Crisis instead of a spirit of optimism – the German footballers are flying to Australia for the World Cup after the botched dress rehearsal against Zambia.
National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg still had to tinker before the squad nomination this Saturday (4:00 p.m.). And captain Alexandra Popp guessed immediately after the final whistle in Fürth what this last test match would trigger: “We know the German soccer fans,” said the Wolfsburg native. “It’s very easy for the alarm bells to go off.”
Worst case: Three injured in the last test
“Worse than anything else”, said Voss-Tecklenburg after the 2:3 (0:0) defeat against the World Cup newcomer from Africa, the three injured were: defense chief Marina Hegering, Lena Oberdorf (both VfL Wolfsburg) and full-back Carolin Simon from FC Bayern had to be replaced. A “worst-case scenario” for the national coach.
Hegering “got a stud on his heel,” explained Voss-Tecklenburg, and Simon “broke his knee during the action.” Oberdorf had his right thigh bandaged, but said, “I don’t think that’s wild.” Diagnoses were initially not available on Saturday. It is clear, however, that the trainer will resort to “backup solutions”: According to FIFA regulations, up to 24 hours before the first group game that the DFB women will play against Morocco on July 24th, if there is appropriate proof, an ill or injured player can still be replaced.
Barbra Banda scores twice against DFB-Elf
Since a short-term nomination is difficult due to the long journey, Voss-Tecklenburg wants to take more than the 23 players for the reported squad with them. On Tuesday, the vice European champions travel to Sydney, from where they continue to base camp in Wyong. At the World Cup tournament from July 20th to August 20th in Australia and New Zealand, the German team will also face Colombia (July 30th) and South Korea (August 3rd) in the preliminary round.
“With Colombia, the same pace and the same physique will come to us,” warned the national coach before. In general, the 77th in the FIFA world rankings from Zambia, with his extremely strong captain and double goal scorer Barbra Banda, gave the Germans a bitter foretaste of what is certainly the strongest women’s World Cup in history.
Voss-Tecklenburg: “Too many mistakes in total”
Two headed goals by Lea Schüller (90.1 minute) and Popp (90.10) in a wild game overtime were not enough for the German women. The hosts, who are actually aiming for their third World Cup title after 2003 and 2007 and are among the tournament favourites, acted too vulnerable on the defensive and too harmless on the offensive.
“Overall, too many mistakes. Overall, a mixed year,” Voss-Tecklenburg summed up after the fifth unconvincing international match in 2023, but also said: “We’re not despondent, we’re self-critical and we know what we have to do. There is also an opportunity that we want to seize.”
“There was a problem in the last third. The chances were there. I’m not panicking now,” said Oberdorf, knowing full well: “It won’t be any easier. That’s by no means our claim.” Not only Voss-Tecklenburg, but also the 11,404 spectators in the Ronhof sports park and the average of 3.173 million people in the ARD broadcast recognized: “We have to get that mentality, that physicality.” However, the 55-year-old also emphasized: “Nevertheless, we will not talk everything through.”
