The diary of the players in the German Football Association does not allow for much time to reflect on what they have achieved and to mentally prepare themselves for the upcoming major event. Like the men’s, their compulsory program is now tightly scheduled with new competitions.
This Friday, 112 days before the Olympic flame is lit in Paris, the “European Qualifiers” start, with which the right to start for the 2025 European Championships in Switzerland can be acquired. There are still half a dozen groundbreaking games against Austria, Iceland and Poland until the summer games, where, thanks to their victory in Holland at the end of February (2-0), the Germans will face the USA, Australia and Zambia or Morocco in a demanding preliminary group Character to complete.
“We know each other well too”
Horst Hrubesch, who relinquished his position as temporary national coach in August and passed responsibility on to Christian Wück, approaches the task with the pragmatism with which he set the right tone within the squad from the start and thus contributed to fresh self-confidence was developed. “We have to continue where we left off,” said the Hamburg native.
In Linz they will next face Austria (8.30 p.m. on ARD), a competitor who has made life difficult for them in previous encounters due to their commitment. In the English town of Brentford, the result was 2-0 in the 2022 European Championship quarter-finals, in which only the goal from a flash of inspiration from captain Alexandra Popp shortly before the end provided clarity in a duel at eye level, in which she was defeated by her opponents through constant attacks pressure had been put on them.
“We know each other well, also because many of them are active in the Bundesliga,” said goalkeeper Merle Frohms, adding that it will again be crucial to “be present” in the duels. The 29-year-old, who wears the Wolfsburg jersey in everyday life, spoke of an important form check, which will be followed by the home game in Aachen against Iceland next Tuesday. On both occasions they would have planned to show that their ambitions were justified.
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In addition to Lina Magull (Inter Milan), Felicitas Rauch (North Carolina Courage/USA), Nicole Anyomi (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Melissa Kössler (TSG Hoffenheim) were recently left out; Now Hrubesch’s quartet was nominated again and immediately informed about an ambitious goal, as Kössler said on Tuesday after arriving in the Alpine republic: “We want to win all six qualifying games,” the striker reported on Hrubesch’s preparation for the last part of his mission, “And the Olympic Games even more so.”
