Christian Wück didn’t want to be blinded by the bright cell phone lights that thousands of fans had turned on in Nuremberg’s Max Morlock Stadium. Nor about the deserved 5-1 win against Austria on Tuesday evening or the now brilliant result of nine points with 14-1 goals after three World Cup qualifying games. “We didn’t quite reach our performance limit, our level,” complained the national coach of the German footballers.
The fact that captain Giulia Gwinn had to leave early the morning after the game and will therefore miss the second leg against Austria on Saturday (6 p.m./sportschau.de) is unlikely to have improved Wück’s mood. The DFB announced that Gwinn, who injured her left shoulder, will now be further examined in Munich.
An exact diagnosis is still pending for Gwinn. Meanwhile, Wück gave his team’s overall performance against Austria, which was still without points, one that could hardly have been clearer. Whether offensively, defensively, playing with or without the ball: “Today it didn’t work out the way I imagined,” criticized the head coach, “that’s why I can complain a little.”
The 52-year-old ex-professional even had a lot to complain about, which he also saw as a sign of his own increased standards. Victories alone do not satisfy the coach or his selection; what matters to them is the performance. And Wück remarked dryly: “We can do better.” Jule Brand, who played a decisive role in four goals, agreed with him: “There is definitely still a lot of room for improvement.”
Especially in the first half, the DFB team’s game in front of 24,237 fans was at times as slow as Nuremberg’s rush hour traffic. The deep-lying Austrians had set up a five-man chain that left the Germans with little space. “We had one or two difficulties,” admitted Wück. “But even then, with better positioning, we could have achieved more than just 1-0.”
National coach criticizes the lack of timing
The coach specifically addressed the lack of feeling for the right runs at the right moments. “What didn’t really work well in terms of timing was the game without the ball. The players who didn’t have the ball weren’t moving enough, especially in the first half.” Topics that Wück had repeatedly addressed in advance. Details such as passing sharpness, positioning, first contact with the ball – the focus of Wück’s training sessions – need to be improved.
It was poor positioning by Carlotta, she misjudged the ball.
Christian Wücknational coach, about the goal conceded
Perhaps it is significant that Nicole Anyomi’s lead (17th minute) resulted from a corner kick and not from the tough game at times. It only became clear when the Austrians’ strength dwindled. Vivien Endemann (52nd), Sarah Puntigam (68th/own goal), Jule Brand (76th) and Lea Schüller (83rd) increased the result to previously expected heights.
For Austria, Chiara D’Angelo (77th) scored quite unchallenged, which Wück didn’t like at all. “Simply annoying,” he complained and blamed Carlotta Wamser, who came on for Gwinn, for the first goal conceded in the current World Cup qualification. “It was bad positioning from Carlotta, she misjudged the ball, and then every opponent is in a position to become dangerous to us with a long ball when we want to be compact when we move up.”
Of course he complains at a high level, said Wück, “but we want to be among the top nations. And for me, the top nations include a team that also wins such games, I don’t want to say with less effort, but more cleverly.” After all: his team can do better against the same opponent on Saturday – but then without leader Gwinn.