Two games, two wins – Germany qualified early for the quarter-finals of the European Women’s Soccer Championship
Credit: AFP/DAMIEN MEYER
Germany’s national women’s soccer team also wins their second European Championship preliminary round game. The victory against Spain means early qualification for the quarter-finals. Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s team benefited from a mistake by the Spanish goalkeeper.
Mith wild determination and a cool head, the German soccer players stormed into the quarter-finals of the European Championship in England. The team of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg also shone in the hit against Spain and defeated the title candidate 2-0 (2-0). This means that the record European champions are the group winners – and can avoid the strong hosts England in the quarter-finals.
After the failure of top scorer Lea Schüller, who was absent due to a positive corona test, Klara Bühl from FC Bayern (3rd minute) and captain Alexandra Popp (37th) from VfL Wolfsburg scored. Before the last group game on Saturday against Finland, the DFB women can already look forward to the first knockout match on July 21st in Brentford against Norway or Austria. Four days after the 4-0 win against Denmark, the German selection convinced across the board and can dream of their ninth European title. “It was an extremely intense game. We’re very happy, we also want to win against Finland,” said Popp.
Klara Bühl scores for Germany for an early lead
Those: AP / Alessandra Tarantino
Voss-Tecklenburg had set up Popp as a striker instead of Bayern striker Schüller, who had tested positive for the corona virus the day before the game. The captain of VfL Wolfsburg played her first European Championship game from the start in her 116th international match – and was celebrated by the fans after being substituted in the 62nd minute.
Popp also scores in the second game
A blatant misguided pass by goalkeeper Sandra Panos in her own penalty area gave the German team an early lead. The attentive Bühl scored a low shot to make it 1-0. The two-time world champion tried to stop the opponent’s ball relay with consistent, but also very exhausting pressing. DFB keeper Merle Frohms then survived two tricky situations because the ball went wide of the goal.
Just as the Spaniards began to open up gaps, the German team struck again. After a corner by Felicitas Rauch, Popp headed in, just like in her best days. The 31-year-old scored like in the first game and ran jubilantly in full sprint to the German bench.
It was only in April that the 2016 Olympic champion returned to the DFB team after a serious knee injury, then also had Corona in preparation – and with her renewed goal she confirmed Voss-Tecklenburg’s tactics, which put the versatile Popp back at the top of the table offensive saw.
Alexandra Popp celebrates her goal to make it 2-0
Source: dpa/John Walton
Spain continued to run the ball well but lacked the determination of Barça stars Alexia Putellas and Jennifer Hermoso. The world footballer (torn cruciate ligament) and the record scorer (internal ligament injury) were sorely missed by their team.
After almost an hour, the Germans complained to the top French referee Stephanie Frappart because Irene Paredes Popp vehemently stopped on the way to the goal. With Tabea Waßmuth from Wolfsburg, Voss-Tecklenburg then brought a fresh attacker who threw herself in. Goalkeeper Frohms then steered Maria Caldentey’s ball over the crossbar (71′). In Spain, for example, the series of 24 undefeated games against an extremely convincing German selection broke.
