There will be no easy draws when the best four women’s teams from Europe meet for the first time at a Final Four as part of the newly created Nations League. The path to the Olympic Games associated with it for the first time could hardly have been better for the German footballers.
The Danish former national player Janni Arnth Jensen fished the Olympic host France out of the draw pot at lunchtime at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon. The DFB selection will compete away in this semi-final. In the other semi-final, Spain and the Netherlands face each other – the winner would also play the final at home. Two free starting places will be awarded for the Olympic Games through this final tournament. The games are scheduled for February 24th to 28th, 2024.
The Olympics are a highlight for Horst Hrubesch
Since the French have already qualified as hosts, one thing is certain: with a win, the DFB women would certainly be back at the Olympic football tournament for the first time since winning the gold medal in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. In the event of a defeat, there would be a second chance in the game for third place. Interim coach Horst Hrubesch had recently wanted exactly this constellation: “I would really like France because then we have two chances to qualify.”
When he took office, he had already raved that he really wanted to go to Paris. “The Olympics are the absolute highlight for women”says the 72-year-old. Under his direction, his players had initially achieved three wins against Wales (5:1), Iceland (2:0) and Denmark (3:0), before a zero number in Wales had no consequences for their desired group victory because Iceland were with the Danes provided protective assistance.