During Horst Hrubesch’s comeback as interim national coach, the German women’s soccer team celebrated a clear victory against Wales in the Nations League.
The German women’s soccer team defied the days-long turmoil surrounding the resting national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg and helped interim coach Horst Hrubesch to a comeback victory. Lea Schüller (25th and 47th minutes), Giulia Gwinn (80th/foul penalty), Sjoeke Nüsken (86th) and substitute Nicole Anyomi (88th) scored in the 5-1 (1-1) Nations League win over Wales for the DFB side, which preserved its chance of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics. In front of 20,107 fans in the Sinsheim Arena, Ceri Holland (42nd) had equalized to make it 1-1 in the interim.
Hrubesch had called for more speed and less contact with the ball – and the players complied. Although captain Alexandra Popp was missing in the center of the attack, the DFB team created some promising chances even without the 32-year-old from Wolfsburg. Striker Schüller then showed in the 25th minute that she also masters Popp’s parade discipline: scoring goals with her head. After a good cross from Hoffenheim’s Sarai Linder, Schüller converted for the overdue lead.
In addition to the 25-year-old FC Bayern striker, Hrubesch had four new players in the starting eleven compared to the recent performance against Iceland (4-0). Ann-Kathrin Berger replaced regular goalkeeper Merle Frohms (concussion), Svenja Huth, who replaced Popp as captain, sprinted again on her usual right side. In central midfield, Sara Däbritz and Laura Freigang were called upon.
Frankfurt’s Freigang – rarely used under Voss-Tecklenburg – should have added the second goal just before the break when she found herself alone in front of Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark. Clark, by far the best player of the visitors, showed a great foot reflex.
Instead of 2-0, it was suddenly 1-1. Linder allowed Wales’ Angharad James to cross, and in the middle Gwinn was too late against Holland. Wales’ first goal of the match was also the first goal ever in a clash with the DFB team, which had always clearly dominated in the previous four comparisons with an overall goal difference of 34:0.
Hrubesch responded to the whistled equalizer with a double change at the break: Freigang and Däbritz made way for Nüsken and Linda Dallmann. Dallmann crossed to Schüller – 2:1. The move, this time from the right instead of the left, looked like a copy of the 1:0. It was Schüller’s 35th goal in the 53rd international match.
The renewed lead gave the DFB team confidence. Again and again, the team headed for the visitors’ goal, but the third goal didn’t come at first. Either Clark was in the way or the own inability. It was not until a penalty was awarded to head defender Marina Hegering that the game was decided. Gwinn scored to make it 3:1 and Hrubesch could breathe a sigh of relief as the DFB team played out the final minutes with freedom – and scored twice more.