Em in Switzerland
Footballers encourage themselves: “Now more than ever”
The German women want to prevent early EM-out against the still title, but Famose France. But how? Christian Wück stands in front of a game for him and the DFB.
The title dream is still alive. For a week Christian Wück has now had to put the deep cracks in the conviction and also in defense. The German footballers go to the European Championship quarter-finals against France as an outsider. Does the national coach get the curve at his tournament baptism with the women?
“We analyzed the French wells and know what to expect. Your individual class is undisputed,” said Wück before the first K.-O.-round game on Saturday (9:00 p.m./ZDF and DAZN) in Basel. “We want to be an unpleasant opponent and bring our quality and mentality to the square.”
“Nobody ever writes down”
After the 1: 4 for the preliminary round against Sweden, the eight -time title winner first had to shake and sort out vigorously. Especially in the decimated defensive, the reorganization of which is the most difficult task.
“Nobody ever writes down Germany, especially not the international people. And then the Germans shouldn’t do it themselves,” said UEFA women’s football boss Nadine Kessler, who celebrated the last EM triumph with Germany in 2013.
France with “pretty fast locomotives”
“Nothing has been lost yet,” emphasized ex-captain Alexandra Popp, but also warned: “The French are getting very quick locomotives.”
The preparation for the game in the Dreiländereck Switzerland/France/Germany had started Wück with a loud and gesture speech on the lawn in Zurich booklers. The 52-year-old had not yet been experienced in public training sessions.
The explanations on the situation of the once great women’s football nation were rather timid. “We know that European football is very close together. This is already an award to move into the quarter-finals,” said DFB sports director Nia Künzer.
Early EM-out would be a setback
A quarter -finals – as with the European Championship 2017 and the 2019 World Cup – would be a bitter setback for the DFB and its efforts to keep up with the international top. The preliminary round debacle at the 2023 World Cup under Martina Voss-Tecklenburg was able to paint the team with Olympic bronze under Horst Hrubesch 2024 somewhat.
With an EM success, at least a clear sporting progress, Wück is supposed to lead the national team towards 2027 in Brazil. Finally, the ex-professional came as a European and world champion with the male U17 selection. The adjustment process is still running at the national coach, whose contract is fixed by the end of 2026.
Wück knows “what he does”
Above all, the media echo among women always surprises Wück. As with the criticism of players about his communication before the European Championship nomination. Or when he recently announced that he would sit down at a table with Ann-Katrin Berger according to her risky actions in my own penalty area (“otherwise I will not get old”). He didn’t want to run a goalkeeper debate.
How do you experience the national coach these days? The tournament -experienced Kathrin Hendrich said that he had briefly loud in training, but apart from that, “otherwise very factual, very communicative, but quite relaxed and confident. He knows what he is doing. He still believes in the team.”
Wück was apparently able to drive away the mood after the Sweden debacle during the long week until the quarter-finals against the previously titled French women. “Now even more so! There is actually no other feeling than anticipation,” said Berger.
“Tinker” in the decimated defense
After recently massive defense problems and the recurring inconsistence, everyone knows what assistant coach Maren Meinert spoke: “It is also clear to us that if we are not compactly against France, we have little chance.”
The reorganization of the chain of four is now the biggest challenge. Meinert spoke of “tinkering”: “We have to rotate and do it with a good feeling.” On the right, according to the injured captain Giulia Gwinn, her representative Carlotta Wamser (Red Perre) is now missing. Hendrich should go back to the starting eleven.
But: Is the recently weakening central defender Rebecca Knaak only on the bench? Does Sarai Linder change left to right? Is it risking to put the quick but inexperienced Munich woman Franziska Kett on the outer lane?
Memories of the semi -finals of England
“We have a lot of experienced players with us and can handle many options. You don’t need to worry,” said ex-Wolfsburg woman Hendrich. She is one of five players who played against France in the European Championship semi-final in 2022: Germany won 2-1 after two Popp goals and with Sara Däbritz, Sydney Lohmann, Jule Brand and Linda Dallmann.
At a tournament, Les Bleues have never defeated the German eleven. Wück would only like to keep that. Otherwise, his European Championships with the women have to be processed for a long time at the DFB.
dpa
Source: Stern
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