Women’s national team
Wück’s DFB women celebrate a high-scoring debut ball
Three newcomers celebrate their debut in the national team’s 6-0 win in Switzerland. A woman from Frankfurt, who was only allowed to play part-time in three tournaments, shines in the test game.
Cora Zicai wasn’t allowed to give interviews yet, but the debutant could feel like a big winner among German footballers. On her 20th birthday, the SC Freiburg striker made a promising debut in a 6-0 (1-0) win against Switzerland in Letzigrund in Zurich. “We don’t have to talk much about Cora. Her debut couldn’t have gone better. I think she won’t forget the day for a long time,” praised national coach Christian Wück after the Olympic bronze medalist’s penultimate test match in 2024.
Zicai came on as a substitute after the break and not only set up a goal for Lea Schüller, but also scored herself to make it 5-0. “A very, very nice birthday present,” commented Bayern attacker Schüller.
Sehitler and Winkler also impress at their premiere
And Wück’s new Art Nouveau produced two more debutantes: Alara Sehitler and Sophia Winkler. Sehitler from Munich, who only turned 18 last week, also impressed as the Joker. “I have a very, very good relationship with her. That’s why I’m particularly proud of how she did it,” said Schüller about the midfielder.
Winkler, in turn, took the place of the paused Olympic heroine Ann-Katrin Berger in goal. “To keep a clean sheet in the first international match was very, very good for Sophie. She handled the few actions she had very well,” said Wück about the 21-year-old. And overall: “I was very, very satisfied with all three. They fit seamlessly into the team.” The new players may be able to recommend themselves again on Monday at the end of the year against Italy (8.30 p.m./ARD) in Bochum.
The 51-year-old coach liked the dynamic that the substitutes brought onto the pitch. In the first half, the DFB women had a pretty difficult time against the deep Swiss women, whose Swedish coach Pia Sundhage will still have a lot of work to do before the home European Championships in July 2025.
Special praise for double goal scorer Freigang
Laura Freigang also took a big step. The offensive player from Eintracht Frankfurt was only a part-time worker under coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg at the last European Championships and World Cup and under Horst Hrubesch at the Olympics in France. In the Bundesliga she leads the top scorers list with ten goals. “You can see her development in the club,” said Wück about the 26-year-old. He was very pleased with Freigang’s performance in front of 17,306 spectators: “Not just because of the goals, but how she behaved on the pitch, with her dynamism, with her free running.”
dpa
