Who played against whom and how?
Women’s Nations League, semi-final second leg:
France – Germany 2:2 (1:1)
First leg 0-1, Germany in the final against Spain
How did it start?
With cheering men. When France scored 1-0, BVB could be seen celebrating in Frankfurt. ZDF had still shown the penalty shootout in the second round of the DFB Cup when Melvine Malard pushed past Camilla Küver and headed in for the early lead. Anyone who stuck with it saw that France was better, more confident on the ball and quick. That subsided briefly when Nicole Anyomi completed a turn with a nice, powerful shot into the corner. But this was also the first and only German action worth seeing. No more should be added this half time. France dominated and was particularly superior in the midfield. Now it was they who were struggling with their negligent exploitation of opportunities, no longer the Germans. Malard alone had three more good opportunities. The 1-1 score at half-time was flattering.
Did it get better?
In any case, it helped that Klara Bühl trusted her instincts soon after the break. After winning one of her rare one-on-one duels, she hammered the ball under the crossbar into the near corner. Not many people have that kind of power. And actually, with the leadership, security should seep into the game. And if Bühl’s calf hadn’t been offside shortly afterwards before the supposed 3-1, it would have been a quiet evening for national coach Christian Wück. But it was also Bühl who invited Grace Geyoro to another great French chance with a fatal bad pass in her own half. For such a misfire, amateurs have to pay their colleagues a case of beer. The French missed, but France took control again in Caen. They first scored an offside goal and then another one late on through Clara Matéo, which also counted. Immediately after the restart, four French women ran towards three Germans and extra time. Germany was worried, counterattacked in the last twenty minutes only randomly, if at all, and completely lost order. But because France couldn’t finish it either, the score remained 2-2.
What stood out?
First, resilience. As has often been seen at the European Championships, the German team overcame a deficit. “This is important for me as a coach,” said Wück. He was also able to once again rely on Bühl, who decided games in good moments. Germany will be in a final again after 2022.
But this game was only really a step forward in the result.
Regardless of whether Germany was behind, equalizing or leading: it wasn’t difficult for France to play through the German center. The game is not balanced there, it is no coincidence that the national coach spoke after the game of the plan to “spread it out”. Sjoeke Nüsken has played 18 minutes in the league for Chelsea so far this season and she is set for Wück. He also had Jule Brand play in the middle again. She actually only contributed to the attack in the 1-1 draw, otherwise she was seen as a defensive midfielder, which is not her cup of tea. In one scene, she, Nüsken and Elisa Senß were simply outplayed after a throw-in, and the French shot went just wide of the goal. The national coach repeated his conclusion from the European Championship: “I keep coming back to this: We have to improve in the passing game.” This means that there was rarely any control. Combinations over more than three stations were rare, so there was never any peace. Goalkeeper Stina Johannes also misjudged a trip out of her penalty area.
And then there is the national coach’s future project. Young female players are important to him, who previously led the DFB’s male juniors to titles. He likes to give them responsibility. Camilla Küver (22 years old) was also able to defend from the start in her second international match. She is strong in duels, but tactically she still has room for improvement. She allowed herself to be pulled out a few times, wasn’t always in her best position – like in the 0-1 loss – and had problems with her passing game. Carlotta Wamser’s (21-year-old) right-back became France’s path to equalization and almost something more. And Franziska Kett (21 years old) had a hard time with Delphine Cascarino. It is the three young players that Wück brought into the spotlight and who rightly received a lot of support after the first leg win. They now have 15 caps between them and each one will help them establish themselves in the national team.
And what is it about now?
Around the Nations League. After the World and European Championships and the Olympic tournament, it is the fourth most important tournament for women. As with an extended European Championship, all European teams (except Russia and San Marino) play in a league system for the title. You can be promoted or relegated, and the top four play in the semi-finals and finals. Spain won last year and is in the final again after two wins against the Swedes. And because there can never be enough football, this will also take place as a return game. Can the Spanish women do it on a rainy November evening in Kaiserslautern?
What else was important?
Both the stadium in Caen and Gothenburg were sold out, and almost 40,000 spectators came to Düsseldorf on Friday. Strictly speaking, the boom in women’s football is not just a boom. It’s a trend that continues. A long-term development that will not go away.
What did the coaches say?
“We lacked a bit of efficiency. We’re going out with our heads held high.”
(France’s Laurent Bonadei)
“We should have finished it smarter.”
(Germany’s Christian Wück)
