After all, the 54-year-old did not shirk the realization that against Spain (1: 1) technical advantages, against Canada (0: 1) mental advantages and against England physical advantages of the opponent came to light. Looking ahead to the European Championship tournament in four and a half months, the fact that Germany took last place in the final count did not worry them at all.
“We know why we didn’t win the games. I would have been a lot more shocked if we were miles away from the other teams in overall performance.” She appeared as if she had wished for exactly such lessons and spread the conviction: “We will then go to England and we will have grown from these experiences.” Her captain Däbritz took the same line: “I think we’ll be able to take a lot from it. I’m sure that we’ll be ready for the European Championship and we can beat teams like that.”
Physicality and killer instinct are a little lacking
In general, the national coach asked for a little patience: The physical development of young talents would take years, there would be numerous players who are physically more robust. “There are many subjects”Voss-Tecklenburg asserted and stated almost defiantly before the journey home from Birmingham: “I’m not worried about this table.” After all, it was just a test run. And yet the results should serve as a small wake-up call.
Finally, the weakened defensive wobbled under pressure and performed when conceded Ellen White (15.), Millie Bright (84.) and Frank Kirby (90 + 3) strong assistance. On the other hand, the appearance of “Three Lionesses” already ready for the title in some phases. England’s national coach Sarina Wiegman rightly praised the enormous power and the great will: “We wanted to win. That was good to see.”
Joti Chatzialexiou also sees fundamental deficits
The German team lacked structure, calm and precision for the top level in all games – and of course personnel. After more than a dozen injury or corona-related cancellations, the DFB women were only able to keep up in parts. On the one hand, it’s true that pillars like Lena Oberdorf, Dzsenifer Marozsan, Svenja Huth and Alexandra Popp are indispensable in such games, but with Merle Frohms, Lina Magull, Sara Däbritz, Lea Schüller and Klara Bühl there were just enough pillars on the pitch.
Voss-Tecklenburg is certain that “the breadth of the squad gives me hope for the future”. That could in fact become a plus point of their selection. How she paid her young generation a big compliment: “They’re open, they’re inquisitive, they’re cool. It’s really fun that we currently have really exciting, young, international players in Germany.” And if that doesn’t pay off this summer, then it will pay off in the years that follow, was her message.
Sarina Wiegmann has Germany on the list
“The tournament just shows us what we need to work on, that we still have a lot of potential,” said noble technician Magull, who had provided the highlight from a German point of view with a free kick circled under the crossbar (40th). It’s going to be an exciting phase now “Learning with the team” will soon be initiated – and which deficits are of a more fundamental nature, which the sporting director of the national teams, Joti Chatzialexiou, relentlessly addressed in his on-site analysis. He should too “Appetizers for the Euro” (O-Ton Chatzaialexiou) didn’t taste the way the 46-year-old had imagined. With a view to the European Championship, but also the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with the DFB women “not just play along, but play for titles”.
Competitors like Spain and England now seemed more mature in the invitation tournament in terms of ball acceptance, passing and speed of action at high intensity. But what can be encouraging after the instructive trip to England: Wiegman from the Netherlands, who was hired by England’s association and who orchestrated the Dutch national team’s sensational European Championship coup in 2017, explicitly pointed out the German failures – and of course counted the eight-time European champion among the five six teams that could be considered for the title this summer.