Strong performance at the start of the European Championship
DFB-Elf presses for a clear victory after aluminum festival
07/08/2022 10:52 p.m
The German soccer players need a moment to arrive at the European Championship. After that, the first preliminary round game against Denmark developed into a one-sided affair. The DFB-Elf keeps the pressure high, but initially only hits the post and crossbar. But it becomes clear in the second half.
The German soccer players started the European Championship with a promising encouragement and nurtured hopes for the big coup. Led by Lina Magull, the eight-time title holder won his 500th international match 4-0 (1-0) against vice-European champions Denmark. With the convincing victory behind them, the Germans can calmly go into the next preliminary round game on Tuesday against the highly valued Spaniards.
Germany: Frohms/Wolfsburg (27 years/28 international matches) – Gwinn/FC Bayern (23/28), Hendrich/Wolfsburg (30/47), Hegering/Wolfsburg (32/21), Rauch/Wolfsburg (26/22) – Magull/ FC Bayern (27/61) from 69. Dallmann/FC Bayern (27/46), Oberdorf/Wolfsburg (20/28) from 84. Lohmann/FC Bayern (22/13), Däbritz/Olympique Lyon (27/87) from 61. Lattwein/Wolfsburg (22/18) – Huth/Wolfsburg (31/67), Schüller/FC Bayern (24/40) from 61. Popp/Wolfsburg (31/115), Bühl/FC Bayern (21/25 ) from 61. Brand/Hoffenheim (19/17). – Trainer: Voss-Tecklenburg
Denmark: Christensen – Sevecke, Stine Pedersen, Veje – Thomsen from 84 Larsen, Troelsgaard from 55 Kühl, Sofie Pedersen, Svava from 70 Sörensen – Madsen from 55 Gejl, Bruun from 55 Nadim, Harder. – Trainer: Sondergaard
Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland)
Gates: 1: 0 Magull (21st), 2: 0 Schüller (57th), 3: 0 Lattwein (78th), 4: 0 Popp (86th)
Viewers: 15,746 (at London/Brentford)
Yellow cards: Oberdorf, Rauch, Hegering – Kühl, Larsen
Yellow-red card: – Cool because of repeated foul play (90.+5)
Magull (21st), Lea Schüller (57th) after preliminary work from Magull, Lena Lattwein (78th) and Alexandra Popp (86th) scored for the team of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. Kathrine Möller Kühl (90+4) saw yellow-red for the Danes. The two-time world champion, who last climbed the European Championship nine years ago, is ahead of the next game against Spain on Tuesday (9 p.m. / ARD and DAZN) in group B. The Danes, who the German team at the EM 2017 knocked out of the tournament in the quarter-finals have to worry about progressing.
In front of 15,746 spectators at the Brentford Community Stadium in London, Svenja Huth led the DFB selection as captain onto the pitch. The regular captain Popp was initially on the bench as a result of a knee injury and a corona infection. “It’s a big caliber right from the start,” said the President of the German Football Association (DFB) shortly before kick-off on ZDF. The DFB has offered a record bonus of 60,000 euros for the European title.
Popp is not only playing at a European Championship for the first time, but also scores straight away
The Germans, who are not among the top favorites after two disappointing tournaments (quarter-finals at World Cup and European Championship), were close to taking the lead in the 10th minute despite a nervous start. Felicitas Rauch only hit the crossbar from a distance. Just three minutes later, the full-back managed the same feat again.
The two smoke chances made sure that the Germans acted braver. After Magull missed a good opportunity in the 18th minute, she did better shortly afterwards and gave the 2016 Olympic champion the lead with her 20th international goal. In the middle of the first half nothing changed in the German dominance. The Danes around star player Pernille Harder only posed a threat after almost half an hour through Signe Bruun (29′). On the other side, Klara Bühl could have extended the lead (39′). Schüller missed an even bigger chance in stoppage time in the first half.
At the beginning of the second period, the enthusiastic and committed German team pushed for the second goal. Schüller managed that with a header after a corner from Magull. Shortly thereafter, Popp made her first European Championship appearance at the age of 31 – and 25 minutes after being substituted on, she used a nice combination with her head to make it 4-0.
After the game on Tuesday against the Spaniards (9 p.m. / ARD, DAZN and in the live ticker on ntv.de), who clearly won against Finland (4: 1) even without their injured world footballer Alexia Putellas, the Germans are going to finish the preliminary round on July 16 against the Finns.