The Kathrin Hendrich’s dropout changed the course of the quarterfinal between Germany and France. Nia Künzer has now commented on the scene – and reveals a very own perspective.
It was an earlier shock in the European Championship quarter-finals against France on Saturday evening: the red card for DFB defender Kathrin Hendrich. The 33-year-old had pulled the Frenchwoman Griedge Mbock on his hair in a situation in the penalty area. Referee Tess Olofsson decided after viewing the scene: dismissal for Hendrich and penalty for “Les Bleues”. The penalty led to the meantime 0: 1 – and Germany ultimately had to outnumber over 105 minutes before the victory in the penalty shootout was determined.
Now DFB sports director Nia Künzer commented on the scene in a media round on Sunday-and surprised with an attempt to explain: “We spoke to Kathy. She tries in the boxing situation-the ball is not in close proximity-contact with her opponent and gets in her hair and sticks to it. She is of course super disappointed.”
A statement that should ensure amazement – both in the moving images and in photos of the scene in question, a clear grasp of Hendrich can be recognized in the braid of Mbock, no “get stuck”, as Hendrich apparently saw himself.
Künzer continued to emphasize: “It is important to her to say that she did not pull on her hair, but when trying to contact the opponent’s contact, got through her hair and got stuck.”
The 45-year-old explained her own view of the scene after ZDF expert Kathrin Lehmann said on Saturday evening: “Pulling hair is how if I would scratch someone”. Künzer now: “I think you can see in the TV recordings that it looks in a different direction. So I don’t want to make the comparison.”
However, one has “no info” with regard to a possible lock for Hendrich. Finally, Künzer said again: “We would definitely like to underline that there is no intention.” Whether the UEFA shares this peculiar view is more than questionable.
Immediately after the 6: 5 in the penalty shootout, Hendrich’s teammate had already commented on her emotion: “She immediately came to us and said how grateful and proud she was on us. I tried to give her approval and comfort her because she was of course a bit sad,” explained Rebecca Knaak. Giovanna Hoffmann added: “I saw her briefly after the game, of course she was emotionally. But also simply happy, overjoyed and grateful that we pulled the game. I think it was the worst of sitting in the cabin all the time today.”