German women secure bronze after Berger denies Putellas late
Giulia Gwinn put the DFB-XI up 1-0 with a conversion from the penalty spot in the second half. Spain were gifted a chance to equalize with their own penalty deep into second-half stoppage time.
In a seminal moment at 90+9, however, Spanish superstar Alexia Putellas was denied the 1-1 by German keeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Germany's net-minder finished her epic tournament in style.
The German Frauen-Nationalmannschaft have ensured that departing interim Bundestrainer Horst Hrubesch's stint in charge of the women's national team concluded on a high note. In the 2024 Women's Olympic Football Tournament bronze-medal-match, the DFB-Mädels defeated defending World Champions Spain on Friday afternoon in Lyon. In yet another sensational twist in the story of 33-year-old keeper Ann-Katrin Berger's tournament, Germany's newly installed #1 secured the medal in dramatic fashion with a sensational penalty save in the final minute. Hrubesch's team earned a well-deserved 1-0 victory thanks to the fact that Giulia Gwinn converted her chance from the spot.
Hrubesch made two changes to the side that dropped the semi-final fixture against the USWNT. Squad captain Alexandra Popp was once again fit after general fatigue left her susceptible to an infection that caused her to miss out. Popp took the place of previous starter Sydney Lohmann, who herself fell ill after putting in a long shift on Tuesday. Fullback Sarai Linder - recovered from her own cold - made her first appearance in the starting XI since the opening group stage fixture.Linder filled striker Nicole Anyomi's slot.
Tactically speaking, Hrubesch deployed something novel. Left-back Felicitas Rauch remained in the starting lineup while Linder took over the right. As a result, Gwinn moved up to the right attacking wing. Jule Brand slotted over from the right to a service striker role behind Popp. A 4-4-2 with Brand and Popp working closely together up front was the result. Lea Schüller - also fit enough to feature after sitting out the previous match - began the game on the bench. Marina Hegering - subbed off last time - recovered in time to start.
The DFB-Mädels furnished strong and cohesive play over the opening quarter-of-an-hour, but remained unable to deliver any major scoring chances of note. Some fancy footwork from Klara Bühl in the 16th finally supplied some spark. A cut-back for the overlapping Linder was nevertheless intercepted. Brand saw an effort blocked at the end of the sequence. Bühl herself would record the match's first shot-on-target on a more straightforward sortie three minutes later. The defending World Champs then proceeded to wake up.
Teresa Abelleira caught keeper Ann-Katrin Berger off her line in the 21st, ultimately smashing a distance effort off the crossbar. Barça ladies superstar Alexia Putellas went on a sparkling individual run four minutes later, toasting an impressive four German markers on a play that regrettably ended with a meek Salma Paralluelo effort into Berger's hands. Berger executed a fine double save on Paralleulo and Athenea del Castillo at the half-hour-mark. With the bit firmly between their teeth, La Roja Feminina proceed to dominate the rest of the opening 45.
The Germans were extremely lucky to escape the first-half without conceding a goal. A strong dribble from Ona Batlle in the 44th led to Aitana Bonmati rattling the crossbar for the second time. Jenni Hermoso's follow-up effort was somewhat fortuitously deflected out for a corner by Janina Minge. Through four minutes of injury time, Hrubesch's team appeared shook up and played choppily. A half that left a lot to be desired from the DFB-Frauen came to an end with a 0-0 scoreline.
Hrubesch employed one change at the break, subbing Schüller on for Bühl. Popp slid back into Brand's short-striker space whilst Brand pushed over to Bühl's spot on the left flank. Brand immediately took advantage of her new assignment with some enterprising play up the left. Ten minutes after the restart, Minge sent Brand's cutback just centimeters wide of the right post. Three minutes after that, Gwinn hit the side netting following some nice set-up work from Popp and Linder.
Despite the scoring chances, Spain looked the more convincing side from open play. Quality build-up play through the midfield and several dangerous counters left one with the impression that the Iberians were more likely to score. Berger prevented the 1-0 in the 58th with a stellar save on Paralluelo. Germany were gifted a chance to open the scoring against the run-of-play in the 63rd when Spanish keeper Catalina Col took out Gwinn in the box in an aerial duel.
Gwinn stepped forward to covert the 1-0 herself from the spot in the 65th. Some six minutes later, substitute Schüller spurned a massive opportunity to double the advantage from close range. Popp played the Bayern striker in with a fabulous through ball, but Schüller couldn't convert from less than 11 meters out. Hermoso missed her own sitter in the 75th, wasting a perfect service from Putellas with a soft header directly in front of Berger.
Matters calmed down significantly in the final 15 minutes. Hrubesch ordered his girls to cancel the off-the-ball press and defend deep. It genuinely seemed as if the victory would be at hand until the very last minute of stoppage time. Minge was adjudged to have fouled Lucia Garcia in the box at 90+7. Spanish skipper Putellas attempted to net the last minute equalizer, but Berger capped her sensational tournament with a full-stretch save at 90+9.