Led by double goal scorer Lea Schüller, the German footballers have taken the next big step towards a European Championship ticket. Horst Hrubesch’s selection defeated Iceland 3-1 (3-1) in the second qualifying game – despite the excess of chances, the DFB team took the lead in Group A4 four days after the lucky 3-2 in Austria.
“It was fun. We didn’t always score the goals, but I liked the way we played,” said Hrubesch on ZDF: “You just have to finish it. What was crucial was that we played from the start were there, even if there was a small hole afterwards.”
Schüller (4th/34th) as a strong header and Lena Oberdorf (45th + 3) scored for the European vice-champions, who are also using the route to EURO 2025 in Switzerland to prepare for the Olympics. During a weak phase for the Germans, Hlin Eiriksdottir (23′) scored the interim equalizer for the Icelanders, who were waiting on the counterattack.
Schüller has now scored 38 goals in the national jersey
In front of 16,503 fans in Aachen, Hrubesch relied on Ann-Katrin Berger in goal instead of the regular number one Merle Frohms. A planned rotation: Every national goalkeeper should be given assignments in the run-up to the medal hunt at the Olympic Games (July 24th to August 11th). Berger has not yet played in a competitive game for her club Chelsea FC this year. In the stands, future women’s national coach Christian Wück and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf watched as the hosts got off to a more active start than in Linz.
With success: After a cross from Sarai Linder, Schüller was immediately there as a forward representative for the injured Alexandra Popp and headed in free from the penalty spot in the best Popp style. But then a weak phase began again with carelessness in the transition game – the defense around debutant Bibiane Schulze Solano (Athletic Bilbao) had to be on guard again and again.
The DFB team then tried to move forward again, but often acted too hastily and imprecisely. Schüller (33′) first put a header from close range next to the goal, but immediately afterwards successfully used a cross from Klara Bühl. The goalscorer’s rate is impressive: Schüller already scored goals 37 and 38 in her 58th international match. Oberdorf’s lucky win after a corner made things clearer shortly before half-time. For a direct European Championship ticket, the DFB women have to be group winners or runners-up. The third opponent in the double pack on May 31st and June 4th is Poland.