As midnight approached, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg banged the horn of the team bus a few times and leaned out of the door: “The departure is in ten seconds. If you’re not there, run!” With a broad grin, the national coach counted down.
Some of your players were still being interviewed – there was so much to tell after this next strong performance by the German footballers at the European Championships in England. With the 2-0 (2-0) against title candidate Spain, the DFB women are in the quarter-finals early – and can avoid the strong English women.
“It was a very, very strenuous game. We scored the goals at the right time,” said defender Marina Hegering about the energy performance of the record European champions four days after the 4-0 win against Denmark. “It was an amazing defensive performance from all eleven plus those who came in.”
The absence of top scorer Lea Schüller, who was absent due to a positive corona test, “triggered a bit of concern and fear,” said Voss-Tecklenburg. In the end, however, the 54-year-old beamed like all the players and team members. “I’m just incredibly proud today.”
“It was a very emotional game”
In front of 16,037 spectators at the Brentford Community Stadium, including DFB director Oliver Bierhoff, Klara Bühl from FC Bayern (3rd minute) and captain Alexandra Popp (37th) from VfL Wolfsburg scored. The team tried tirelessly on Tuesday evening to chase the ball away from the Spaniards with their short passing game, and Merle Frohms did the rest. “It was a very emotional game, we can’t bring more power, more energy onto the pitch. The team was in a great position, the Spaniards are a bit desperate about our defense,” said the goalkeeper, who will be responsible for Eintracht Frankfurt’s new season to VfL Wolfsburg. “What we showed as a team was pure madness.”