That was not how it was supposed to go: we missed the opening phase and fell behind straight away. And yet that is exactly what happened. Not as early as on Friday in the first leg in Rostock, when the German national team was behind after just a few seconds – and won 4:1. But Horst Hrubesch’s look revealed that this did not make him feel any less lenient. The interim national coach looked at the pitch in the Miejski Stadium in the Polish port city of Gdynia, helpless. Dominika Grabowska had just put the Poles in the lead in the twelfth minute. His players let her do as she pleased, even though the situation could have been easily resolved beforehand.
But because the Germans at least stayed true to their latest pattern, turned up the heat after the break and ultimately won 3-1 (0-1), they still achieved their goal: After their fourth win in the fourth qualifying match for the 2025 European Championship, they are certain to take part in the tournament in Switzerland. The focus can now be placed entirely on the Olympic Games. And for this, as was also clear on Tuesday, they can make the most of every minute of concentrated preparation.
:The European Championship qualification becomes an Olympic casting
One more win and the women’s national football team would be guaranteed a place in the next major tournament. But for now, even the European Championship qualification is dominated by the Summer Games.
“It’s all about controlling the game – and not going crazy right from the start,” Hrubesch said. But the control didn’t really work. With mistakes and carelessness, the DFB women helped their opponents to get into the rhythm. By not making good use of their chances, they lost the momentum that evening. First they lacked consistency – and then they lost one of their most important players.
Lea Schüller scores twice
Lena Oberdorf almost equalized after about half an hour before she was injured in a tackle a few minutes before half-time. The 22-year-old was able to stand up, but could no longer walk on her own. Supported by her coaches, she hobbled across the pitch because she was unable to put her foot on her left foot after a blow to the calf. She was carried into the changing room. Her face was filled with pain – and her head was certainly dominated by one thought: Please, nothing bad!
The Olympics will begin in around seven weeks for the women’s football team, which is little time to heal from a serious injury. If Oberdorf were to be absent, it would create a gap that could not be filled. It would mean that the strength in tackles, overview and stability in midfield, which the leading player combines in a special way, would be missing. For Oberdorf, Hrubesch did not bring in one of those players who would use every minute to present herself for the Olympic squad, which only has 16 places for field players. No, he brought on his most experienced footballer, Alexandra Popp, who was actually supposed to be rested. But Hrubesch obviously did not feel that he could take this into account given his team’s poor performance.
Especially since another experienced player was missing: Defender Marina Hegering had to be substituted on Friday due to a muscle injury in her left calf. At least Hrubesch had already promised that this would be enough with an eye on the Olympics: “I assume that it will be absolutely enough. And I think that was a bit of a shock,” said the 73-year-old: “We did an MRI and I think we can do it.” Sara Doorsoun played for Hegering in central defense. Stina Johannes made her international debut in goal. In total, Hrubesch rotated six positions.
The fact that this match did not end in defeat after the first half was also thanks to Popp. She extended a corner from Klara Bühl into the goal area, where Lea Schüller was waiting. Her equalizer in the 51st minute symbolized the much improved and much more convincing performance in the second half. The Germans – with changes in three other positions – appeared much more variable, determined and dangerous.
Again and again they came to the Polish penalty area with good prospects. In the 69th minute it was Schüller who was rewarded for this for the second time, and for the second time she was close to the goal: after a cross from Giulia Gwinn she pushed her foot a decisive bit further than her opponent – and the ball went past the inside of the right post to make it 2-1. And just as things were going so well, Klara Bühl, who was involved in so many offensive actions, increased the lead to 3-1 with a powerful, flat shot in the 77th minute. The bad start was almost forgotten for a moment.