On the bill: Germany-Austria
For Austria, the mission seems impossible. Beat the Germans? Irene Fuhrmann’s players have never done so, in their only two meetings (4-2 defeats in 2016, 3-1 in 2018). But, around this second quarter-final of the Euro, Thursday, July 21, reigns an unprecedented scent. Firstly because these neighboring nations have never faced each other in competition, only in friendly matches. Then, because, despite their usual favorite status, Germany – eight times European champion – remains in the tournament after two eliminations in the quarter-finals: against Denmark (1-2) at Euro 2017, then against Sweden (1-2) during the World Cup organized in France in 2019.
No inferiority complex therefore, for Austria, whose thirteen players evolve in the German championship. “Our Legionnaires [le surnom de ces treize joueuses] are burning to play this game”, assured Irene Fuhrmann after the victory of July 15 against Norway (1-0) which allowed their qualification.
Dominating since the start of the Euro, the Germans will try to keep their clean sheet, but above all, to break the Austrian lock: in 2017, for its first participation in an international competition, Austria lost in semi- final, after pushing their two matches to penalties (0-0 against Spain then against Denmark).
Austria-Germany, Thursday at 9 p.m., at Brentford Community Stadium in London, and live on lemonde.fr.
The winners of the match will face France or the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
Euro star : Klara Buehl
Germany can boast of advocating collective play before individuality, not for lack of talented players, but on principle. This allowed it to become the best European team, then to see the emergence among the young generations of nuggets of the round ball. At 21, Klara Bühl – twenty-seven selections and thirteen goals – perfectly illustrates the attacking model desired by her coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg.
The Bayern Munich winger, at ease since the start of the Euro, willingly leaves the spotlight to her teammate Alexandra Popp (three goals), to be decisive when her team needs it most. As against Spain (2-0), July 12, delivering his doubts that gnawed at them, opening the scoring in the third minute. However, we should not expect the slightest praise from his coach, already focused on the rest: “We better be humble and take the next step”she said after the victory over La Roja.
Volley: hundred selections and ambitions
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“I hope we can still shake things up in Austria and show many people how great women’s football is. »
The quarter-final against Germany will sound different for one of Irene Fuhrmann’s players: Sarah Zadrazil. Spearheading the development of women’s football in her country, the midfielder will celebrate her hundredth birthday on Thursday. national team, at only 29 years old.
Engaged since her young years, the number 9 knows that the course of Austria during Euro 2017 (semi-finalist) had helped to highlight them. In an interview given to the Austrian Football Federationthe one who is a “legionnaire” at Bayern Munich recalled her ambitions: to achieve the feat against the Germans and to make Austrian women’s football shine even more.
Corner of blue sky: Melvine Malard, paid sacrifices
Since Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s injury package for the rest of the Euro and Ouleymata Sarr’s half-hearted entry against Belgium on July 14, all eyes have been on Melvine Malard. Against Iceland (1-1) on Monday, the number 12 scored the only French goal after forty-three seconds, making her, at 22, the youngest tricolor scorer at the Euro.
To understand the trajectory of the Olympique Lyonnais player, we have to go back to 2014. Aged 14, the young girl then left her native Reunion to join the OL training center. First staying with a cousin, she was joined by her family once her first pro contract was signed, in 2018.
At a press conference on Wednesday July 20 in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Melvine Malard returned to this trajectory: “It was a big sacrifice. I have always clung to my dream and my goals. Today, it pays off for me, it’s good for my family. I will continue to give my all. » Melvine Malard will have another opportunity to shine on Saturday in the quarter-final against the Netherlands, a match for which she has a good chance of starting.
In retrospect: England beat Spain in extra time
The English trembled but qualified for the semi-finals of their Euro by eliminating the Spaniards 2 goals to 1 after extra time (1-1 after regulation time), Wednesday in Brighton. Esther Gonzalez Rodriguez opened the scoring for Spain (54th), Ella Ann Toone snatched the equalizer (84th) and Georgia Stanway scored the qualifying goal (96th). After four games in 14 days, the selection of Sarina Wegman will be able to recharge its batteries. England will face Sweden or Belgium in the semi-finals on July 26.
