German Fraulein National Team 2020 & beyond

Nüsken robbed of a goal - the ball was clear behind the line

Bühl scores 4:0

 

Now we can only hope that the Oberdorf injury is not severe.

 

FT 4-0. Berger playing key passes in 3 of Germany's 4 goals...

No point talking about the situation with Oberdorf, as we all know the quality she provides this team. But after the latest injury, if it was possible I'd think this team would benefit finding a way to replace both Freigang, and Nüsken, with options like Magull and Lattwein...

A game mixed with a few moments of good quality, and longer periods of low quality, the big winners in my opinion being Berger confirming her role as Germany's Olympic #1 GK, and Minge confirming she's a solid understudy who possess better box to box attributes than Nüsken.

However there was absolutely ZERO need to witness another game where this team forced to work within a 4-2-4; even if this formation Vs Austria's 5 player mid-field, saw Hrubesch reveal his new way to try and make this work, by having his defender and CM sit deep, and bypass the mid-field to start more direct counter attacks.

In the 2nd half this would change with the addition of Senß playing as the most offensively advanced of the 3 CM's. In the process seeing Schüller finally come to life as a genuine creative/goal threat for a team that lacks goals from mid-field.

But headed into the Olympics, there's still far too many questions about this team to genuinely asses their chances for the group stages, knowing each opponent will completely expose Hrubesch's tactically limited two player CM...

 

Däbritz, Hegering, Lohmann, Popp, Oberdorf, all injured. Lattwein, Magull, Dallmann, left out. 3 of the leagues top performers Kleinherne, Gräwe, Kowalski not selected.

I don't understand how it's happened, but Germany could be about to start a major tournament with Nüsken, Freigang, Doorsoun, all featuring in the starting 11...

 

If you recall, I basically predicted that Magull would start being left out more of the squad after her move to Inter.

 

Haven't seen the match yet. Good to see the usual suspects on the score sheet. Any news on Obi yet ?

 

MRI examination is today.

Oberdorf injury happened in 69th minute

 

Highlights

 

Senior team Euro's qualification highlights...


u19 Euro's finals highlights...

 

You weren't the only one predicting this lol. The history of past wnt selection, not exactly known for being able to extend beyond the more obvious destinations for players.

The moment Magull selected Inter Milan/Serie A Femminile, regardless of form (still the best AM stats of any German international..), it always felt like an incredibly difficult prospect seeing her selected for future wnt squads.

And looking at the current squad, it's crazy thinking her skill-set will be absent for an Olympic team currently in genuine need of strong progressive passing goal scorers from mid-field.

 

It wasn't that hard to predict, Rauch might suffer the same fate as well.

 

Hrubsech speaking to media is already hinting at Popp's role on this team being a DM pivot..., and won't confirm Berger's performance the moment she become the new German #1 GK.

But someone who's seems to have gone unnoticed was Minge. Who doesn't seem to have been highlighted for praise, but for me displayed a level of composure far beyond her limited experience of elite level football.

And even if I believe it was a missed opportunity to not try Oberdorf or Minge in the CAM role during the second half, I also believe we saw enough of Minge to have legit confidence in her ability to positively contribute towards defensive, and offensive options within this teams new look mid-field.

 

Yeah... I've already said as much lots of time last season, with my belief Linder, Simon, and Lührßen, in line to be Wück first choice options for his version of the wnt.

I personally think Rauch's progressive passing quality massively underrated from her LB position. But with Simon back to health, knowing Linder and Lührßen only going to get stronger, it's going to be incredibly difficult for Rauch to retain her wnt place, when she's out of sight of the wnt's historically narrow selection process...

 

Why was she even called for the two Euro qualifying games if she's not retained for the Olympics? Seems a bit like a waste of time for her.

 

Something else I wanted to highlight from the recent match, was Schüller's 2nd half improvement, and the teams general offensive improvement during a 2nd half the team featured 3 CM's.

