Popp and Bühl remain optimistic after loss in final test fixture: "We still have time."
In their final test fixture before departing for their Australian base camp ahead of the coming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, the German Women's national team were unable to fight back and earn a draw against a surprisingly spry Zambian squad at the Sportpark Ronhof in Fürth on Friday evening.
Speaking on the result in their post-match interviews, attackers Alexandra Popp and Klara Bühl - both of whom started and remained on the pitch throughout an exceptionally long match that featured 15 minutes of second half injury time - emphasized that there were plenty of positives the DFB-Frauen could take from the performance.
Even if the last pre-tournament test fixture did offer up plenty of grounds for optimism, there's nevertheless no shortage of troublesome injury news emanating out of the DFB camp.
A sizable crowd turned out at the Sportpark Ronhof in Fürth on Friday evening in Fürth to give the German women's national team a proper send-off ahead of the coming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Unlike in a previous tune-up fixture against Vietnam late last month, supporters turning out to see the team live were unable to relish in a victory.
Speaking on the result in their post-match interviews, attackers Alexandra Popp and Klara Bühl - both of whom started and remained on the pitch throughout an exceptionally long match that featured 15 minutes of second half injury time - emphasized that there were plenty of positives the DFB-Frauen could take from the performance.
Even if the last pre-tournament test fixture did offer up plenty of grounds for optimism, there's nevertheless no shortage of troublesome injury news emanating out of the DFB camp.
The match in itself constituted something of a curious affair. A goalless and largely uneventful first-half was followed up by an explosion of activity in the second 45. The Zambian guests - ranked 77th in the world in the latest FIFA rankings - rushed out to a surprise 2-0 lead less than ten minutes after the restart. The German women pressed hard to equalize, but squandered numerous opportunities and ended up hitting the woodwork twice.
The affair entered second-half added time with the 2-0 scoreline intact. Thanks to numerous injury time-outs, however, the DFB-Mädels still had a full quarter-of-an hour to turn things around. This they managed. Lea Schüller polished off a Carolin Simon corner at 90+1 with a headed finish. Popp added one of her own trademark headers at 90+10. The encounter seemed destined to finish in a 2-2 draw or possibly even a German win.
Then came the final shocker. Zambian striker Barbara Banda netted the 3-2 at 90+15. The quick counter attack came off a misguided throw from Bühl. The Germans were far too casual and mistake-prone on dead-ball situations all night. The defensive corps also committed far too many errors against the sharp Zambian press; something that led to the first two goals.
The Germans were, in fact, somewhat lucky not to fall behind earlier in the match. Defensive stalwarts Marina Hegering and Lena Oberdorf had to bail the team out on numerous occasions during the first half. A huge reason why the hosts came out looking wholly disorganized after the restart related to the fact that both Hegering and Oberdorf had to exit injured at the half.
Bundestrainerin Martina-Voss Tecklenburg confirmed after the match that Hegering needed to nurse her heel after taking a stud to it. Oberdorf strained er right thigh. A third injury forced assist-supplier Simon off in the final minutes. The FC Bayern München fullback couldn't continue due to issues with her knee.
Voss-Tecklenburg labelled these developments a "worse-case scenario". The head-coach still naturally emphasized that the back-four needed to remain more alter and aware in possession in order to avoid having "mistakes understandably punished". Starters Alexandra Popp and Klara Bühl echoed similar sentiments, while also praising what the team remained capable of doing.
"We are used to playing against Europeans from our clubs all year round," Klara Bühl explained in her post-match interview, "That's why this test was so important: There are other teams at the World Cup that have different styles of play, and you have to adapt to that."
"Of course we were prepared for the fact that the Zambians have incredibly fast and dynamic players up front who can win balls with their physicality," Bühl continued, "It's not always so easy to defend because of course they are incredibly fast, especially on the first meters. Then you can hardly stop them."
"The goals we conceded were too easy, they shouldn't happen to us like that," Popp added, "It also shows us that an opponent like Zambia exploits that very, very well."
Bühl was quick to add that the result could perhaps better be viewed as a "warning shot that came at the right time". Popp acknowledged that some of the attacking play in the final third proved both far too timid and complicated. Many long diagonals, verticals, and switches exhibited poor coordination and timing. Attackers crashing into the area to meet final balls were often late.
"I remain pretty relaxed about it," Popp emphasized, "We let the ball run well, we got into the spaces we wanted to play well. The last little bit in front of goal was still missing. We still have time."
To be precise, the national team has 17 days until their first group stage game against Morocco. Voss-Tecklenburg is due to reveal her final 23-player-roster for the tournament today. Five players from the preliminary squad must be cut. The Bundestrainerin will surely be hoping that the injuries to Simon, Hegering, and (most especially) Oberdorf are not serious.