DFB women aggressive before EM showdown against France

The German soccer players could already spot their dream destination Wembley from the bus window when they were moving for the semi-final showdown against France – but one thing was missing: Klara Bühl. The 21-year-old offensive player from Bayern Munich tested positive for the corona virus and will be out against Les Bleues on Wednesday (9 p.m. / ZDF and DAZN). She can only motivate her colleagues on Instagram: “Positive and still positive!” She wrote: “My team will make the stadium celebrate!”

The good news: The rest of the team and the support staff remained negative in further tests. The last exit before the EM final is still tough.

Bühl, the second corona case after Lea Schüller, was a top performer during the tournament. She is replaced by Jule Brand (VfL Wolfsburg). The fairy-tale journey of the DFB women should nevertheless continue up to the climax in the legendary football temple of Wembley in front of almost 90,000 fans.

“We are tactically well prepared, but it will take mentality and it will hurt,” said national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg before the duel in Milton Keynes: “We are ready and will throw in everything we have.”

For the first time since Olympic gold in 2016, the eight-time European champion is fighting for a place in the final of a major tournament. In the MK Stadium, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and Managing Director Oliver Bierhoff will be cheering on the stands.

“We haven’t been that close in many years,” said right-back Giulia Gwinn: “The dream lives in us as a team. That’s why we’re really looking forward to the semi-finals and everything that comes after.”

“The quarter-finals were the turning point”

The minimum goal has even been achieved without conceding a single goal, the pressure gone – the DFB team can and wants to play accordingly freed. “The quarter-finals were the sticking point,” said assistant coach Britta Carlson: “Now we can just enjoy it. Of course you have the pressure, you want to take the next step, but with an even bigger smile on your face.”

And with two days more rest than the opponent. The “vulnerable” French (Voss-Tecklenburg) even had to go over 120 minutes in the arduous quarter-final against the defending champion from the Netherlands (1:0).

In order to keep the dream of the ninth EM triumph alive, Sara Däbritz brings in her insider knowledge. After three years at Paris St. Germain, the 27-year-old will continue after the European Championship at Champions League winners Olympique Lyon. The two top clubs make up the bulk of the French squad.

Balance clearly speaks for Germany

“I can assure you all that we want to and will give 1000 percent in the game,” said Däbritz aggressively. Her future teammate Wendie Renard is the face of what feels like the eternal secret favourite, who is in the semi-finals of the European Championship for the first time and is longing for the first major women’s title.

The 1.87-meter-tall captain and defense chief of the French team poses a goal threat with set pieces, and Alexandra Popp in particular will have to counteract this. “I’m also quite confident in my own header game. There have been one or two duels that I’ve won against them,” said the DFB captain, who has scored one goal in each of the previous four European Championship games. Bild” newspaper.

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.

ttn-9