The German women’s soccer team’s confident opening victory was followed by disappointment against top favorites USA. In addition, there are worries about the leader.
Alexandra Popp limped to the bench long before the final whistle with a face contorted in pain. Horst Hrubesch whispered a few encouraging words in her ear. The German women’s soccer team has had to deal with the first tough setbacks on their medal mission.
In the spectacular clash against arch-rivals USA, the DFB team unexpectedly lost 1:4 (1:3) and not only has to worry about reaching the quarter-finals but also about captain Popp. The leader had to leave the field after 77 minutes with a knee injury.
Lena Oberdorf is already one of the key players missing the entire Olympic tournament due to a cruciate ligament tear. Popp has been replacing her at number six so far – and will be needed again soon: Hrubesch’s team is under pressure again at the end of the preliminary round. Thanks to the opening victory against Australia (3:0), one point against Zambia on Wednesday (7 p.m./ARD and Eurosport) is enough to advance.
The outstanding Sophia Smith (10th, 44th) as well as Mallory Swanson (26th) and Lynn Williams (89th) ensured the fifth US victory in the six duels between the two teams at major tournaments, the interim equalizer by Giulia Gwinn (22nd) was not enough. The USA is now six points away from winning the group and should then move on to the Olympic Village in Paris for the quarter-finals. Germany no longer has this self-proclaimed goal in its own hands and needs help from Australia to take first place. But first it must avoid a defeat of its own, otherwise it risks being eliminated in the group stage, as it did at the 2023 World Cup.
Attacker Lea Schüller had predicted a “really tough challenge” against one of “the top favorites for the tournament.” But the DFB team almost took the four-time Olympic champions by surprise. After winning the ball high up, Jule Brand passed it across to Schüller after a fine dribble, who shot at goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher from a completely unmarked position (4th). The USA punished this missed opportunity with their first attack.
Trinity Rodman, daughter of basketball star Dennis, passed perfectly from the right side to the middle, where Smith only had to hold out the inside of the ball. With the goal against, the initial momentum of Hrubesch’s team was lost, and there were a few moments of trouble, especially on their own left defensive side.
There, Sarai Linder, who was suffering from a cold, was replaced by Felicitas Rauch, who had been nominated at short notice. Germany was pushed deep into the back during this phase and was barely able to find relief.
DFB women’s courage is not rewarded
But Gwinn completed one of the few counterattacks with a perfect low shot from a good 20 meters. However, it was only a short-lived flash in the pan: almost immediately after a mistake by Kathrin Hendrich, Germany’s goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger let down a long-range shot from Smith, which Swanson successfully tapped in. The USA continued to press on the accelerator, and Smith’s arcing shot, deflected by Rauch, unfortunately fell over Berger into the net.
After the break, Germany invested more in the offense in front of around 10,000 fans at the Stade Velodrome, and had longer passages of the ball. Brand’s shot hit the outside post (58th minute), Sjoeke Nüsken was stopped by Naeher (62nd minute). Despite all the courage to attack more, however, spaces opened up for American counterattacks, Swanson missed a great chance from close range (59th minute) – and Williams scored late.
Source: www.sport.de
