After their brilliant start to the European Championship, the German soccer players suddenly found themselves at the top of many German media portals. The 4-0 win against Denmark also delighted the television viewers – and especially the national coach.
The “La Ola” has already swept through the Brentford Community Stadium for the soccer players around captain Svenja Huth – now the wave of enthusiasm should also come to Germany. In the middle of the summer break in the men’s Bundesliga, the DFB women made a statement for their sport with their remarkable 4-0 win against Denmark at the start of the European Championships in England. Against title favorite Spain on Tuesday (9 p.m. / ARD and DAZN) also in West London it is probably already about the group win.
“Of course it’s a nice sign in Europe now, also after Germany. I hope that the euphoria has taken over a bit,” said midfielder and goalscorer Lina Magull, who took home the trophy as the best player of the game.
Danes show respect to Germans
At their gala performance, the DFB women were already the favorites of the TV audience. 5.95 million people watched the first group game on ZDF and, according to the station, accounted for a market share of 25.9 percent. The live broadcast was the most successful television show of the day.
The Danes also paid tribute to their opponent. “They have a lot of power and are very convinced of what they are doing,” said their star Pernille Harder, twice “European Footballer of the Year” and former Wolfsburg player.
The newspaper “Jyllands-Posten” wrote: “Superior Germany gives the Danish women’s national team a football lesson.” Shortly before, Spain had already won 4-1 against Finland – and that without world footballer Alexia Putellas (torn cruciate ligament).
Voss-Tecklenburg had “nothing to complain about”
When Voss-Tecklenburg gathered the beaming faces in a circle after the final whistle, the national coach said what her players were thinking: “First of all someone has to beat us.” Within 90 minutes, the DFB women dispelled all doubts that had accumulated over the past three years after the World Cup quarter-finals in France.
In front of 15,746 spectators, the DFB team exuded a strong mentality, enthusiasm and tactical maturity in the first group game – and scored wonderful goals. Magull (21st minute) and Lea Schüller (57th) from FC Bayern Munich as well as the two Wolfsburg women Lena Lattwein (78th) and Alexandra Popp (86th) scored against the European Championship runners-up in 2017. “We got into a frenzy Our attacking pressing worked very well,” said Schüller. For once, Voss-Tecklenburg had “nothing to complain about,” as she said herself.
“We played an outstanding game. We were incredibly dominant, aggressive. The relief is of course great. It’s a good basis, a great starting position, but nothing has been won yet,” said the 54-year-old. She spoke of a “great gift”.
Comeback for Alexandra Popp
Your actual captain, Alexandra Popp, only came on for Schüller in the 61st minute – and will probably have to continue to play the joker role. This was indicated by Voss-Tecklenburg. “We tried to find a way to make her believe that we need her in this tournament in all her ways – if not in the first 90-minute game, maybe not in the second or third,” explained the coach .
Popp only made her comeback in the national team in April after a serious knee injury, and she was set back again in preparation by a corona disease. As a substitute, she made it 4-0 with a diving header. The Olympic champion from VfL Wolfsburg played her first European Championship appearance in her 115th international match, as she had missed the two previous tournaments due to injury.
“I can only say that it’s just beautiful,” said Voss-Tecklenburg. “Poppi didn’t have an easy way.” The striker was “very busy, very upset” about the question of fitness. The 31-year-old herself said: “Of course I want to play from the start, that’s clear.”
But she also praised her Bayern competitor Schüller: “Lea did well before I was substituted on. It is therefore a great added value to have such two strikers in the ranks,” she explained and added with a laugh: ” And if in the end it goes like that, Lea plays all tired, and then I come in and can execute – then I’m completely fine with that.”
