Patience is not necessarily one of Britta Carlson’s strengths, which has allowed her to achieve numerous successes in women’s football. But at that moment the 45-year-old didn’t look at the clock, but instead let the national players enjoy the moment to the fullest.
She later reported that she was happy to wait to give her final speech in the dressing room after a “not easy course”. The team should first be able to enjoy the welcome of the audience outside on the pitch in the Ruhrstadion, which has almost 15,000 spectators. atmosphere provided.
“It felt good”
An atmosphere “that we haven’t been able to experience for so long,” as Sydney Lohmann from Munich said: “That felt really good. It was the first step out of the crisis. But there are still a few things ahead of us.” Her Bayern colleagues Klara Bühl (19th, 78th minute), Giulia Gwinn (35th, penalty) and Lea Schüller (68th) scored the goals for a 4-0 win According to Carlson, “we went home with a smile.”
The success brought the first three points in the Nations League. Four days earlier, when the Germans had been much more indecisive and flawed, they had lost 2-0 to Denmark, who won 5-1 in Wales on Tuesday and lead the group with six points. Only those who come out on top at the end and thus qualify for the play-off tournament in February have a chance of taking part in the Olympics in Paris.
Carlson, who usually works as Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s assistant but is now replacing her boss who is ill, spoke of a development “in the right direction”, even if “we are not yet where we once were and where we want to be again”.
“I’ll leave her alone.”
The embarrassing end at the World Cup, the analysis of the failure that has only been rudimentarily advanced since then due to Voss-Tecklenburg’s absence, and the uncertainty as to what will happen next for the national coach are issues that are troubling everyone.
It’s still possible: Lea Schüller (left) celebrates her goal with Kathrin Hendrich. : Image: dpa
Carlson spoke of “ballast”. She emphasized that she wanted “clarity” about how the team’s support would be regulated in the future. Stefan Kuntz, who was rumored to be a candidate, says he is currently not in discussions with the DFB. A spokeswoman for the association declined to comment on the report.
The speculation also includes a solution with Voss-Tecklenburg as sports director. Carlson said that she had no contact with Voss-Tecklenburg except for text messages in which she “informally” informed the 55-year-old of Melanie Leupolz’s resignation in early September: “She is sick. I’ll leave her alone. That’s just how it should be.”
Lena Lattwein, who made a convincing replacement for Lina Magull as an energetic midfield strategist, was pleased that “we managed to remember what a good team we are”. Regardless of the turbulence “on the sidelines” and the discussions “in the background,” the team has proven “that it works.”
“Not a nice situation”
We can build on this and it is now time for a “clear decision”. In the next four weeks, before the Nations League continues against Wales in Sinsheim on October 27th and then the trip to the second leg in Iceland (October 31st), there must be “certainty” as to who will take over the management of the team.
“It’s not a nice situation,” said the Wolfsburg native, “everything can’t always be ignored, it’s stressful.” She received the message “that Martina isn’t doing well. It may take a while until she comes back – when she comes back.” Furthermore, she has “absolutely no information about what follows. That is out of our hands and is a matter for the DFB.” Merle Frohms made almost the same statement. The goalkeeper also added that she expected “that Martina will be part of the recovery process. It would be unfair not to hear them.”
Marc Heinrich Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 12 Marc Heinrich Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 1 Marc Heinrich, Frankfurt Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 6
Carlson, who makes no secret of the fact that she doesn’t feel particularly comfortable in the spotlight, indicated that she would step in again if no other solution could be found: “That’s what it says in my contract.” The captain meanwhile announced that she wouldn’t yet to disembark: Alexandra Popp, who had pointed out over the weekend that she made the continuation of her DFB commitment dependent on “how much fun” she continued to have with it, pushed after the ovation she received in Bochum were met, I will withdraw for the time being: “As long as the team does not yet have security on the pitch and I can still push the players in the right direction, I will not leave the pitch.”
