In the first international match of the World Cup year, German soccer players are immediately challenged. Sweden gives the Vice European Champion big problems, but the DFB defense ultimately remains undefeated. The team coached by national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg doesn't do much offensively.
The German footballers around jubilarian Alexandra Popp got off to a stuttering start to the World Cup year. In front of the eyes of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the nervous European Vice-Champions had to settle for a lucky 0-0 against strong Swedes in the endurance test - before the title hunt in Australia and New Zealand in the summer, the team of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg still has some work to do.
European Championship heroine Popp did not excel as a goalscorer in her 125th international match - although the captain had big plans for this special return. Almost exactly 13 years ago she made her DFB debut in Duisburg, where she once played for FCR (now MSV) for four years.
Around the game in front of 20,169 fans, the Chancellor first met the national coach and then DFB President Bernd Neuendorf. The SPD politician wants to continue to campaign for equal pay in favor of DFB women with regard to tournament bonuses. "I'll stay on the ball and I'll keep doing that," Scholz promised before kick-off on ZDF. The willingness to talk about these things has increased since the EM, said Scholz: "That's a good sign."
Popp, who drew level with the current national coach in 14th place in the all-time international rankings, started as usual in the center of the attack in the old Revier. In defensive midfield, Sjoeke Nüsken replaced the actually irreplaceable Lena Oberdorf in the 4-3-3 system, which had proven itself at the European Championship.
But after the six-day training camp in Marbella, there was a lot of sand in the gears in the German build-up. Sweden, third in the World Cup, put pressure on early on, the hostesses had great trouble freeing themselves - almost only the fast-moving guests developed a goal threat in the first round. The strong DFB goalkeeper Merle Frohms had to intervene early on when a back pass from Felicitas Rauch fell short (7').
Stina Blackstenius (22nd) even headed the ball into the goal, but the goal didn't count due to an offside position. Voss-Tecklenburg, who was born in Duisburg, looked increasingly dissatisfied at her home game. Only a long-range shot by Sara Däbritz (25th), who had returned from an operation on her ankle, gave Germany the first chance to score. When Kosovare Asllani (33') shot, Frohms had to show her class and steered the ball over the crossbar.
After the change of sides, Voss-Tecklenburg brought in Lena Lattwein for the uncertain Nüsken. Sweden remained uncomfortable and powerful, the DFB team lacked the necessary precision in their recognizable efforts against a well-ordered top opponent - even the changeover to a back three didn't help. In the end, the hosts were lucky: Frohms initially made a strong save against Blackstenius (79'), substitute Rytting Kaneryd hit the post (81').
The World Cup preparations continue around Easter, when the game is to continue against strong competition. In the room are tests against former European champions Netherlands and World Cup title candidate Brazil. In the finals (July 20th to August 20th) Germany meets Morocco, Colombia and South Korea in the group stage. On the way to the hoped-for third world title after 2003 and 2007, Voss-Tecklenburg and her squad still have a lot of work to do.
