The German women’s national soccer team started the European Championship qualification for the tournament in Switzerland in the summer of 2025 with a victory. In Linz, interim national coach Hrubesch’s team won 3:2 (1:2) against Austria on Friday evening (April 5, 2024).
The Austrians started extremely powerfully and pushed the DFB team onto the defensive right from the start. Horst Hrubesch’s team, on the other hand, acted timidly and appeared unsettled at times. Finally, an unnecessary loss of the ball caused the first real setback.
Campbell’s double strike shocks Germany
Sara Doursoon carelessly misused the ball on her left side of the defense. Austria’s Eileen Campbell, who plays in the women’s Bundesliga for SC Freiburg, came into the German penalty area at speed and with a bit of luck beat Merle Frohms to make it 1-0 for Austria (9th). .
A little later the hosts followed up. Barbara Dunst brought a free kick from a central position into the middle as smoothly as possible and Campbell headed the ball over Frohms (17th). A bad initial phase for Horst Hrubesch and his team, who initially didn’t want to come up with any solutions.
Bühl with that Connection hit before the break
Led by captain Giulia Gwinn, the German team was able to establish itself in Austria’s half more often and generate scoring chances. Sjoeke Nüsken scored the first goal in the 21st minute, after which the offensive game got better as the game progressed. Consequently, Klara Bühl scored the next goal from around 18 meters (39th).
At halftime, national coach Hrubesch seemed to have found the right words. In any case, his team came onto the pitch with a different energy and body language and now put the hosts under pressure. The DFB women finally took on duels and ensured a lot of possession. And again it was Klara Bühl who equalized with a well-placed shot into the far corner (49′).
“We made it really difficult for ourselves today. The first 30 minutes were nothing. There were far too many players who weren’t up to speed. That shouldn’t happen to us at this level in a European Championship qualification,” analyzed double packer Bühl after the sports show micro.
More flattering Penalty
Now there was also a bit of luck. Austria’s keeper Manuela Zinsberger’s foul on Laura Freigang wasn’t necessarily worthy of a penalty. Captain Gwinn didn’t care and made it 3-2 (63′).
The German team had turned the game around and wanted more. But Schüller’s side kick (73′) and clearance (75′) both failed due to Zinsberger. Towards the end, Hrubesch had to be annoyed again about unnecessary ball losses – but this time without consequences.
On Tuesday against Iceland
The national team continues on Tuesday (April 9, 2024; 6:10 p.m.). Then the next game in the European Championship qualification against Iceland follows in Aachen.