World Championship
DFB women expect “a different force” against Colombia
Alexandra Popp (M) had an easy time with the DFB women against Morocco. photo
© Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
“Not everything tiptoppi”, but a promising start: After the 6-0 win against Morocco, the second in the South American championship is now waiting for the DFB women.
Relieved and satisfied, the German footballers boarded their bus on Monday evening, which took them to the hotel in Docklands Melbourne brought.
In the modern harbor district, the co-favorites were able to let the 6-0 opening win against Morocco sink. The Vice European Champions only briefly looked ahead. “There will be a different force coming at us,” said national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg about the next group opponents Colombia.
Still room for improvement
It is clear to everyone in the DFB entourage that the South American runners-up will probably be a different challenge than the outsiders and World Cup debutants from Africa. Colombia won 2-0 (2-0) against South Korea in the first group game in Sydney one day after the DFB women. Catalina Usme with a hand penalty in the 30th minute and Linda Caicedo in the 39th minute scored the deserved success.
The German team around captain and double goalscorer Alexandra Popp will be spared a flight next time: the base camp Wyong will take them to Sydney, almost 100 kilometers away, for next Sunday’s game.
“We also know that we didn’t have the strongest opponents in the group today,” said Voss-Tecklenburg, but beamed after the successful start to the tournament, which was preceded by some doubts: “That gives us a good starting position, a good basis.”
The team knows there is still room for improvement, said experienced winger and deputy captain Svenja Huth. “In the second game we can’t buy anything from the start and suddenly stop playing football.”
Huth: “Avoid losing the ball easily”
At least the DFB selection did something for their goal difference if things were to get tight in the last preliminary round game on August 3 against South Korea and they made it into the round of 16. “We know that not everything was tip-toppi,” admitted Voss-Tecklenburg. “The others should judge and classify whether that was a statement. But we can classify it, we’re not going crazy now.”
Huth then gave the solution for the next few days: “Tomorrow it’s time to regenerate well. The next day maybe to clear your head again and then focus on the second game.” The full concentration goes on the same way. And: For the next games you have to take it with you, “that we have to avoid losing the ball so easily, especially in the direction of the center.”
Huth’s club colleague Lena Oberdorf could also get involved again against Colombia: The midfield clearer was only on the bench in Melbourne after a muscle injury in her thigh. “I’m confident, but I’m always in every situation,” she said when asked.