National team 4-1 victory after lightning deficit – DFB women clearly on course for European Championship
Germany’s women’s national team celebrates the goal to make it 2-1
© Sebastian Christoph Gollnow / DPA
After less than half a minute, the DFB national team is behind. The German women have to worry and struggle at times. In the end, they can celebrate.
The German women’s football team is only one step away from qualifying for the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland. Nevertheless, the long, difficult 4-1 (1-1) win against outsiders Poland in Rostock was a warning shot for the team of national coach Horst Hrubesch 55 days before the first game at the Olympic Games in Marseille against Australia.
Despite being superior for almost 90 minutes, the Germans only managed to convince at the end. Natalia Badilla-Bidas shocked the hosts in front of 18,765 spectators with her opening goal for the visitors after less than half a minute. The German team equalized thanks to an own goal by Wiktoria Zieniewicz (34th minute). Lea Schüller (77th minute) and Giulia Gwinn (84th minute/88th minute, penalty) redeemed their team with a double strike in the closing stages.
Poland takes an early lead against the DFB women
After three games, Germany leads the group with nine points, ahead of Austria and Iceland (4 points each) and Poland (0). The German players will meet the Poles again in Gdynia on Tuesday (6 p.m.) and can complete their qualification. Shortly before kick-off in Rostock’s Ostseestadion, Hrubesch once again encouraged the crowd on his way to the coach’s bench. But after just 28 seconds, the guests dampened the mood: Badilla-Bidas, who plays for 1. FC Köln, took advantage of a pass from Wolfsburg’s Bundesliga top scorer Ewa Pajor.
The DFB selection acted nervously in the following period, but then increasingly controlled the proceedings. The Germans created shots on goal. However, they again showed insecurities at the back. Poland’s Pajor (17th minute) almost used one of these insecurities to make it 2-0 for her team, but her former Wolfsburg club colleague Merle Frohms in goal reacted strongly.
Late German goals ensure the national team’s next success
For the German players, the match became more and more a game of patience. In addition, inaccuracies disrupted the flow of the game. Captain Alexandra Popp (30th), who was absent from the last two international matches, missed the best chance with a header. Four minutes later, Zieniewicz helped the hosts to equalize with a header into her own goal following a corner from Klara Bühl.
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Hrubesch reacted during the break and made three substitutions. He brought on the regular defensive leader Marina Hegering for Bibiane Schulze Solano. Leverkusen’s Elisa Senßen and Laura Freigang replaced Sjoeke Nüsken and Alexandra Popp in attack. The pressure from the Germans continued to grow, and the inaccuracies remained. Nevertheless, they created numerous chances, but lacked the final decisiveness.
In the 63rd minute they were lucky when the strong Pajot hit the crossbar of the German goal. In the 74th minute came the next shock: Marina Hegering had to leave the pitch after only 29 minutes of play due to calf problems. Schüller and Gwinn then ensured the happy ending.
km DPA
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