soccer When Schulz visits: DFB Women 0-0 vs Sweden
Germany’s Sophia Kleinhern (center) duel with Sweden’s Fridolina Rulfo (right). picture
© Fabian Strauch / Dr
Even with jubilee and EM star Alexandra Popp, the DFB ladies are harmless up front for their first international in 2023. In the national coach’s hometown, the goalkeeper is right.
Alexandra Pope’s dirty socks were evidence of a battle of attrition, but the DFB captain and her number zero team against the mighty Swedes weren’t satisfied.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, coach of the national team, paid tribute: “Bobby was a monster of mentality again today, she got there. She was the leader, she showed we didn’t want to lose the game.” The 31-year-old VfL Wolfsburg captain played her 125th cap 13 years after making her debut for the DFB’s selection at the same venue – but she fell short of her 62nd goal. “It’s very difficult for many to find their way into The new system. In the first half we didn’t have such good power up and down.”
This is one of the reasons why German footballers had a disappointing losing start to the World Cup against Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The harmless team drew 0-0 against Sweden in Duisburg. The national coach said, “Today it was like a football match. In the end we have to be satisfied with a 0-0 draw.” The 55-year-old knew who she owed the goalless draw to. “At Merle Frohms we had a very good goalkeeper, who kept us in the game.” In front of 20,169 spectators, Germany was finally lucky to stay on number zero.
National coach praises Schultz’s visit: ‘a strong sign’
“It’s a strong sign,” Voss-Tecklenburg said of Schultz’s visit. After a meeting with coach and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf right before kick-off, the chancellor announced that he would continue to work for equality in football. “If you can keep that in mind, I will stay on the ball,” said the ZDF SPD politician. “I will continue to do so.” And Schultz had fiercely argued at and after last year’s European Championships about German national footballers receiving the same bonuses.
On her way to a third World Cup title after 2003 and 2007, Duisburg-born Voss-Tecklenburg and her team still have a lot of work to do. In the first endurance test this year before the World Cup from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand, Sweden has shown itself to be a very strong competitor. On the other hand, the DFB women sometimes seemed a little desperate. In the World Cup, Germany will meet Morocco, Colombia and South Korea in Group H.
Nüsken replaced the ailing Oberdorf in the starting lineup
The German team had prepared to duel against their long-term rivals at a short training camp in Marbella. Sweden is ranked third in the FIFA World Rankings, after the United States and Germany. Germany defeated Sweden in the final of the 2016 Olympics, but was eliminated by the Scandinavian nations in the quarter-finals of the 2019 World Cup.
With Sjoeke Nüsken in defensive midfield in place of Wolfsburg’s sick Lena Oberdorf, the Germans faced off in the semi-finals of EM 2022.
Frohms maintains zero
Sweden’s strong tackle around Barcelona striker Fridolina Rulfo (ex-Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg) put the federation’s women under constant pressure. The German players didn’t like attacking pressure at all. After a volley from Kosovare Asllani, Frohms had to use all her flying skills.
Even after the break there were initially some misunderstandings in the German attack, and then Popp and Co played better. But Alternate Offensive Forces Leah Schuller, Laura Fregang and Joel Brand could no longer make a decisive move. And in the dying minutes Frooms made only a save against Plaxtenius, and shortly afterwards Retting Canried hit the post.
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