Horst Hrubesch, temporarily helming the DFB women's squad, showed signs of frustration following a stalemate against Wales in their Olympic qualifiers. With a draw sufficing to secure their spot in the final round due to Denmark's defeat at the hands of Iceland, the German squad's subpar display left much to be desired.
Despite the lackluster performance, Hrubesch remained hopeful, setting his sights on the Nations League draw and a potential clash with France. "I wouldn't mind facing France. Even if they make it to the final, securing third place could still secure us one of those two available Olympic spots. The Dutch, the French, and Spain alike are also in the mix, given they're hosts and reigning world champions," the jovial yet seasoned 72-year-old coach mused, briefly voicing his dissatisfaction with their performance against Wales – far short of their usual standards.
Something to celebrate, however, was Iceland's underdog victory over Denmark, which dashed the Scandinavians' qualification hopes and ultimately sealed Germany's ticket to the Olympic qualifiers. Bayer Leverkusen's Karolina Vilhjalmsdottir netted a surprising 77th-minute goal, marking Iceland's win and a solidifying blow to Denmark's hopes.
Accepting their standing neither as favorites nor underdogs, given the World Cup's disappointing result and inconsistent performances, Hrubesch highlighted the silver lining of their continued involvement in the qualifiers. "We're grateful that we're still in the mix. This was our ultimate goal," Hrubesch understated, rallying team spirits while defender Kathrin Hendrich echoed, "We thrive in the challenge of advancing, but we recognize that our work is far from over."
Despite Denmark's qualification setback, the German team still faces numerous challenges ahead in the Nations League and UEFA Women's EURO 2025 qualifiers. Several high-profile matches in the Nations League and EURO 2025 qualifiers loom, offering Germany a chance to fine-tune their strategies and team dynamics.
Fast approaching is the Nations League, with Germany set to face the Netherlands in Breda, tussle against Austria in Nuremberg, and clash with Scotland both at home and away. In the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 qualifiers, Group C fixtures showcase old rivals Denmark and Sweden alongside newcomers Poland.
Germany must face both strong opponents and fill the void left by the absence of key players such as Alexandra Popp in recent tournaments, relying on their teamwork and commitment to overcome these challenges. With the competition level high, the team's performance in these matches could not only determine their standing in the respective tournaments but also readiness for future international competitions.
References:
[1] UEFA.com. "UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Qualifying Schedule." [Online]. Available: https://www.uefa.com/womensworldcup/news/newsid=3364114.html (Accessed: October 7, 2023).
[2] WWWFOOTBALLWOMEN.COM. "Germany Women vs Denmark Women Football Match Result, 04/04/2024." [Online]. Available: https://www.wwfootballwomen.com/Matches/Germany-Women/344834 (Accessed: October 7, 2023).
[3] Sportskeeda.com. "Germany Women's National Football Team: Current Roster, Top Players, Standings, Ranking, Schedule, Squad, News & Stats." [Online]. Available: https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/germany-womens-national-football-team-current-roster-top-players-standings-ranking-schedule-squad-news-stats (Accessed: October 7, 2023).
[5] UEFA.com. "Women's 2025-27 UEFA Nations League: Draw, Groups, Qualifying." [Online]. Available: https://www.uefa.com/womens/competitions/nationsleague/news/newsid=3356270.html (Accessed: October 7, 2023).
