A few German fans had mingled with the 2,500 spectators in the Laugardalsvöllur Stadium in Reykjavík, and so the national team did not disappear straight into the dressing room after their 2-0 win, but instead applauded those who had previously applauded them. Lena Oberdorf and Lea Schüller were talking when someone grabbed Oberdorf’s anorak from behind and pulled her backwards, causing the 21-year-old to look mixed with surprise and a little worry. She turned and lo and behold: the firm grip came from Horst Hrubesch.
It only took a moment for her facial features to relax again. Hrubesch didn’t launch into a tirade of abuse, but he obviously didn’t want to waste any time in engaging in the exchange based on his immediate impressions. There was plenty to talk about. Of course, the criticism didn’t just affect these two footballers, but they practically ran next to each other. And setting an example for the German national team to be efficient is not a bad idea at the moment, as that was missed again in the fourth group game of the Nations League.
The Germans controlled the game, created chances and hardly allowed any counterattacks. But instead of manifesting clear dominance as a result, too little was done with all of this. Instead of relieving themselves with early hits, their tension increased. “We made life difficult for ourselves again,” said Hrubesch on ZDF, his face slightly red from the cold: “We don’t have the security and had to be afraid. We didn’t play as routinely or cleverly as we can.”
“It was quite a struggle for us,” says goalscorer Gwinn
The essential three points were only secured late in the 2-0 thanks to a penalty by Giulia Gwinn (64th minute) and a mistake by goalkeeper Telma Ivarsdottir after a shot by Klara Bühl (90th + 4). As was the case after the 5-1 win against Wales on Friday, there was also momentum against Iceland: this time it went well, but against opponents of a different caliber such a performance is unlikely to be enough. And they will come if the DFB women make it to the finals of the Nations League – which is the declared goal. Only then will they keep their chance at the 2024 Olympics. To do this, however, they still have to push Denmark out of first place in the group; on December 1st there will be a direct duel in Rostock, the Germans lost the first leg 0-2. “At home,” Bühl announced, “we can set off fireworks.”
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He wasn’t really happy: Horst Hrubesch would have liked to have cheered more against Iceland.
(Photo: Hulda Margret/Getty Images)
Certainly because of the need for such fireworks, Hrubesch would have liked to see an increase in performance and a continuation of the recent progress. With him as an interim solution, relaxedness had returned in the last few days. That was the first step out of the crisis that had been announced since the beginning of the year and which the national team was definitely in after the exit from the World Cup in Australia and the subsequent sick leave of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. With assistant Britta Carlson acting as a representative, the Nations League kicked off in September. But it was only with Hrubesch that the players seemed liberated.
Those who were part of the squad when he made his debut as interim women’s national coach in 2018 knew that there was someone coming who the players could get on well with and who could do well with them. Those who only knew about this phase between Steffi Jones and Voss-Tecklenburg from hearsay soon realized: That’s true. The atmosphere was also clearly good in the new edition under Hrubesch and the equally popular assistant coach Thomas Nörenberg, and the fun factor was high – but that also applied and still applies to the pressure. And now the question remains whether the coaches and the team will be able to do better what needs to be improved with the next measure.
This particularly applies to efficiency. Hrubesch sometimes covered his face with his hands because the completion of his mission was “goals, goals, goals!” not possible from what was sometimes the best position. What he saw were early chances, but in the end there weren’t enough of them with corners and crosses that were repeatedly executed poorly. He lacked the last, decisive percent of determination. “We just have to convert these chances. You have to want it!” Hrubesch blurted out. The fact that this didn’t work fueled unrest and ultimately a hectic pace, and Iceland almost equalized in the final phase. Then the euphoria that had just blossomed would have been immediately trampled on again. “The game was very difficult. We’re glad we got the three points!” said Bühl. Gwinn said: “It was quite a struggle for us.”
What should still be noted on a real or mental note are fewer mistakes, more security, calm and precision as well as better utilization of opportunities. But all of this is based on a looser foundation that makes a return to stronger self-confidence more likely. Not long ago, the German national team was brimming with self-confidence with the highlight of the 2022 European Championship final in Wembley.
Hrubesch now listened to the unsettled ensemble; the difficult situation surrounding Voss-Tecklenburg could, at least it seemed, be largely ignored. And this may have been clarified by the next time we see each other again: According to reports, those responsible at the German Football Association want to sit down with the national coach in the coming days. Then it should be clarified what happens next. Maybe that will also release the necessary energy in the national team.
