The German footballers presented national coach Christian Wück with a victory in Slovenia at the end of the World Cup qualification. Although the DFB team rarely shone with the already secure World Cup ticket in their pocket, they ultimately won confidently against the bottom of the group 2-0 (1-0). With their goals in Ljubljana, Sarai Linder (40th minute) and Shekiera Martinez (50th) ensured that Wück, who celebrated his 53rd birthday on the day of the game, was happy.
Wück’s wish in advance on ZDF was formulated piously, namely “that we approach the whole thing with the necessary seriousness.” As announced, the coach rotated a lot, only Carlotta Wamser, Elisa Senß and Klara Bühl were in the starting line-up again compared to the recent 2-0 win against Norway. “I hope the suit fits,” said Wück. And then saw that this wasn’t the case for long stretches of the first half.
The German game seemed sluggish against low-lying Slovenians, who had already had no chance at 5-0 in the first leg. In the pretty Stozice stadium, however, initially little went for the DFB team. The eagle bearers pushed cross passes back and forth, there were hardly any deep passes or chances to score.
The actually fresh offensive players such as the future Liverpool player Vivien Endemann, Martinez from West Ham United or Melissa Kössler from the US team Denver hardly found their way into the game due to the lack of change of pace. In midfield, Lisanne Gräwe, who will play for Union Berlin, was unable to provide the desired impetus.
Corner kick from Klara Bühl leads to the lead
Slovenia waited for moments of transition and were unlucky that Maja Sternad’s goal was not counted due to offside. After a bad pass from DFB goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic, who otherwise represented Ann-Katrin Berger well, ex-Bundesliga player Prasnikar finished powerfully but too centrally. Mahmutovic raised his arms in time.
The favorites scored the opening goal. Prasnikar, who now earns her living with the US team Utah, extended a corner kick taken sharply by Bühl with the toe of her foot into her own goal. The goal was credited to left-back Linder, who had previously touched the ball slightly with her head.
Changes during the break are fruitful
At the break, Wück reacted to the lackluster presentation and sent three fresh players onto the pitch: Selina Cerci, Larissa Mühlhaus and Sophia Kleinherne. Mühlhaus, with the number ten on his back, promptly responded with a long-range shot. Martinez finally took advantage of a mistake by Slovenia’s goalkeeper Zala Mersnik, who let a Kössler shot bounce forward, to make it 2-0. Endemann missed the 3-0 shortly afterwards.
The Germans hardly had any trouble against the declining Slovenians in the second half and could have extended the result further with a little more consistency. Wück used the comfortable final phase to make further changes. Jule Brand and Sjoeke Nüsken were also able to help complete the World Cup qualification with 16 out of 18 possible points.