Football European Championship: Not only in the back: The construction sites of the DFB soccer players

The German footballers enjoyed their day off in Zurich with strolls, visits to the café, families and friends. Meanwhile, national coach Christian Wück and his assistants Saskia Bartusiak and Maren Meinert brood out about the analysis of the Sweden debacle and the quarter-final opponent France. In the DFB team, some construction sites have opened up at the European Championship-there is a risk of an early EM-out.

The eight-time title winner goes as an outsider to the first KO round on Saturday (9:00 p.m./ZDF and DAZN) in Basel. Wück was able to get a picture of the strengths of the French in the 5: 2 against the Netherlands in St. Jakob Park.

“It was clear to us that a very heavy opponent was waiting for us. We all saw and know what qualities France has about, what dynamic, which pace,” said DFB sports director Nia Künzer of ARD.

Despite the lesson against the Swedes and the highest defeat in the European Championship history, the 2003 world champion assured: “We will shake ourselves.” And the French “stress. They don’t like that either.”

The problem areas of the German team:

Wanting to dominate the game, bravely playing forward – that was only fine against Sweden in the first few minutes. Most of the time, the DFB selection has been able to compensate for the defense against offensive strength in the past few months.

“Everyone now knows that we are relatively riskily playing in the back or not too deep,” said defense chief and captain Janina Minge after the 1: 4 against Sweden. “We can make a lot forward if we win the ball. Of course it is always a killer when we lose the ball.”

At the same time, Mening spoke in favor of changing the system completely. It also sees Wück like this: “I don’t think this team is lying: that she stands in the back and tries to keep the zero and do anything to the front. We also have the wrong players for that.”

The passport security is something that the national coach has repeatedly criticized with his players and specially trained in the preparation. In this respect, the French and of course world champions Spain – not only the German team – are far ahead.

No question: Klara Bühl (left) and Jule Brand (right) are among the best wing players in the world. France also has to take care of the two of them, “who pierce a lot that are very fast, very robust,” warned top striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto.

Bayern-Ace Bühl has not yet got through with her attempts to shoot. The ex-Wolfsburger Brand (in the future Olympique Lyon) scored two goals worth seeing, but continues to fight with her lack of consistency. Together they both have this: the flanks rarely find buyers. Center Lea Schüller can also refer to two tournament hits, but dives in many game phases.

The full -backs

After the failure of captain Giulia Gwinn to the right, her representative Carlotta Wamser is now missing after a red card against Sweden. Wück considered to switch to a chain of three as in the second half at the 1: 4 after Kathrin Hendrich. Many alternatives do not remain in the defense: the inexperienced Franziska Kett (20) and Sophia Kleinhernen, have not been a regular in the DFB team for years.

The resolute Wolfsburg native Minge has established herself as the successor to defense chief Marina Hegering. After a few experiments on Rebecca Knaak, Wück put as her sideline, also due to a lack of alternatives in the Bundesliga. But the 29-year-old from Manchester City visibly has problems with the pace at the European Championship. Especially against Sweden, she also revealed deficits in the positional game.

The biggest winner of the debacle against Sweden was director Linda Dallmann – because she didn’t play. The Munich native had not been able to show her top form in the victories against Poland and Portugal, but Frankfurt’s Laura Freiegel did not use her chance in this position. Sydney Lohmann, not a classic tens in the profile, continues to play under her great opportunities.

Wück only criticized regular keeper Ann-Katrin Berger because of her risky dribbling, then said: “We never had a goalkeeper debate.” And had to see how the 34-year-old Olympic heroine against Sweden almost remembered with two bad passes. But it is also a fact that the substitute goalkeeper Stina Johannes and Ena Mahmutovic have not imposed on their previous DFB operations. And Berger helps the team with their routine and sovereignty.