Nations League only in stream
The lack of TV space bothers the DFB-Elf
December 4, 2023, 8:54 p.m
With the German women’s national soccer team, ZDF still gets top ratings on Friday, but on Tuesday there is still not enough for a TV slot on ARD. Instead, the DFB team is running in the live stream because the men’s cup games are scheduled at the same time. The disappointment is great.
Interim national coach Horst Hrubesch regrets that the Nations League game between the German footballers and Wales will not be broadcast on traditional television. “I would have liked it – especially for the girls. I think we deserved it to be broadcast live in this form,” said the 72-year-old at the press conference before the last group game this Tuesday (7.30 p.m./in the ntv.de live ticker) in Swansea. The game will be shown in the ARD live stream on sportschau.de.
The players “simply deserve to be noticed given the quality of the way they play football and the performances they have recently put in,” Hrubesch continued, adding: “I’m definitely looking forward to it There are many, many people watching the girls in the live stream.”
Last Friday evening, ZDF showed the German team’s 3-0 win against Denmark in prime time and achieved a top TV rating with an average of 4.298 million viewers. “Unfortunately, the women’s Nations League game against Wales cannot be shown live on TV, as two DFB Cup games that will be broadcast live on ARD are scheduled at the same time,” explained ARD sports coordinator Axel Balkausky to “Bild “-Newspaper. “Unfortunately, another kick-off time was not possible.”
It’s not just Germany that is worried about its Olympic ticket
The DFB women can take another step towards Olympic qualification against outsiders Wales. The Hrubesch team goes into the last preliminary round game of the Nations League as leaders of Group 3. If they win against the bottom team with no points, the DFB women will definitely qualify for the final round. The first leg ended 5-1 for the European vice-champions. At the final tournament with four teams in February, two European teams can still win the Olympic ticket. France is set as hosts.
Hrubesch’s protégés are determined to take the next step four months after the historic World Cup debacle in Australia and the hustle and bustle surrounding former national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. “It’s important that we focus on ourselves and go into the game at full throttle,” announced FC Bayern’s Klara Bühl.
“This isn’t child’s play either,” warned Marina Hegering. VfL Wolfsburg’s defense chief will not be able to help overcome this final hurdle due to a yellow card suspension. Laura Freigang is also missing; the Eintracht striker left on Sunday due to groin problems. There will be “one or two changes” in addition to Hegering, Hrubesch announced, without taking a deeper look into the cards.