Only once did Lena Oberdorf come too late against France, and it was precisely this scene that led to the DFB team conceding their first goal at this European Championship. An annoying moment that also makes it clear what an outstanding performance the 20-year-old is showing in this semi-final.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Lena Oberdorf broke with her resolution of wanting to get through this semi-final of the European Championship without a yellow card. The German footballers lead 2:1 against France, the final is only a few seconds away when the outstanding defensive player of the DFB-Elf has apparently seen enough. Kadidiatou Diani can no longer dodge and is cleared by Oberdorf. Warning for the German – and the concern that the following free kick could become a last gasp for the Équipe Tricolore. One last long ball. The 20-year-old also takes care of the fact that this French hope is not fulfilled before the final whistle concludes one of the outstanding performances of this European Championship.
Oberdorf stands out in an impressive team effort tonight in Milton Keynes. As a defensive counterpart to the exceptional offensive position that Alexandra Popp occupies with two goals. The captain scores first, then decides, before being named Player of the Match by a UEFA sponsor. In case of doubt, a good offensive trumps good defense with such honors, but at least in these first moments after the final whistle, the performance that Oberdorf achieved that evening is somewhat undermined.
The defensive strategist, who made his debut in the U15 national team at the age of 12, conquers balls for 95 minutes, fills gaps, covers pass routes and sometimes prevents dangerous attacks before they can become really dangerous. And, as if all that weren’t impressive enough, he also goes on the offensive with clever game openings. If anyone needed illustrative material on what is required of a defensive midfielder in modern football, Lena Oberdorf would have produced a lesson in the best sense of the word on this Wednesday evening.
An example of this is not only the aforementioned combination of a yellow card and the elimination of a free-kick hazard in the 94th and 95th minute, but also the 67th minute. There is a bad pass from the otherwise reliable Marina Hegering, who opens the German defense center for the French, from which Diani opens the ball to the goal with the ball at her feet. Oberdorf follows them, pushes them to the outside and to a less promising conclusion from an acute angle. Which also remains the only option because Oberdorf also covers the area in their back and, with clever positional play, makes the cross pass to Onema Geyoro, who has run with them, impossible.
It’s allowed to bang
In any case, it now seems almost impossible to outplay the 20-year-old. Again and again she gets a foot in the way when France tries to combine deeper into the German half. As a talent of the century, Oberdorf has sometimes been honored in recent years. In this European Championship semi-final, she proves that she has long since outgrown her status as a talent. Much, if not all, of this performance indicates that a world-class footballer is emerging. Oberdorf already excelled in the quarterfinals against Austria, which led Martina Voss-Tecklenburg to a rare special public praise. “Showing such a mature performance in her early 20s,” said the national coach, “that proves that she has a great future ahead of her.”
Oberdorf confirms this impression against France, her 31st international match is her best so far in a DFB jersey. So far it is an important word, because it is not unlikely that she will show the next increase in the final against England on Sunday (6 p.m. / ARD, DAZN and in the live ticker on ntv.de). Maybe even without a yellow card. The hardness, dosed appropriately and used at the right moment, is also part of their game. “I love it when things get physical,” she once described, and for her that also means that “there’s a bang in a duel”.
Incidentally, the Wolfsburg native also proves in Milton Keynes that she can take it. In the 56th minute, Selma Bacha wiped her face in a duel without any apparent intention, but painfully. Oberdorf goes down with him and even has to be treated briefly. The great concern that this moment seems to unleash on the German bench is perhaps the clearest illustration of the central role Oberdorf already plays in this team. When she gets back to her feet, there is a collective sense of relief – a quality to be expected from someone who has cited Sergio Ramos’ style of play as an inspiration.
How decisive the 20-year-old, who recently extended her contract with the German champions in Wolfsburg, is for the success of the DFB selection is shown by the only goal they have conceded in this tournament. A bad pass in the build-up game threw up the German defense in the 44th minute and Oberdorf only reached Diani when she had already shot from 18 meters. The shot hit Merle Frohms’ back and from there into the goal, which is why the innocent goalkeeper is mentioned in the game report with an own goal. It’s probably the only moment that evening when Oberdorf isn’t exactly where she’s needed.
