Hrubesch provides squad updates and reflects on final match
The 73-year-old German footballing legend also shared his thoughts ahead of his final game as the Bundestrainer with Gunnar Meggars of Germany's Kicker Magazine.
His second interim stint in charge of Germany's Frauen-Nationalmannschaft now complete, 73-year-old German footballing legend Horst Hrubesch had some good news to convey ahead of what will be his final match in charge of the program tomorrow. After missing out against the USWNT in Tuesday's semi-final loss, both captain Alexandra Popp and lead-striker Lea Schüller will be available for selection for the third-place-playoff against the Spaniards.
Hrubesch has been working almost exclusively for his country over the last 24 years of his coaching career. The former Hamburger SV great coached the Germany U21s for 16 years between 2000 and 2016. He helped the German U23s earn the silver medal in the 2016 Olympics. Twice in the last six years, he's been brought in to help stabilize Germany's fledging women's program.
The German women have not won a title since they took gold in the 2016 games under long-time Bundestrainerin Silvia Neid. The coaching regimes of Steffi Jones and Martina Voss-Tecklenburg were unable to return the team to its former glory. Hrubesch - who first stood in following Jones' sacking in 2018 - was tasked with revitalizing the DFB-Mädels last autumn following the ignominious 2023 World Cup group stage exit.
"A year ago, nobody would have thought the team would be here," Hrubesch told Kicker Magazine's Gunnar Meggars in an interview published on the journal's website Thursday afternoon, "Now we have the chance to win bronze. We won't change anything and will do exactly the same as we have done so far in this tournament. We want to impose our game on them."
"The girls want third place," Hrubesch continued, "It's important for me that the girls win a medal. They don't have one yet. I [via the 2016 Olympic silver] do. I'm not the center of attention tomorrow. I'm not playing. I'm just a part of what the team has to do. We want to solve this together. We shall win or lose together. Above all, we must ensure that we don't lose our enjoyment."
"I will miss achieving goals together," Hrubesch said of his final match in charge, "but I wouldn't say that I'm melancholic. I'vealways kept in touch with the girls and going to the European Championships in Switzerland next year. That won't stop. They've given me far too much for that. I love women's football and it has shaped me. I took what I thought was good about the men's game and brought a different touch to the women's game."