Team check before the semifinals: Germany effective – France fast and in love with the ball

A stable defense and an efficient attack against lightning-fast wingers and a “control tower” – the sports show team check before the semifinals Germany – France.

Goal

When comparing the goalkeepers, Merle Frohms performs significantly better than Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. The keeper from Juventus Turin made a few mistakes in the preliminary round and also doesn’t have the special charisma to strengthen her team mentally. It could be promising to attack the goalkeeper – especially with short goal-kicks like against Austria – and lurk for mistakes.

defense

“The team has a great defensive desire,” says national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. Even if that wasn’t just aimed at defence, the back four led by Marina Hegering has done a good job so far: zero goals conceded speak volumes. The outside players Giulia Gwinn and Felicitas Rauch also strictly follow the order to always play an offensive role and, if possible, to walk through to the second post.

For the French, “control tower” Wendie Renard seemed to falter at first. But the 1.87 meter tall central defender has improved and got her neighbors on course – the quarter-finals were the first European Championship game without conceding a goal. With 60 percent of duels won, France has had the fourth best duel rate in the tournament so far.

Despite Renard’s size, however, France have won just 56 percent of their aerial duels, slightly worse than all other semi-finalists. Germany holds the top position with 59 percent. “We have header monsters in our ranks,” not only the national coach knows. On the other hand, Renard should only be able to be defended by Alexandra Popp when it comes to standards.

midfield

possession? “There are certain zones where we don’t care,” said MVT before the Spain game (2-0). Problem: France acts in a very similar way in midfield. While “Les Bleues” in Sandie Toletti and Grace Geyoro have two strategists with high pass security in this part of the team, Germany have in Lina Magull perhaps the best technician of the tournament, who also develops a lot of goal danger.

Germany has a clear plus on the six in clearer Lena Oberdorf. France connoisseur Sara Däbritz always does her hard work in winning the ball reliably. Here, Magull and Co. should place particular emphasis on the second balls, because France only achieves the third-worst value of all 16 European Championship teams.

attack

According to statistics, both teams are left-leaning – Germany so far mainly via Klara Bühl, France via Delphine Cascarino. Now Bühl is out because of her positive corona test. The 19-year-old Jule Brand, who is a possible replacement, can also boast just as carefree.

Playing down the wings is the specialty of the French (from right: Kadidiatou Diani) – 37 percent of their crosses came in, only England managed a better rate. Even in dribbling, the lightning-fast wingers can hardly be stopped. France have dribbled a total of 40 times so far, 69 percent of them have been successful – both are top values. The German women, on the other hand, lose a relatively large number of balls in the offensive third.

Both teams are tied at the top when it comes to counterattacks (17 each), with the DFB women holding the top figure with 25 percent of deals. Efficiency was Popp and Co’s sharpest sword so far. While France converted only a weak 18 percent of their numerous chances, the German women converted a third of their chances into goals. Compared to Melvine Malard or Ouleymata Sarr, Alexandra Popp is the clearly better centre-forward.

trainers

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg: The national coach was very variable in her tactical specifications. While extremely high pressing led to success against Denmark, her team acted a little more withdrawn and very effectively against Spain. In relation to her team, MVT was open to criticism. Her new ease is evidently leading to success. Like her colleague, Voss-Tecklenburg has not yet won a major title as a coach.

Corinne Diacre: The soccer teacher, who has already coached a male team in professional soccer, maintains an authoritarian style. In Eugénie Le Sommer and Amandine Henry, she left two world-class players at home because she couldn’t get along with them. The trainer has also fallen out with captain Renard. Top goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi had already drawn consequences after the botched 2019 World Cup in her own country and resigned. While there were reports of players crying after the tournament three years ago, the atmosphere is said to be as good as it has ever been under Diacre. Apparently she also worked on herself.

That says sports show expert Nia Künzer

“There are no favorites in this semi-final duel. Both teams have great individual quality, a broad squad and high speed. I’m very excited about the two match plans.

Maybe it’s an advantage that Germany had to prove their variability against Spain. France has never been challenged so defensively. And I think that the French are quite vulnerable in the transition moments.”

Data Source: Create Football