Women’s football
DFB women want “clarity for everyone” in the coaching bench
Currently on sick leave: national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. photo
© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
The crisis among German footballers continues – the state of limbo in view of the sick national coach makes the difficult situation more difficult.
After the World Cup debacle In Australia, the German soccer players now also have to worry about qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris.
In the second Nations League game on Tuesday (6:15 p.m./ZDF) in Bochum against Iceland, the DFB women are under enormous pressure – amid the ongoing debate about the ill national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. But the construction sites for the vice-European champions go beyond that.
The situation: After losing 2-0 on Friday evening in the first group game in Viborg against Denmark, Alexandra Popp’s team is bottom of the group. “We have to pull ourselves together, we are aware of that,” wrote the captain on Instagram. “We will continue to work and fight.” Defender Kathrin Hendrich knows: “We all have to pull ourselves together now.” In the second game, Iceland won 1-0 against Wales thanks to a header from FC Bayern captain Glódís Viggósdóttir.
The Olympics are not a sure-fire success
The perspective: Everyone was already aware that the Olympic qualification would be tough. Only the group winners reach the final round with four teams, only the two finalists are allowed to go to Paris in 2024. France is the third European team to host the event. The DFB women – gold medalists in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 – had already missed the 2021 Summer Games in Tokyo.
The coaching question: The association expressed its confidence in Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (contract until 2025) after her elimination in the preliminary round at the World Cup, but there was internal criticism of the 55-year-old during the process so far. The national coach is currently on sick leave and her future in office is uncertain. The state of limbo bothers everyone.
“I would be lying if I said it wasn’t an issue in the team,” said her deputy and long-time assistant Britta Carlson in “Bild am Sonntag”. “I would like to see clarity for everyone so that Germany can regain its strength as it was before.” The DFB is hoping for a sign from Voss-Tecklenburg so that it can act. Theoretically, the coach could return to the bench on October 27th in Sinsheim against Wales and on October 31st in Iceland – but that is considered unlikely.
Jammed loading, lack of ideas, cross-passages
The sporting analysis: Carlson also identified too much safety thinking on the pitch as the reasons for the crisis. “We still didn’t shoot enough. We always have to give up responsibility, another cross pass,” complained the 45-year-old after the defeat against Denmark. Too often the first touch of the ball is taken backwards, that’s “still the safety mindset. We still lack this self-confidence to think forward courageously.”
The weaknesses in defense: The German team made a mistake with the “two stupid goals conceded” (Felicitas Rauch), even if right-back Giulia Gwinn, who had been injured for a long time, made her comeback. Merle Frohms was overcome twice by Amalie Vangsgaard (23rd/64th minute). “Frustrating,” the goalkeeper found it. “Insanely bitter” is her colleague Felicitas Rauch from VfL Wolfsburg.
The weaknesses in attack: As was the case at the World Cup, there was simply a lack of ideas in the front third and the German team only created a few chances. Frankfurt’s Nicole Anyomi also didn’t bring the expected momentum on the right wing – initially replacing Jule Brand. Lina Magull and Sydney Lohmann from FC Bayern struggled in the attacking midfield with little return.