DFB Women Small squad, large selection: How Hrubesch is planning for the Olympics
Many players hope to be called up to the Olmypia squad. photo
© Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
The victories of the German soccer players against Austria and Iceland give interim national coach Horst Hrubesch further insights on the way to the Olympics. There is a risk of hardship when looking for a squad.
Jerseys from Klara Bühl are currently in great demand. Iceland’s national soccer player Olöf Kristinsdottir was all the happier when the sweaty Bühl gave up her white material after the DFB team’s 3-1 victory. Her roommate is German and she will be happy now, said Kristinsdottir beaming with joy.
After all, Bühl had once again demonstrated her exceptional class in Aachen on Tuesday evening. The FC Bayern offensive player could also take off at the Olympic Games this summer, but others are worried about her ticket.
In addition to Bühl, her Bayern colleagues Giulia Gwinn, Sydney Lohmann and Lea Schüller are also likely to be seeded for the tournament from July 25th to August 10th. There is also the Wolfsburg block around goalkeeper Merle Frohms, regular captain Alexandra Popp, Marina Hegering, Kathrin Hendrich, Lena Oberdorf and Jule Brand. Things are also looking good for Hoffenheim’s Sarai Linder.
There will likely be a tough fight for the remaining seven places in the Olympic squad, which only has 18 players. An overview of the individual positions:
Tor
Behind Frohms, Ann-Katrin Berger from Chelsea FC and Stina Johannes from Frankfurt are initially fighting for the role of number two. Only one substitute goalkeeper will travel to France.
Berger was allowed to play against Iceland, which probably doesn’t mean much. “I already know what I have there and what she can do,” said Hrubesch about Johannes. In any case, when it comes to the goalkeeper question, he has the “least problem”. Bayern’s goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs only has outside chances.
Defense
Bibiane Schulze Solano only needed two international matches to reorganize the previous hierarchy in the defense center. “I hope over the next four games that things will work out even better and become even easier for Bibi,” said Hrubesch about the 25-year-old from Athletic Bilbao after the Iceland game.
Schulze Solano, who has a strong left foot, is a candidate for the starting eleven – to the chagrin of the Wolfsburg duo Hendrich/Hegering. One would have to go to the bench. It may be difficult for Frankfurt’s Sara Doorsoun to take part in the Olympics.
Gwinn (right) is placed on the wings, as is Linder at the moment. Behind them, Frankfurt’s Pia-Sophie Wolter and Felicitas Rauch from the US team Carolina Courage have to hope.
midfield
Elisa Senß played well against Iceland at times, hardly surprising for Hrubesch: “With Elisa I knew what I had,” said the coach about what was only the third international match for the Bayer Leverkusen central midfielder, who is moving to Frankfurt in the summer.
Sjoeke Nüsken, who made a big leap after moving to Chelsea, is also becoming more and more important. Once established greats such as Sara Däbritz and Lina Magull, who are missing due to injury, are shaky candidates. Frankfurt’s Laura Freigang, like Nüsken and Lohmann, would be someone for the 10th.
attack
It’s quite possible that Hrubesch will only include two real strikers in his 18-man squad. Then the choice would have been made with the header experts Popp and Iceland’s double goal scorer Schüller.
Frankfurt’s Nicole Anyomi is clearly in the shadow of the top duo and currently also of Wolfsburg’s Vivien Endemann – even Popp’s knee problems don’t change that. Hrubesch said he was counting on the regular captain at the Olympics. In the wing positions, the striker idol clearly relies on Bühl and Jule Brand.
The Olympic timetable
There was a meeting between Hrubesch and the Bundesliga clubs in Aachen. The preparation for the games still needs to be finalized with the clubs, but “we’re not that far apart,” the interim national coach assured. Hrubesch wants the national players to be “in top physical condition” with a view to the games. The aim is to play all six possible games in France.
To do this, the DFB team would have to reach the semi-finals. The preliminary round will first be against Australia (July 25th), the four-time world champion USA (July 28th) and Zambia (July 31st). If they reach the final, the German footballers will play for gold on August 10th.
dpa
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