women soccer
“Have to find the balance again”: DFB team wins happily
Tabea Wassmuth (lr), goal scorer Sydney Lohmann, Sara Däbritz and Jule Brand celebrate the goal for a 1-0 lead. photo
© Marius Becker/dpa
The result looks gorgeous. The German footballers win 1-0 at vice-world champions Netherlands. There is still a lot of work to do before the World Cup in July.
It was just a friendly win, and a happy one at that, but also a special one: National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg beamed accordingly when she hugged her players after the 1-0 victory of the German soccer team in the Netherlands.
“In the end I’m happy that we won 1-0. We threw everything in from the energy, intensity, readiness, the other things come along,” said MVT after the somewhat fortunate away win in front of 10,789 fans in Sittard.
The 1-0 through a header goal by Bayern players Sydney Lohmann (53rd minute) cannot, however, gloss over the fact that Voss-Tecklenburg, who had extended her contract until the EM 2025 on Monday, until the start of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on 20 July still has a lot of work to do, both offensively and defensively. “We have to find the balance again, that we play out under pressure and implement that in a disciplined manner. That’s why this game gives a lot of information in many areas,” said the 55-year-old.
The next endurance test is waiting
On Tuesday, the runners-up European champions will play against Brazil in Nuremberg – until then, MVT hopes that goalkeepers Merle Frohms and substitute Ann-Katrin Berger, who were injured after the game in the Netherlands, will be fit again in time. The last two World Cup tests are scheduled at home on June 24th and July 7th against opponents who have not yet been named.
Voss-Tecklenburg made a strong substitution against the Netherlands. Compared to the most recent friendly against Sweden (0-0), only six players remained in the starting XI. It would only have been five if Svenja Huth hadn’t had to replace Nicole Anyomi (foot injury), who was actually planned, at short notice.
Dutch usury
The game was hard fought from the start, but both formations had to find each other first. After almost half an hour, the goal scenes increased. Former Bayern player Lineth Beerensteyn initially appeared alone in front of Frohms, but the German goalkeeper made an excellent save (29′). In return, Tabea Waßmuth headed over it from close range (30′). The hosts were now on the trigger, but Beerensteyn failed again from a tight angle after a good solo by Frohms (44th). Defense chief Stefanie van der Gragt headed just wide after the subsequent corner kick.
Berger replaced first-choice goalkeeper Frohms at the break, and after just a few seconds she too was challenged against Beerensteyn after a mistake by Lohmann, and Lieke Martens put the rebound on the inside of the post. It could have been 4-0 for the Netherlands – and suddenly it was 0-1 when Lohmann headed in from seven meters after a corner by Klara Bühl. Shortly thereafter, the Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar was challenged against Bühl (66th).
In the closing stages, the Dutch women again pushed vehemently for an equaliser, but Berger made a powerful save with his foot against Damaris Egurrola (86′). In return, Laura Freigang threw the ball flat against the inside of the post from 15 yards out. It was the last big chance of the game – despite five minutes of stoppage time.