The magic of the European Championship is followed by the hard work of qualifying for the World Cup. Things are not looking good for the German national soccer team in Turkey for a long time. The opponents brace themselves vehemently against the favorites. Only a penalty brings the DFB team on track.
The German soccer players got their ticket to the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with a work win. In Turkey, the vice European champions won 3-0 (0-0) after initial difficulties and won Group H with 24 points before the last qualifying game in Bulgaria on Tuesday (6.30 p.m. / ARD One and in the ntv.de live ticker). .
"We are very, very happy," said the worn-out captain Alexandra Popp on ZDF, but admitted frankly: "It was really hard work. We didn't have the game pace we had hoped for, but it wasn't that easy on this pitch either. " Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg said: "It was difficult because we didn't find the solution. We're qualified for the World Cup, but we also know that there's still a lot of room for improvement."
Felicitas Rauch (57th) broke the spell after a tough first half with a converted hand penalty. Klara Bühl (59th) and Lea Schüller (77th) broke through the crumbling Turkish defense, which was enthusiastically cheered on by around 2,000 spectators in Bursa.
Around five weeks after losing the European Championship final against England (1:2 aet), national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg gave the clear direction. "We want to play attractively and quickly, and take our enthusiasm for the game with us from previous games," the 54-year-old told ZDF.
With the message "We for you, Anne!" On the warm-up shirts, the DFB team made a sign for goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who was suffering from cancer again. Without the regulars Lena Oberdorf (infection), Marina Hegering (foot injury) and Giulia Gwinn (knee problems), the German selection then ran for the first time in the new uniform jersey design for women and men.
In her 120th international match, captain Alexandra Popp (19) missed the first good chance for the two-time world champion, who dictated events. But for a long time there was a lack of creativity, precision and speed against the deep and sometimes rough hostesses.
The DFB team accepted the duels, but interruptions caused by fouls also hampered the flow of the game. In front of the eyes of guest Stefan Kuntz, national coach of the Turkish men, patience and tenacity were required, unlike the 8-0 win in the first leg last November.
After the change of sides, the German selection continued to search for the right side with asset Svenja Huth. But it was only when left-back Rauch safely converted a penalty kick after a handball in Busem Seker's penalty area that the knot burst.
Almost immediately, Bühl, who had been acting rather unluckily up to that point, followed up with a long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area into the near corner. The game remained largely mixed up, a few minutes after being substituted for Popp (74th), Bayern striker Schüller made things even clearer.
