Group B: Group victory secured – Germany defeats Spain

The German team secured victory in preliminary round group B with a 2-0 (2-0) victory over Spain. So you will avoid England for the time being. The goals were scored by Klara Bühl (3rd) and Alexandra Popp (37th).

In the London district of Brentford, where the small river Brent flows into the huge Thames, the German team, after the clear opening win against Denmark, was also concerned with avoiding the English women in a possible quarter-finals. For this, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg and her team need to win their preliminary round group – so a threesome against Spain was needed.

The German women approached the game with corresponding intensity. The technically strong Spaniards, who like to build up their game with short passes from their own half, were attacked early and put under pressure. With surprisingly quick success.

Keeper Panos fails, Bühl scores early

Less than three minutes into the packed 15,000 spectator stadium, Spain’s keeper Sandra Panos made a catastrophic bad pass straight into Bühl’s feet. The FC Bayern striker accepted the gift eleven meters from goal, put the ball on her left foot and finished dry with a shot into the far corner – Germany led 1-0.

It’s easy to play when you’re in the lead so early – the German team was brimming with self-confidence. But he also became careless. And underestimated Spain’s director Patri in the 10th minute. The playmaker from FC Barcelona let two Germans run into space with a body fake and played a very fine pass into the path of attacker Lucia Garcia. She approached Merle Frohms freely, but lost her nerve and put the ball past the goal on the right.

Spain takes over

That should have been the quick equalizer. But there was something good about this scene from a German point of view: the matter was now approached a little more prudently, a little more cautiously. But Spain was involved. In the 19th minute, a clever lob from Caldentey hissed just over the right angle.

Marina Hegering delivered an excellent game in this phase. Time and time again, the German defender anticipated the actions of the Spaniards and intercepted flank after flank with her first-class positional play.

Popp jumps – and hits the 2-0

Defensively hard-working, offensively but pale remained Popp for a long time, who played in the center of attack for Lea Schüller, who was suffering from Corona. Nevertheless, she became a factor: In the 37th minute, after a corner by Felicitas Rauch, she jumped over two opponents and headed in to make it 2-0.

The Spaniards wanted to answer. They tried. But at the front, they just lacked determination and assertiveness. In the 57th minute, they were also lucky that they were allowed to remain eleven on the pitch. Popp had been sent on a long ball and fell after Irene Paredes’ pluck – but referee Stephanie Frappart from France decided: no foul.

Spain despairs of German defense

Apart from that, little changed until the end: the Spaniards played more elegantly, but did not earn any money. Also because the German keeper Frohms parried brilliantly in the 71st minute when Caldentey had a free shot from 13 meters.

That was it then, substitute Tabea Waßmuth almost made it 3-0 – but her goal rightly didn’t count because of an offside position. But even so, it was enough to win. And so to the prospect of actually avoiding England for the time being.

Bierhoff invites Scholz to an interview

In the run-up to the game, Chancellor Olaf Scholz had started an interesting exchange of blows on the subject of equal pay when he tweeted that he called for equal pay for men and women in football. “I’m a bit surprised by the statement. I’d be happy to invite him over. Then I’ll explain the numbers to him a little better,” said DFB director Oliver Bierhoff in the first.