analysis
In their second European Championship game against Spain, the German soccer players managed to have just 30 percent possession of the ball. Nevertheless, the 2-0 win was not undeserved. They withstood the pressure of the opponent with tireless effort – and even had fun doing it.
When Alexandra Popp came back on the pitch after the first quick TV interview after the game, it was actually all over. But the captain, who had put on a jersey from Lea Schüller, who tested positive for Corona, upside down, did not want to accept that. “Again,” the 31-year-old called out to her teammates – and they followed the “order” of their leader. Once again everyone lined up for the obligatory winning photo and once again everyone shouted out their joy.
And rightly so, given the optimal yield: two games, two wins, group victory and quarter-final ticket already secured. “I’m incredibly proud of the team,” said national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who, like her players, was totally exhausted after the game. “I didn’t run that much, but I fought and gave it my all. After the final whistle I was really down. My system needed a bit of sugar,” she explained.
As against Denmark (4:0), MVT and their coaching staff had set the players perfectly. She had gathered her back four around herself while warming up. At the break she switched from 4-3-3 with pinpricks to a more defensive 4-5-1 and thus finally slowed down the strong Spaniards. “But you have to implement the tactic first.” The national coach praised her team’s “fight and spirit”. “When you win 2-0 against Spain you can’t have done too much wrong.”
DFB women with automatisms, fun and communication
Klara Bühl had already done everything right in the third minute. After a hair-raising miss from the Spanish goalkeeper Sandra Paños, the left wing reacted with quick-wittedness. “I was surprised myself that I got the ball,” said the 21-year-old. “I’m glad that the automatisms took effect.” That means getting the ball under control, passing Spain’s captain Irene Paredes and hitting the corner cold as ice.
“We scored the goals at a very good time,” said defender Marina Hegering happily – Alexandra Popp made it 2-0 a few minutes before the break. In addition, national goalkeeper Merle Frohms showed a strong performance and kept the zero again. The victory was then deserved reward. Hegering called the secret of success: “Lots of training, fun and good communication.”
Learned a lot from the 1:1 five months ago
Voss-Tecklenburg had prepared their players for the fact that they would have significantly less possession of the ball than when they were successful in the opening game – and used the last duel with the Spaniards (1: 1) at the Arnold Clark Cup earlier this year as an educational film. “We knew we were going to need a lot of resilience,” explained MVT.
We knew we would need great resilience.
One could also speak of “frustration tolerance”. Because the Germans had to run after the ball a lot and close gaps, especially in the second half, just to move from one side to the other. “For me, the many runs without getting the ball at the Arnold Clark Cup were really difficult to accept. But the experience helped me a lot today,” said Bühl.
“Player of the match” – actually the whole team
Although she acted practically flawlessly and thus played a huge part in the success as head of defense, Hegering did not want her performance to be overrated: “That was definitely not my best game. I had fewer ball contacts than ever before,” emphasized the 32-year-old, who had quickly hidden her award as “player of the game” in the cheering circle and at the PK – just like Lina Magull days before. “I see the award as ‘Player of the Match’ as more of a symbol for the performance of the whole team. In the end it was everyone.”
“If one takes a step less, it won’t work”
All ten field players in the starting formation and the jokers showed an impressive desire to defend. “We knew that it wouldn’t work if just one of us took a step less,” explained clearer Lena Oberdorf, who “unfortunately” picked up her second yellow card like left-back Felicitas Rauch and was therefore missing in the meaningless third group game against Finland becomes.
Stricter rules on family day
The team celebrated extensively in the dressing room – with dancing and pop music. On Wednesday, the focus is on regeneration. Oberdorf wants to go to the ice bath and ride a bike. But families can also be met again. Albeit under stricter corona rules: only the closest family members and only outdoors. Goalkeeper Frohms also said that everyone should test themselves before the meetings. Because all the players should be there when the next winning photo is taken.