Football European Championship: “Lying on the ground”: DFB women presented by Sweden

Christian Wück only briefly clapped his frustrated players, the national coach will take longer for consolation and processing. After a demoralizing lesson against Sweden, the German footballers go to the quarter -finals of the European Championship.

Wück’s team lost the last group game against the World Cup third in Zurich with 1: 4 (1: 3) – and revealed striking defensive weaknesses. To make matters worse, Carlotta Wamser, the representative of right -back Giulia Gwinn, saw the red card because of handball.

Highest German EM defeat

In the end, the highest European Championship defeat has been against Denmark in Italy since 1993 when there was a 1: 3 in the game for third place. Jule Brand had given the eight -time title winner in a strong initial phase (7th minute). But then the Swedes rolled over the German selection: Stina Blackstenius (12th), Smilla Holmberg (25th), Fridolina Rolfö (34th) by penalty and Lina Hurtig (80th) shocked her opponent.

“We were in it – it is crucial at the level. That is our biggest learning. We give the game in 10-15 minutes, that is incredibly bitter. In the end it was a starked effort, I am proud of the team that she fought so.

Wück praised the quality of the Swedes: “We missed after the lead. After the red card, the game was lost at the latest. Even with eleven players it would have been difficult to get back. We are now on the ground, but we will also get up again,” emphasized Wück on ZDF.

Both teams had reached the first knockout round before the preliminary round graduation. The German selection missed the group victory after this bitter setback and is now playing on Saturday (9:00 p.m.) in Basel against the first table of group D, which is currently leading France in front of England and the Netherlands.

Gwinn watches in the stadium

The injured captain Gwinn had returned to the game from her rehab in Munich and was sitting on the bench in the Letzigrund with a knee chalice, but brought her teammates not luck.

Wück had changed his starting eleven in a position: as a playmaker, Frankfurter Laura opened free -handing for Munich’s Linda Dallmann. “It is time to get Laura the chance. She performed well as a substitute player,” said Wück before the kick -off on ZDF. The 52-year-old hoped for more rooms, which is why free access was “the right option”. This calculation did not work.

In front of around 6,000 German fans – including Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (SPD), beach volleyball Olympic champion Laura Ludwig and Sprint European champion Gina Lückenkemper – the game started promising: Lea Schüller and in return Kosovare asllani scored just past the goal.

Wamser then prepares the lead with a wonderful steep pass, Brand completed the first goal for the Swedes at this tournament. The impressive initial phase of the Germans then destroyed Blackstenius: the Arsenal striker hurried Rebecca Knaak and gave Ann-Katrin Berger no chance.

Goalkeeper Berger does without risky actions

The 34-year-old goalkeeper from the US Club NY/NJ Gotham was under special observation after Wück had criticized her for her risky dribbling in the 2-1 against Denmark. This time she did not do that.

The Olympic thirds suffered the next setback. Sarai Linder tried to clarify in the penalty area, the ball crashed from Holmberg to 2-1 for Sweden. A Ball loss from Knaak almost led to 1: 3 – there it was again, the defensive weakness of the DFB selection.

And there was much worse: Wamser saved the hit with his hand on the line after a Rolfö shot for the hit Berger. Referee Silvia Gasperotti (Italy) pointed the right-back red and to the point: Barcelona star Rölfo certainly converted to 3: 1.

Birdwild became when Berger almost conceded the fourth goal after a bad pass shortly before the break. The Wück team trotted into the cabin. With Sydney Lohmann for free passing and Kathrin Hendrich for Knaak, Wück brought two new forces after the change.

However, the German footballers no longer brought up the energy and skill strength for a turn. On the contrary: in the final phase, the Swedes even scored the fourth goal – and without great resistance. There was almost nothing offensive from the German team.