DFB women against Spain – “We are here to win the title”

Rebecca Knaak makes no secret of her goals. “It’s about a title. And we are all here to win a title,” said the Manchester City central defender on Tuesday in Frankfurt.

With a view to the first leg on Friday in Kaiserslautern (8.30 p.m., live on ZDF) and the second leg on Tuesday (6.30 p.m., live on Erste and Sportschau.de) in Madrid, she added: “The mode is a bit unusual, it’s not usual that you have two final games. But we accept it that way.”

Will the revenge for the European Championship semi-finals succeed?

With the duel between Germany and Spain there will be a new edition of the European Championship quarter-finals in Zurich at the European Championships in the summer. Germany lost 1-0 to Spain after a great fight – and now wants to take revenge.

“I was able to watch the game at home and I think we did very well and were able to keep up,” said Nicole Anyomi, who did not make it into national coach Christian Wück’s European Championship squad. “I think that we have to be much more effective in front of goal so that we can beat the Spaniards. And I think that we will do a good job now,” continued the Eintracht Frankfurt striker.

Against Spain in the European Championship semi-finals – you can lose there. However, this European Championship also raised questions. And the coach sees the DFB and the clubs as having a duty.

DFB women with “courage” and “playful solutions”

The Spaniards, who were superior in terms of play, had had their teeth cut on the DFB defense for a long time at the European Championships. The fact that they still left the field as winners was thanks to a stroke of genius from Aitana Bonmati Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger surprised with a shot from a tight angle into the near corner.

So that it doesn’t happen again, Knaak says: “We’ve all decided to be even braver with the ball. To be even more calm on the ball and to find solutions in a playful way.” The team has recently taken “a good step forward”.

The soccer world champions from Spain are again in the final of the Nations League. Thanks to a goal from superstar Alexia Putellas, the European runner-up also won their semi-final second leg in Sweden.

Anyomi could make the difference

The German women defeated France in the semi-finals of the Nations League in October with a 1-0 home win and a strong 2-2 away win. Anyomi, who played in the center of the attack from the start and promptly scored, also played a major role in this.

In her nine Bundesliga appearances this season she has already scored five goals – and is shining through her effectiveness. No coincidence, as the 25-year-old explained: “It has a lot to do with self-confidence. I’m having a lot of fun playing football right now and I feel very comfortable,” explained Anyomi, who used to play at right back in the national team, but feels much better at attack and especially in the center: “I believe that I can help the team there.”

Berger returns to the team as US champion

Germany can really use the help. It’s also good that Berger has returned to the national team. Germany’s number one has just won the US championship with their club Gotham FC. “Anne is an absolute source of support. She will certainly take the momentum from the championship and I will be happy if she joins us,” emphasized Knaak.

Actually, Berger should have been with the team long ago. Due to problems with her flight, which was initially delayed and then canceled, she is now expected to be with the team on Wednesday morning.

Germany’s national goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made history with her club Gotham FC and won the title in the US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

The German soccer players have achieved solvable tasks for qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.