The German national soccer team will go into the European Championship semi-finals against France without winger Klara Bühl, who tested positive for the corona virus. The second Corona failure during the tournament is “the next challenge” for the team, according to national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. The self-confidence in the DFB team is still huge after the previous successes in England.
The FC Bayern Munich offensive player, who was sent into isolation after the corona test, left no doubt via Instagram about how her team should react to the bad news in the semifinals against France on Wednesday (July 27th, 2022, 9 p.m. CEST) in Milton Keynes: ” My team will make the stadium celebrate tomorrow and inspire you with great football!” the 21-year-old wrote to the fans.
Her teammates have already internalized Bühl’s words: “We’ll play for her and we’ll also try to win the game for Klara,” Lena Oberdorf promised at the final PK on Tuesday (July 26th, 2022). The news of the failure of one of the top performers in the team “made everyone quieter,” said national coach Voss-Tecklenburg. “We didn’t expect that at all.” The team will try to stay in the tournament, also “to give Klara a little joy”. As was the case after Lea Schüller’s positive test at the start of the tournament, she had already noticed that her team had moved even closer together.
All other tests in the team negative
Bühl is symptom-free, she was immediately isolated, as the German Football Association announced. According to the information, further tests of the other players and the entire staff were negative. According to the UEFA statutes, Bühl could take a free test after five days if she is symptom-free. The final of the European Championship will take place next Sunday (07/31/2022, 6 p.m. CEST) in the legendary Wembley Stadium in London in front of almost 90,000 fans.
Fire for Bühl? – MVT does not commit itself
Who will replace the offensive player of FC Bayern Munich, who was in the starting XI in all four games at the European Championship and scored 1-0 in the 2-0 win against Spain in the preliminary round, let MVT through around 24 hours before kick-off Referee Cheryl Foster from Wales openly: “We’re looking at the final training session. We also have to be prepared for something else to happen. There’s a plan A and a plan B.”
A player who, like Bühl, is “at home” on the left wing is Jule Brand. For the 19-year-old from Neu-Wolfsburg it would be her first appearance at this European Championship.
Without conceding a goal from the “lucky bag” to the title contender
There are enough reasons for great optimism in the German team despite the loss of one of the top performers: After four wins without conceding a single goal, the DFB team, which was classified as a “lucky bag” before the tournament started, has become a serious contender for the title.
The team coached by Voss-Tecklenburg has so far impressed above all with their formidable teamwork on defense and offense. No wonder the French go into their first European Championship semi-final with a lot of respect: “It will be a tough fight,” said defender Wendie Renard: “Games against Germany are always great, these are the duels we play for.”
Voss-Tecklenburg: “We will give everything”
National coach Voss-Tecklenburg has no doubts that her team will put on a convincing performance against “Les Bleues” in the first semi-final since the 2016 Olympic Games: “I can promise that we can say that we gave our all when we left the pitch come.”
MVT expects “a game at eye level against the French, in which small things will decide”. Tactically, your team is well prepared. But it will also need the necessary mentality on the pitch to be able to withstand the strong French offensive. “It’s going to hurt,” MVT said.
A longer break and a better record speak for the DFB team
An advantage for the German team, which could win Germany’s ninth European Championship title in England, is the longer break after the quarter-finals compared to the French: “Les Bleues” even had to go into extra time in the 1-0 win against the Netherlands .
Even if the last international match in June 2021 was lost 1-0 – the record speaks clearly for Germany. In 20 duels so far, the two-time world champion has won eleven and lost five. In four matches at major tournaments so far, the DFB selection has always prevailed.
Schüller could play again – but Popp is set
In the German team, goal scorer Schüller had already tested positive for the corona virus at the European Championship before the second group game. The Bundesliga top scorer, who scored in the first game against Denmark and was voted “Player of the Match”, is now out of isolation and could make her second appearance in England against France.
Currently, however, Alexandra Popp is set in front. The DFB captain scored in all four games – and made a lasting impression on France’s captain Renard with her performance: “She has this strong German mentality and she is a natural leader. We have to be strong collectively to prevent her from scoring more goals ‘ said the 1.87m centre-back.
The possible DFB line-up against France
Frohms – Gwinn, Hegering, Hendrich, Rauch – Magull, Oberdorf, Däbritz – Huth, Popp, Brand