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 forward position, the DFB team created some promising chances even without the 32-year-old Wolfsburg player. Forward Schüller showed in the 25th minute that she also masters Popp’s specialty: scoring goals with her head. After a good cross from Hoffenheim’s Sarai Linder, Schüller scored to give the team a much-needed 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 game was also their first goal ever in a match against 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 security. Again and again, they headed towards the opposing goal, but the long-awaited third goal did not materialize. Either Clark was in the way or the team’s own inability to score. It was not until a foul by Marina Hegering, the head of defense, caused a penalty kick that the decision was made. Gwinn scored to make it 3-1. Hrubesch was able to breathe a sigh of relief, and the DFB team then played out the remaining minutes at a relaxed pace – and scored twice more.