Aggressive tackling, quick counter-pressing and deep runs in behind opponents. These are the issues that coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg desires to see from her gamers within the German girls’s nationwide crew.
It had been working splendidly: They scored 34 objectives and conceded simply two as Germany gained the primary seven matches of their 2023 World Cup qualifiers. The pristine file solely advised half the story, and the 3-2 defeat to Serbia uncovered the opposite.
Germany have did not register a win towards elite sides like Spain, Canada or England within the present calendar 12 months and the issues they’ve had in growing their sport had been evident once more in Tuesday’s loss.
“We didn’t reveal anyplace close to sufficient each defensively and going ahead,” stated captain Alexandra Popp. “Nothing labored for us – it was a day to overlook.”
Nonetheless with out a settled squad
With the European Championship in England postponed to the summer time of 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Cup qualification marketing campaign has served as preparation for Voss-Tecklenburg and her crew.
Sadly, the virus has additionally proved to be a continuing disruption for the German girls’s crew planning, with the squad towards shuffled after the win over Portugal.
“It does not assist us to complain. We’re placing an excellent larger emphasis on serving to the gamers, who’re right here to develop their sport,” the nationwide coach stated.
Germany’s girls weren’t at full power towards Serbia and seemed disjointed as they suffered a 3-2 defeat
Sydney Lohmann and Lena Lattwein had been the most recent to tug out at brief discover, however that opened the door for Popp (after two long-term accidents) and Dzsenifer Maroszan (after a break as a result of commitments within the USA) to make their long-awaited returns. But even the skilled duo could not settle the ship towards Serbia.
Understanding the system
The principle focus behind the 4-3-3 formation that’s been in place because the painful World Cup quarterfinal exit in France in 2019 is to right away change to counter-pressing when the ball is misplaced.
The latest matches on the Arnold Clark Cup, the place Voss-Tecklenburg needed to do with out 14 gamers as a result of COVID-19 infections, highlighted the place Germany’s sport was missing: assertiveness off the ball and the manufacturing of options when beneath stress after a turnover.
Voss-Tecklenburg has since talked concerning the want for the gamers she did have at her disposal “to know our rules of play and determine with them,” however these weaknesses had been as soon as once more on show towards Serbia.
Ongoing issues
As a substitute of successful the ball again shortly, Germany had their traces damaged by vertical passes and as an alternative of assurance in possession, particular person errors proved pricey. “That was actually dangerous,” admitted Voss-Tecklenburg after the defeat.
“All of the components that may have been necessary weren’t there. Now we’ve to brush ourselves off, work arduous, not despair and handle the problems.”
The DFB crew may have punched their ticket for the 2023 World Cup early with a win in Chemnitz. As a substitute questions stay as to whether or not they’ve sharpened their expertise and constructed up sufficient self-confidence to have the ability to maintain their very own towards elite sides like England, France or Spain once they journey to the Euros in July.
Edited by Chuck Penfold.