In the comeback of Horst Hrubesch as interim national coach, the German women’s soccer team celebrates a clear victory against Wales in the Nations League.
The German women’s soccer team defied the days-long turmoil surrounding the suspended national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg and helped interim coach Horst Hrubesch to a comeback victory. In the 5-1 (1-1) Nations League win over Wales, Lea Schüller (25th and 47th minute), Giulia Gwinn (80th minute/penalty kick), Sjoeke Nüsken (86th minute) and substitute Nicole Anyomi (88th minute) scored for the DFB selection, who kept their chance of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics. Ceri Holland (42nd) had equalized in front of 20,107 fans in the Sinsheim Arena.
Hrubesch had called for more pace, fewer touches on the ball – and the players followed. 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. In the 25th minute, striker Schüller showed that she also excels at scoring goals with her head. After a good cross from Hoffenheim’s Sarai Linder, Schüller scored to give the DFB team a long-overdue lead.
In addition to the 25-year-old FC Bayern forward, Hrubesch had sent four new players into the starting lineup compared to the recent match against Iceland (4-0). Ann-Kathrin Berger replaced starting goalkeeper Merle Frohms (concussion), Svenja Huth, who represented Popp as captain, sprinted again on her usual right side. Sara Däbritz and Laura Freigang were in the center of the midfield.
Frankfurt native Freigang, who rarely plays for Voss-Tecklenburg, should have scored the second goal shortly before half-time when she appeared alone in front of Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark. Clark, by far the best player for the guests, showed a great foot reflex.
Instead of 2-0, the score was suddenly 1-1. Linder crossed for Wales’ Angharad James, and Gwinn was too late in the middle against Holland. Wales’ first shot on target in the match was also their first goal ever in a clash with the DFB team, which had always dominated in the previous four meetings, with a total goal difference of 34-0.
Hrubesch reacted to the equalizer, which was met with whistles, by making two substitutions at half-time: Freigang and Däbritz made way for Nüsken and Linda Dallmann. Dallmann crossed to Schüller – 2:1. The move, this time on the right instead of the left, looked like a copy of the 1:0. In the 53rd international game, it was Schüller’s 35th goal.
The renewed lead gave the DFB team a sense of security. Again and again, they headed towards the visitors’ goal, but the long-awaited third goal did not materialize. Either Clark was in the way or their own inability. It was only when Marina Hegering, the captain of the defense, was fouled in the box that the game was decided. Gwinn scored to make the final score 3:1. Hrubesch could breathe a sigh of relief, and the DFB team played out the final minutes with a sense of freedom – and scored twice more.