The German footballers got their wish in the further Olympic qualification with France. Interim national coach Horst Hrubesch’s team will compete against their neighbors in the semi-finals of the Nations League final tournament on February 23rd and would certainly be there in Paris 2024 if they win. This was the result of the UEFA draw on Monday in Nyon/Switzerland. The second pairing is between Spain and the Netherlands.
“We are very happy about the draw. Of course I would have liked to have turned it around,” said Hrubesch, referring to the fact that there is no home game. “France is a seasoned and mature team that will demand a lot from us.” The final and the game for third place will take place on February 28th. The German women have to compete away again.
The two finalists have secured the Olympic ticket. Should France, which is set to host the Summer Games, make it to the final, the third-placed team in Paris would also be there. That’s why Hrubesch’s hopes rested on France as an opponent. “If something goes wrong, we have a second option,” explained the 72-year-old.
“Positive sign”
The DFB women recently disappointed in the 0-0 draw in Wales in the Nations League. In the end, the 3-0 win against Denmark was enough to win the group. Now the German team will avoid world champions Spain, at least in the semi-finals. The French women around Wendie Renard are hoping for their first major title in Paris.
The German selection led by captain Alexandra Popp has two good memories of this year’s World Cup quarter-finalists: At the European Championships 2022 in England, the DFB women beat France 2-0 in the semi-finals, and in the friendly match in Dresden in November 2-1 – both Popp scored both goals.
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Hrubesch was reminded of his active football career by the draw. “You just have to go back to 1982, where I played with Platini in the semi-final against the French,” said Hrubesch: “I now see that as a positive sign.”
