World Championship
It’s getting tighter at the back: DFB women and their construction sites
The use of Sjoeke Nüsken (r) at the German World Cup opener is uncertain. photo
© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
Now also Nüsken: in the German World Cup team there’s the next wobbly candidate before the opening game. The weaknesses were ultimately – as Popp himself knows best – right at the front.
The blue tapes on the thighs of Lena Oberdorf, the bandages on the knees of Sjoeke Nüsken and the frustrated expression of Maria Hegering, who is just jogging around the Wyong square.
The defensive prepares national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg a headache before the World Cup opening game of the German soccer team against Morocco. After the recent weak friendlies, the question arises anyway: will the European runners-up go to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in top form? Before the start of the DFB women this Monday (10.30 a.m. CEST/ZDF), the German Press Agency will illuminate the largest construction sites.
home defence
Defense chief Marina Hegering can no longer train because of her bruised heel and is definitely out. For the position next to her Wolfsburg colleague Kathrin Hendrich, Sjoeke Nüsken would have been the first alternative. But the woman from Frankfurt, who will switch to Chelsea after the tournament, has stretched the lateral ligament in her knee – use uncertain. Since Lena Lattwein sees herself more in midfield than in defence, Eintracht aces Sara Doorsoun and Sophia Kleinherne remain as substitutes.
external defence
As at the European Championships in England, Felicitas Rauch from Wolfsburg is on the left. Her backup Carolin Simon tore her cruciate ligament in the last friendly against Zambia. Due to the same injury, Giulia Gwinn (both Bayern Munich) has been missing for a long time. Kleinherne represented her more often, but recently Voss-Tecklenburg surprisingly turned the experienced Svenja Huth into a right-back. She is regarded as a “little calf biter” (so Rauch), but as a winger she was an important cross for Alexandra Popp. Basically, the German players recently lacked toughness and athleticism compared to their opponents, who were often more robust.
Defensive Midfield
This position stands for the important Oberdorf for the DFB women. After suffering a muscle injury in her thigh, the 21-year-old from VfL Wolfsburg completed most of the training sessions on Saturday and, according to the DFB, will also attend the final training session in Melbourne on Sunday. Voss-Tecklenburg has not yet given the green light for the game against Morocco, but told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”: “For the second group game against Colombia, I can say that Obi is definitely fit again.” Oberdorf was named best young player at the 2022 European Championships in England. She could be represented by Chelsea professional Melanie Leupolz, the only mother in the DFB selection, or Lattwein (VfL Wolfsburg).
exploitation of opportunities
In the disappointing friendlies against Vietnam (2:1) and Zambia (2:3) a big deficit of the German team. “I would almost say it felt like: in the goal.” This is how Popp answered the question about the biggest construction sites in her team these days – and had to laugh. The Bundesliga top scorer, with six goals the big EM star last year, of course also meant herself. The 32-year-old only managed one international goal this year. Which, in her opinion, is also due to the fact that she often acts further back in Wolfsburg. The shortcoming can also be seen with Klara Bühl or Jule Brand and the midfielders Lina Magull and Sara Däbbritz.