Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) attended the international match against Sweden together with the President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas. The two were not offered much
What: Getty Images/Lars Baron
Even with jubilee and EM star Alexandra Popp, the DFB women are harmless on the offensive in the first international match in 2023 against Sweden. National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg is happy about the visit of the Federal Chancellor.
Dhe German footballers got off to a goalless and disappointing start to the World Cup year. The harmless team of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg came to a happy 0-0 draw against Sweden in Duisburg on Tuesday evening. In front of 20,169 spectators, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the 31-year-old captain Alexandra Popp from VfL Wolfsburg played her 125th international match 13 years after her debut in the DFB selection at the same place – but she did not score her 62nd goal.
“It’s a strong sign,” Voss-Tecklenburg said of the Scholz visit. After a meeting with the coach and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf immediately before kick-off, the Chancellor announced that he would continue to work for equality in football. “I’ll stay on the ball, if you can stay in the picture. I’ll continue to do that,” said the SPD politician on ZDF. Scholz had already argued vehemently at and after the European Championship last year for German national soccer players to receive the same bonuses.
Scholz (left) met with national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf before the game
Source: dpa/Thomas Boecker
On the way to the hoped-for third World Cup title after 2003 and 2007, Duisburg-born Voss-Tecklenburg and her squad still have a lot of work to do. At the first endurance test this year before the World Cup from July 20th to August 20th in Australia and New Zealand, Sweden showed themselves to be extremely robust opponents. On the other hand, the DFB women sometimes seemed a bit despondent. At the World Cup, Germany meets Morocco, Colombia and South Korea in Group H.
Germany acts harmlessly on the offensive
The German team had prepared for the duel against their long-term rivals in a short training camp in Marbella. Sweden is third in the Fifa world rankings behind the USA and Germany. Germany defeated Sweden in the 2016 Olympic final, but were eliminated by the Scandinavians in the 2019 World Cup quarter-finals.
With Sjoeke Nüsken replacing Lena Oberdorf, who was ill, in defensive midfield, the Germans took on the EM semi-finalists in 2022. The Frankfurter acted nervously at first, like so many teammates. A return of Felicitas Rauch that was too short almost led to 0:1. Goalkeeper Merle Frohms reacted strongly against Stina Blackstenius. A shot off target by France professional Sara Däbritz was the hosts’ first chance after just under half an hour. Jubilarian Popp also hardly got a chance at first.
Laura Freigang (l.) prevails against Sweden’s Fridolina Rolfoe
Source: AP/Martin Meissner
The powerful Swedish team around Barcelona striker Fridolina Rölfo (formerly FC Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg) put the DFB women under constant pressure. The German players didn’t like the offensive pressing at all. After a shot by Kosovare Asllani, Frohms had to use all her flying skills.
Even after the break there were initially some misunderstandings in the German attack, then Popp and Co. came into play better. But the substitute offensive forces Lea Schüller, Laura Freigang and Jule Brand were no longer able to make a decisive move. And in the closing stages Frohms only saved against Blackstenius, shortly afterwards Rytting Kaneryd hit the post.
