Assistant coach Britta Carlson also identified too much security concern as the reasons for the crisis facing the German national soccer players.
“We still didn’t shoot enough. We always have to give up responsibility, one more cross pass,” complained the 45-year-old after the 2-0 defeat on Friday evening at the start of the Nations League in Denmark. Too often the first contact with the ball is taken backwards, which is “still the safety mindset. We still lack this self-confidence to think forward courageously.”
A good seven weeks ago, the vice-European champions had already failed in the preliminary round at the World Cup in Australia. After the first of six matchdays in Nations League Group 3 of League A, the German team is now in fourth and last place. Only the group winner advances to the final round and thus has the chance to take part in the Olympic Games in Paris next year. “It’s just frustrating that despite the effort and despite the will, we somehow just can’t manage to score goals or points,” said goalkeeper Merle Frohms, who was overcome twice by Denmark’s Amalie Vangsgaard (23rd/64th minute). .
DFB team has to score against Iceland
In the second game, Iceland won 1-0 against Wales thanks to a header from FC Bayern captain Glódís Viggósdóttir. The Icelanders will face the German team in Bochum on Tuesday (6.15 p.m./ZDF). A win in the home game is almost mandatory after the bad start.
Carlson will once again be primarily responsible for the DFB team around captain Alexandra Popp; she will represent the ill national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg until further notice. It is completely unclear whether and when the 55-year-old will return to the sidelines. This also makes it more difficult for the association to come to terms with the World Cup debacle.
Things still have to go on, on Tuesday with the Iceland game, and then in October with the next duels in the new competition: First the team from Wales will be the opponents in Sinsheim (October 27th), then the second leg will take place in Iceland ( October 31). The last two games in the group will take place at the beginning of December against Denmark (12/1) and Wales (12/5).
