After trips to an animal park, relaxation on the beach and tough training sessions, the German soccer players now face their first top-class opponents at the World Cup in Australia.
Before the second group game against the South American runners-up, the tournament favorite wants to take the enthusiasm from the 6-0 win over Morocco with him. “Outstanding squad, outstanding team,” said midfielder Sara Däbritz about her team before the challenge on Sunday (11:30 a.m. CEST/ARD) in Sydney. “We’re just a close-knit bunch. I think a lot is possible here.”
“Driving through the tournament with this euphoria”
The game could answer the big question: are the runners-up European champions really strong enough to play for the title in Australia? “Let’s go through the tournament with this euphoria,” said deputy captain Svenja Huth to fans and fellow players in an Instagram post. Of course, the woman from Wolfsburg is also aware that Colombia “comes a lot from physique and passion”. The “Caféteras” made headlines before the World Cup when opponents Ireland canceled a friendly because of the Colombians’ toughness.
“There will be a different force coming at us,” national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg warned immediately after the easy opening win against Morocco. Joti Chatzialexiou, head of national teams at the DFB, emphasized: “We know that other calibers are waiting for us.”
You have to be mentally prepared for what to expect – “and don’t complain and don’t always look at the referee” if the duels are to be a little more rustic. “Then you shouldn’t pull back your leg, but hold it out.” In addition, Colombia has one of the greatest talents in international football to offer in the 18-year-old striker Linda Caicedo.
Happy to return to Oberdorf
Not only attacker Klara Bühl is “incredibly happy” that Wolfsburg’s Lena Oberdorf should return after surviving a muscle injury in her thigh. The number 6 embodies like no other the robustness that will be needed against Colombia. “She’s known as an incredibly strong sweeper, but she’s also good at distributing the ball,” explained Däbritz. The experience of the Olympique Lyon midfielder is needed, as is that of Huth and captain Alexandra Popp.
Especially since in Felicitas Rauch the regular force on the left side of defense fails for a short time. The DFB announced on Friday that the Wolfsburg player sprained her right knee joint during training in Wyong. “So she’ll be out for an indefinite period.”
It is still unclear whether defense chief Marina Hegering is fit enough after her bruised heel. Frankfurt’s Sara Doorsoun could represent her again; theoretically also Sjoeke Nüsken (future FC Chelsea), who trained fully on Friday with a bandaged leg. Just like winger Jule Brand, who had stepped down the day before because of a slight back problem.
Group win as a goal
Group victory is and remains the goal of the German players on the way to the hoped-for third World Cup star after 2003 and 2007. They could possibly avoid a round of 16 against Brazil, which has made a strong impression so far. At the end of the preliminary round, next Thursday in Brisbane against South Korea. The Asians lost 2-0 to Colombia at the start of the tournament.
“It’s actually going to be difficult enough when you’ve seen the game against South Korea. We know what’s coming,” Chatzialexiou warned on the day when the German players swarmed out on excursions and sometimes took pictures with a koala eating eucalyptus leaves let. As a mascot, a koala should also bring luck in the further course of the tournament – the cuddly animal crocheted by Bühl, which is always part of the German team, is almost considered a small Instagram star.
The possible lineups:
Germany: 1 Frohms – 9 Huth, 3 Hendrich, 23 Doorsoun, 2 Hagel – 6 Oberdorf – 20 Magull, 13 Däbritz – 22 Brand, 11 Popp, 19 Bühl
Kolumbien: 1 Perez – 17 C. Arias, 19 Carabali, 3 D. Arias, 2 Vanegas – 5 Bedoya Durango, 6 Montoya – 11 Usme, 10 Santos, 18 Caceido – 9 Ramirez
Referee: Melissa Borjas (Honduras)
