When Horst Hrubesch makes his comeback as interim national coach, the German footballers celebrate a clear victory against Wales in the Nations League. Popp replacement Schüller scored two header goals.
The German footballers have defied the day-long fuss surrounding the paused national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg and helped interim coach Horst Hrubesch to a comeback victory.
Lea Schüller (25th and 47th minutes), Giulia Gwinn (80th/foul penalty), Sjoeke Nüsken (86th) and substitute Nicole Anyomi (88th) scored in the 5:1 (1:1) in the Nations League against Wales. ) for the DFB selection, which kept its chance of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics. In front of 20,107 fans in the Sinsheim Arena, Ceri Holland (42nd) equalized to make it 1-1.
Hrubesch had previously called for more speed, less contact when playing with the ball – and the players followed. Captain Alexandra Popp was missing in the attack center, but even without the 32-year-old from Wolfsburg, the DFB team created some promising chances. Striker Schüller showed in the 25th minute that she also mastered Popp’s parade discipline: scoring goals with his head. After a good cross from Hoffenheim’s Sarai Linder, Schüller took the long-overdue lead.
In addition to the 25-year-old FC Bayern striker, Hrubesch had added four other players to the starting line-up compared to the most recent appearance against Iceland (4-0). Ann-Kathrin Berger replaced goalkeeper Merle Frohms (concussion), Svenja Huth, who replaced Popp as captain, sprinted back to her usual right side. Sara Däbritz and Laura Freigang were allowed to play in the central midfield.
Frankfurt’s Freigang – rarely used under Voss-Tecklenburg – should have added the second goal shortly before half-time when she appeared alone in front of Wales’ goalkeeper Olivia Clark. Clark, by far the guests’ best player, showed a great foot reflex.
Instead of 2-0 it was suddenly 1-1. Linder let Wales’ Angharad James cross, Gwinn came late in the middle against Holland. Wales’ first shot on goal in the game was also their first goal ever in a duel with the DFB team, who had clearly dominated in the previous four comparisons with an overall goal difference of 34:0.
Hrubesch reacted to the equalizer, which was acknowledged with a gentle whistle, with a double substitution at the break: Freigang and Däbritz made room for Nüsken and Linda Dallmann. Dallmann crossed to Schüller – 2:1. The move, this time from the right instead of the left, looked like a copy of the 1-0. It was Schüller’s 35th goal in his 53rd international match.
The renewed lead gave the DFB team security. Again and again it went towards the guest goal, only the redeeming third goal didn’t want to come at first. Either Clark stood in the way or his own inability. Only a penalty awarded to defense chief Marina Hegering made the decision. Gwinn scored to make it 3-1. Hrubesch was able to breathe a sigh of relief, as the DFB selection played the final minutes freely – and scored twice more.
Source: Stern
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