"Page always overloaded": DFB women "didn't know how to do it"
The German national team proved vulnerable defensively against Sweden - one reason for this was quickly identified: The Scandinavians posed problems for Germany with "an incredible number of players" positioned on the right side.
Saw a "totally wild game" against Sweden: Janina Minge. picture alliance/dpa
"It was a totally wild game," was the opening remark of Germany's vice-captain Janina Minge in a ZDF interview after the 4-1 loss to Sweden – Germany's heaviest defeat at the European Championships. That the 26-year-old would make such a statement after the final group match was already apparent in the opening stages. There were three chances in the first three minutes: two for the dominant German women, who were arguably enjoying their best phase of the European Championships at the beginning, and one for Sweden.
The Scandinavians created the early opportunity by overloading the right flank. Full-back Smilla Holmberg advanced to the level of the advancing winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd , and just a few meters behind Kaneryd, Kosovare Asllani positioned herself and ultimately took the shot. This pattern ran like a thread through the Swedish attack. "Sweden played well, constantly overloading the flank, and that's why we weren't quite sure how to handle it," said Minge.
There were an incredible number of players and we had problems assigning them.
Unsurprisingly, both the goal that made it 2-1 and the penalty that made it 3-1 came from the right Swedish attacking flank. "There were so many players there, we had trouble assigning them," revealed Klara Bühl , who was directly affected by this.
In addition to this trick, which the German national team couldn't get under control, the Swedes were also simply more composed in front of goal. While Germany "failed to add to their lead" after Jule Brand's early lead, the Blue and Yellows turned the game around with two chances within 13 minutes. "At this level, it's crucial to create chances. That's our biggest lesson. We gave the game away in ten to 15 minutes, which is incredibly bitter," lamented Bühl.
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The fact that they couldn't turn the game around was ultimately due to their numerical disadvantage following Carlotta Wamser 's handball. "After the red card, we had absolutely no control," said Christian Wück , who also admitted, "Even with eleven players, it would have been difficult to come back."
Due to the defeat, the German national team now has six days to prepare for the quarterfinals. On Saturday, they face the winner of Group D, presumably France. Looking ahead to the first knockout match, the national coach expressed a fighting spirit. "We're down right now, but we'll get back up," Wück explained.
