“We just have to play better”
DFB “cramp” leaves Hrubesch in disbelief
November 1, 2023, 2:40 p.m
In Iceland, the DFB women only offer very meager food. Temporary national coach Horst Hrubesch even puts his hands together in front of his face. In the end, however, all that counts is the 2-0 win and the chance of the Olympic showdown.
With a long list of defects in his luggage, Horst Hrubesch boarded the plane from Reykjavik towards home. But the relieved German footballers didn’t care – they preferred to get ready for their Olympic showdown. “We can set off fireworks at home,” promised goalscorer Klara Bühl immediately after the 2-0 (0-0) win in Iceland, which meant that the DFB women have the chance on December 1st in Rostock against league leaders Denmark on the ticket for Paris 2024 in your own hand.
Only as Nations League group winners can the vice-European champions fight for the last two European starting places at the Final Four. With a three-point deficit, the sobering 0-2 from the first leg has to be bettered because of the direct comparison so that it doesn’t end up being a long-distance shootout.
“I’m very confident,” said Lea Schüller on Tuesday evening: “If we continue to work on ourselves, we will beat Denmark and then Wales again.” The first leg against the Welsh on Friday in Sinsheim was a clear 5-1 win, and the reunion will take place on December 5th in Swansea.
How does “MVT” end?
But now the dissatisfied interim national coach Hrubesch noticed far too much sand in the gears, and in the Laugardalsvöllur stadium he sometimes covered his face with his hands in disbelief. “We simply have to play better,” complained the 72-year-old and criticized the lack of calm, security and clarity.
This is now also needed off the pitch. The outstanding conversation in the dispute between Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (contract until 2025) as a former national coach and the DFB has now been terminated, the association did not reveal any details. After severe irritation and communication via lawyers, the 55-year-old will probably not return to the sidelines following illness and vacation.
The national players largely distanced themselves from “MVT” after the World Cup debacle; Hrubesch mentally rebuilt the DFB women in his second emergency appearance after 2018. But he still has a lot to do in terms of play. Giulia Gwinn, who took the lead with a penalty kick (65′), spoke plainly: “It was a real cramp.” The often unimaginative, one-dimensional game with countless unclean crosses will not be enough for the necessary clear success against Denmark, even if captain Alexandra Popp is fit again as the target player.
Without much of a breather, the 1980 European champion continues his work at the weekend. The Bundesliga summit on Sunday (3 p.m./ZDF, DAZN and Magenta Sport) Between champions Bayern Munich and cup winners VfL Wolfsburg, Hrubesch will be watching like a hawk – and hoping for a shorter list of defects.