The German women’s national team messed up their dress rehearsal for the World Cup. There is no panic in the team yet. But it is understandable that she could appear outside of the team.
The expectations are enormous, after the DFB women were only held up in the final by England last year on their way to becoming European champions. From July 20th, when the World Cup begins in Australia and New Zealand, the hope from the outside is that this last step towards the title should also succeed. And there is also this goal in our own warehouse.
“Because I missed the European Championship final, my ambition is even greater to maybe be in a World Cup final“Said Klara Bühl beforehand in the film “Shootingstars – Germany’s new football generation” (since July 7 in the ARD media library).”Of course you need a certain amount of calm, and also a lot of work that lies ahead of us. But I’m definitely ready for the World Cup final.”
Helplessness in front of the opposing goal
Bühl was emblematic of the performance in the final pre-tournament friendly against Zambia. In the 3-2 defeat, the German team was in control for the entire game, but lacked the final punch. Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg unanimously criticized the events “in the last third“, in which the superiority of the DFB women always came to an abrupt end.
Above all, the two headers in injury time showed that crosses would have been the solution to the riddle that day. Lea Schüller and Alexandra Popp made sure very late that Germany was very close to a draw in the end. They converted two high balls after the team previously consistently failed with low play. Often also because Bühl in the first place missed her teammates who were ready to score.
It just doesn’t work this year
The previous friendlies hadn’t gone particularly well. And the last impression before the final nomination and the departure to Down Under was also not necessarily such that the German team had to be proclaimed the big tournament favorite in this form. Voss-Tecklenburg therefore spoke after the game of a “mixed year 2023“.
In Australia and New Zealand, a mixed year is set to turn into a successful year after all. The national coach calls for fundamental changes on the pitch. “The same pace and the same physique is coming towards us with Colombia. If we don’t learn and minimize mistakes, there won’t be a positive result either“said Voss-Tecklenburg.
mixed mood
The DFB women know that doubts are now also arising in public. Popp could understand that now with the “alarm bells go off very quickly for German football fans“. But she also emphasized that she “no worries” to make because the team “a few more days” have. Nevertheless, Popp said: “It must be clear to us that we must not underestimate any World Cup opponents and must always give our 100 percent. That was clearly shown to us.“Zambia is said to have been a final warning.