DFB women between sadness and pride after the final defeat against Spain

by Tobias Knaack

The final quarter of an hour in Madrid was a bitter event for the DFB women. Almost every time a Spanish player touched the ball, those among the 55,800 spectators in the Estadio Metropolitano who kept up with the “Furia Roja” celebrated with a loud “Olé”.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t maintain our level in the second half.”

National coach Christian Wück

Ultimately, 13 fatal minutes in the second half of the second leg from the German team’s perspective decided the outcome of the 180-minute Nations League final. “Unfortunately we couldn’t maintain our level in the second half,” said National coach Christian Wück in an ARD interview: “We have to be that honest.”

With regard to the duel behavior before the first goal, for example, he was annoyed that “we only accompany” and that “we have lost active defense.” German siesta here, Spanish fiesta there: And three quick goals by Claudia Pina (61st and 74th) and Vicky Lopez (68th) later it started, the “Olé” roared a thousand times.

The German footballers are still waiting for their first title since 2016. In the second leg in Madrid they were clearly inferior to the world champions.

DFB women reduce the gap to Spain

Despite the national coach’s understandable frustration with this game-deciding phase in the middle of the second half in Madrid, there were also three decent (first half in Madrid) to good periods (the entire game in Kaiserslautern) across both games.

Captain Giulia Gwinn was also right when she said that “0:3 bitter for us” said midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken with her assessment that there were “a lot of positive things to take away”. Because over two games “we saw that we can keep up with the Spanish”.

Before the two Nations League duels, there was a lot of talk on the part of the DFB about wanting to shorten the gap to the Iberians. And that was successful – especially in the goalless draw in the first leg in Kaiserslautern. Given the abundance of scoring chances that the German footballers missed in the first leg, it was extremely annoying not to be able to go into the second leg with a lead.

World champions superior in the second leg

Ultimately, it was one of the reasons why the Spanish were able to defend the title in the end – and why the German footballers have to continue to wait for their first triumph since winning Olympic gold in 2016.

Since the game in Madrid literally started from scratch, coach Sonia Bermudez’s team was able to play without the burden of being behind; was able to make adjustments after the DFB women’s sometimes ambush-like attacks in the first leg; was able to use her experience and efficiency in peace.

The performances against Spain were a step forward

Exactly these aspects – a little more calm and more efficiency – were missing from the Wück team across the two games. They ultimately tipped the balance in favor of the world champions.

Compared to the semi-final exit after extra time at the European Championships in the summer, the games were a step forward for the German team. Also the 0:3 on Tuesday evening. After the hosts’ furious start, they managed to calm the game through their own possession phases for a good 20 minutes in the first half and at the beginning of the second half and even shift parts of it into the Spaniards’ half. In the semi-finals in Zurich, this was little or not at all successful for over 120 minutes. Confidence and self-confidence in courageous play from the back, but also in counter-pressing, have undoubtedly grown.

Germany needs more calm and efficiency

And with a little luck – and greater efficiency – the Germans would have even gone into the break with a lead after a shot from Nicole Anyomi in injury time of the first half. But this much truism can be said at this point: if you don’t score goals, you can hardly win in football. This is also why Nüsken warned ARD: “We have to become more efficient.”

This also applies – at least with regard to the game at the Metropolitano – to exploiting counterattack opportunities. The Wück team repeatedly acted too imprecisely after winning the ball and thus missed opportunities for (even better) scoring opportunities. Just a question of calm and efficiency.

A success even without a title

And so, after a balanced opening fifteen minutes of the second half, things took a bitter (and very fast) turn from the German perspective from the 61st minute. In addition to increasing efficiency, the next learning stage for the DFB women is to remain more stable after conceding a goal – and not to completely give up a game within a few minutes, as was the case in Madrid. That the players won’t have to say in the future that “0-1 broke our necks” (Nüsken).

So there is work ahead of the team, but it is also clear that they have developed further since the summer, through the games against France and now against Spain.

Before the game in Madrid, Wück said that a victory in the Nations League would “make the development tangible”. Seen this way, it wasn’t entirely successful, but it became visible over the four parts of the past few weeks. This can also be seen as a success – at least with a little distance.