was primarily intended to develop Schüller physically and athletically, as Wück emphasized. But goals in particular should convince the national coach to continue to rely on them. And the 28-year-old hasn’t really shown herself to be accurate in England so far.