Hrubresch: “We will win”
DFB women want to stifle the “noise” with goals
October 30, 2023, 2:41 p.m
Horst Hrubesch is confidently aiming for the next mandatory Olympic victory in Iceland. As interim coach, he already achieved an important victory there with the DFB women. The unrest surrounding national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg should not be a problem.
Despite the bitter cold, Horst Hrubesch and his DFB team’s hearts felt warm when they returned to Reykjavik. The interim national coach has had fond memories of Iceland since his first rescue mission in 2018. And they serve as encouragement for the German soccer players for the next hot dance on the volcanic island.
“I remember it fondly,” enthused Svenja Huth, the celebrated heroine in the World Cup qualifying showdown with a brace to make it 2-0 in Iceland. On Tuesday (8 p.m./zdfsport.de and in the ntv.de live ticker) The Olympics are now at stake, but the storm-tested Hrubesch (“We can do Iceland!”) radiated nothing but confidence before the Nations League game in the Laugardalsvöllur national stadium: “With our quality, we will win it.” What does it take? “Goals, goals, goals!”
For the dream of Paris 2024, only victories count. As with the initially tough 5-1 win against Wales on Friday, all the “noise” (Huth) surrounding Martina Voss-Tecklenburg must be ignored for the next step out of the crisis. Because Denmark (first leg 0:2) is still three points ahead of the European vice-champions. Only as group winners does the DFB selection have a further chance of getting a ticket to the Olympics.
Hrubesch has to change
This means: The nerve-wracking “MVT” issue must be put off the table as quickly as possible until the “final” against the Danes on December 1st in Rostock. Apparently this week the German Football Association could finally begin discussions with the former national coach about terminating her contract.
The players should ensure clarity on the pitch, despite the uncomfortable situation and frosty temperatures around freezing point. “We have to go one step further. We had 35 shots on goal and 20 corners against Wales. Five goals are clearly not enough,” said Lena Lattwein self-critically. The VfL Wolfsburg midfielder warned that the “ultimate consequence” had to be made.
Because we can certainly expect much more resistance from the Icelanders in the home game than in the 4-0 win by the DFB team in Bochum last month. This was proven not least by the narrow 0-1 defeat by the world number 14. against Denmark on Friday in Reykjavik. Against the Icelandic defense around Bayern Munich’s Glodis Viggosdottir, their club colleague Lea Schüller should again develop the necessary penetration for the German team.
In the absence of captain Alexandra Popp (muscular problems), the striker, who is strong in the air and runs, is set. In Sinsheim against Wales, the 25-year-old scored a brace and her quota of 35 goals in 53 international matches speaks for itself. But the 72-year-old Hrubesch also has to change, especially in the still vulnerable defense. The experienced Marina Hegering is missing from central defense due to Achilles tendon problems. Sara Doorsoun came into play for them in the final phase against Wales, and Sophia Kleinherne (both Eintracht Frankfurt), who was nominated later, would also be an option.