A narrow victory instead of embarrassment
DFB women defy a bad start and excess of opportunities
April 5, 2024, 10:23 p.m
The DFB women barely make it over the halfway line, as they are already well behind at the start of the European Championship qualification: In Austria, national coach Horst Hrubesch’s team has to use their comeback qualities to repair the disastrous start.
Thanks to new captain Giulia Gwinn and double packer Klara Bühl, the German footballers have averted a false start in the European Championship qualification. After a miserable start, Horst Hrubesch’s selection in Austria fought back to a 3:2 (1:2) after being 2-0 down and prevented their first defeat in the neighborhood duel in the fourth duel. The Bayern duo Bühl (39th/49th) and Gwinn (64th, penalty kick) ensured the first step for the vice-European champions towards EURO 2025 in Switzerland in Linz. First, the strong Eileen Campbell (9th/16th) from SC Freiburg made the aggressive hosts cheer.
On Tuesday (6:10 p.m./ZDF) against Iceland there should still be an improvement in performance in Aachen. The first and second place in the group qualify directly for the European Championships, the third and fourth placed teams have to take the detour via the play-offs. The qualification should also help the DFB team prepare for the Olympics. In the absence of Alexandra Popp, who injured her knee, Gwinn led the rejuvenated German selection as captain for the first time. Lea Schüller (both FC Bayern) took over Popp’s position in the attack. “We want to dominate the game and will try to take control of the game from the start,” Hrubesch explained before the game.
Bad false start
But that initially went completely wrong in the new edition of the European Championship quarter-finals in 2022 (2-0). The highly motivated ÖFB selection with six current and five former Bundesliga professionals in the starting line-up got off to a powerful start, but the Germans couldn’t get into the game at all against the clever pressing. Merle Frohms was challenged for the first time in her 50th international match when Celina Degen from Cologne (6th) scored. A little later, the national goalkeeper was powerless.
Sara Doorsoun, representative of the injured defender Marina Hegering (torn hamstring), misused the ball against Campbell in the penalty area – the striker poked her way through and didn’t miss anything from close range. Then the DFB defense didn’t really take action even after a free kick. Campbell got a free header between Kathrin Hendrich and Lena Oberdorf and increased the score. It wasn’t until the 21st minute of the game that midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken scored the first goal for the guests. In the delicate German pressure phase, Bühl kept the Germans in the game with her powerful long-range shot.
Gwinn takes responsibility
After the break, Hrubesch brought in newcomer Bibiane Schulze Solano for the disappointing Doorsoun – so the German-Spanish from Athletic Bilbao is “fixed” for the DFB selection. Laura Freigang came in for Sydney Lohmann on offense.
And the changes paid off. Freigang was involved in Bühl’s equalizer, then the Eintracht Frankfurt striker also took a debatable penalty in a duel with Austria’s goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger. As usual, Gwinn took charge and built on her impeccable record from the point.