The next low blow is approaching
Hrubesch counts DFB women – tackle annoys Popp
February 24, 2024, 8:35 a.m
“One win from two games” is the DFB women’s requirement for Olympic qualification. After the defeat in France it is clear: now it is an all-or-nothing game. National coach Horst Hrubesch gives drastic warnings, while captain Alexandra Popp resorts to self-criticism.
After their first Olympic chance was missed, the German footballers first have to pick themselves up again. Defender Giulia Gwinn found the 1:2 (0:2) defeat against France in Lyon “extremely bitter” and “very, very annoying”. The 72-year-old and his players are now hoping for the game for third place in the Nations League: with a win in Heerenveen against the Netherlands, who lost 3-0 to Spain in the other semi-final, they can still get their ticket to Paris get hold of.
Horst Hrubesch also couldn’t hide his deep disappointment. In a quiet voice, the interim national coach tried to somehow see the positive. “The story is not over yet,” said the 72-year-old. But the pressure is even higher, the first match point for the Olympics has been missed – now there is a final for Paris for the Hrubesch team. On Wednesday (8.45 p.m./ZDF and in the live ticker at ntv.de) We need a win in the small final in the Netherlands, otherwise the big dream of the Summer Games will be dashed.
France: Peyraud-Magnin – De Almeida, Lakrar, Mbock Bathy, Karchaoui – Henry, Geyoro, Diani (90. Baltimore) – Katoto, Le Sommer (77. Toletti), Bacha (77. Cascarino); Trainer: Renard
Germany: Frohms/Wolfsburg (28 years/47 international matches) – Gwinn/FC Bayern (39/6), Hendrich/Wolfsburg (31/67), Hegering/Wolfsburg (33/34) from 46. Däbritz/Olympique Lyon ( 29/104), Linder/Hoffenheim (24/8) – Huth/Wolfsburg (32/87) from 46. Brand/Wolfsburg (21/40), Oberdorf/Wolfsburg (22/44), Nüsken/FC Chelsea (23/ 23), Bühl/FC Bayern (22/44) – Scüller/FC Bayern (26/54) from 46. Lohmann/FC Bayern (23/27) , Popp/Wolfsburg (32/135); Trainer: Hrubesch
Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland)
Gates: 1:0 Diani (41st), 2:0 Karchaoui (45th+4, penalty kick), 2:1 Gwinn (82nd, hand penalty according to video evidence)
Yellow cards: Toletti, De Almeida – Huth, Oberdorf
Viewers: 30,267
“First of all, I’m glad that we still have the chance. Of course we could have closed the bag somehow today,” said captain Alexandra Popp from VfL Wolfsburg. “But it is what it is now and we really have to combine all our strengths and we have to be clear that we have to get everything out of it from the first to the last minute.” The vice-European champions and Hrubesch did not skimp on self-criticism. “We simply made too many mistakes,” said the DFB coach, Popp added: “And then we invited France to the goals with stupid mistakes.”
Hrubesch: “We started too late”
In front of 30,267 spectators in the Groupama Stadium, the German national team conceded two goals shortly before half-time from Kadidiatou Diani (40th minute) and Sakina Karchaoui with a penalty kick (45th + 4), which Lena Oberdorf caused. “She doesn’t have to go down the fence,” said Popp angrily: “Then it’s hard to chase after a 0-2 defeat.” Gwinn’s converted hand penalty (82′) came too late. The game lacked penetration and the dual leadership of Popp and Lea Schüller remained ineffective.
“We actually started too late. The second goal broke our necks a bit,” said Hrubesch in drastic terms. Popp, who hit the crossbar in the second half, complained: “We weren’t really brave from the start. I had the feeling that we were a bit nervous.” Popp emphasized that the lack of consistency has been a problem for the European vice-champions for months: “It’s brutally annoying because there could have been more.” Defensively, Les Bleues appeared quite vulnerable.
In 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, the German footballers won gold with Popp, but then missed the games in Tokyo. Six months after the World Cup debacle in Australia, it would be another bitter setback for the German Football Association if things don’t work out with Paris. Hrubesch is now hoping for one last show of strength in the fight for participation in the Olympics. “On the one hand, I believe in them,” he said of his players. “On the other hand, they have all the qualities, but they have to do everything for it. 90 percent is not enough.”