Playing as a lone forward, Schüller doing a very Popp worthy imitation coming deep to receive the ball, as both wide forwards (Bühl and Brand) make runs beyond her to receive passes that placed them in positions to create or score goals.
Bühl ----------------------- Brand
------------ Schüller --------------

Meaning it almost incomprehensible why Hrubesch constantly forcing 2 forwards to play together in his team, when it clear all his best players already incredibly comfortable complementing each other within a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1...

And this best evidenced by the fact even using the leagues best DM over consecutive seasons within a AM role, we'd see Senß still support the attack far better than any one of Freigang, Anyomi, or Popp, to the effect she'd even assist Schüller's goal lol.

Leaving me to think now Lohmann could be incredibly important to this team during the Olympics, as regardless of what she does at Straus-ball Bayern, I still believe her to be an Oberdorf level talent who would function perfectly as this teams first choice AM.

 

You could say the exact same for Wolter lol. But I still think Rauch incredibly unlucky not to be part of the Olympic squad though, as the coaches surprisingly decided to take 4 CB's, and leave a huge risk of Solano being able to cover two defensive roles....

While Linder very strong competition, Rauch could have easily continued to be the 1st choice LB in this team; with it even OK arguing Rauch and Simon still currently better overall players than Linder.

 

Quick question, will any German broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, RTL) be showing the non-Germany games as well at the Olympics?

 

Lena Oberdorf hat sich am Dienstagabend im EM-Qualifikationsspiel mit der deutschen Nationalmannschaft gegen Österreich eine Kreuz- und Innenbandverletzung im rechten Knie zugezogen.

Bianca Rech, Direktorin der FC Bayern Frauen: „Das ist ein sehr harter Schlag und wir fühlen… pic.twitter.com/4jpQHpFMNp

— FC Bayern Frauen (@FCBfrauen) July 17, 2024

'Lena Oberdorf sustained a cruciate and medial ligament injury in her right knee on Tuesday evening in the European Championship qualifying match with the German national team against Austria.'

She is officially out of the Olympics and probably out for the rest of the year too.

 

I thought she'd be missing the Olympics, but the whole club season too... damn...

Crazy she'd start last season playing overweight, and find herself not suffering any significant injury to prevent her from playing football. And now she's back to peak physical condition, she picks up an ACL tear during final match prior to a major tournaments start...

So... I guess Minge comes into the Olympic squad now, making this Germany's best possible starting 11....
Bühl ------------------- Schüller ------------------- Brand
------------------------- Lohmann ---------------------------
--------------- Popp --------------- Senß -------------------
Linder ------- Hegering ------ Hendrich ------- Gwinn
With the big issue here being 3 of this team is still placed on the suspect list when it comes to their 90min match fitness...

It clear now more than ever Germany really need to see Lohmann remain healthy beyond one match, or we'll have a incredibly underwhelming potential starting 11 featuring Freigang, and Nüsken....

Lattwein, or Magull being the two PERFECT selections to come into this team now. I know Freigang, and Nüsken being good players, but are just factually unproven on the elite stage of women's football compared to CM/CAM's like Lattwein, or Magull.

 

The spine of Germany wnt simply doesn't exist right now. Oberdorf confirmed to be out, Popp and Hegering highly unlikely to start consecutive matches. Hrubesch will be creating a completely new/untested CM for the Olympics...

Best case scenario here probably being this...
Bühl ------------------- Schüller ------------------- Brand
------------------------- Lohmann ---------------------------
--------------- Minge --------------- Senß -------------------
Linder ------- Solano ---------- Hendrich ------- Gwinn

Worst case scenario we see this...
Bühl --------- Schüller ------- Freigang ---------- Brand
---------------- Nüsken ------------ Senß -------------------
Linder ------- Solano ---------- Hendrich ------- Gwinn

If Lohmann not 100% healthy, the only option I see here is...
Bühl ------------------- Schüller ------------------- Brand
-------------------------- Nüsken ---------------------------
--------------- Minge --------------- Senß -------------------
Linder ------- Solano ---------- Hendrich ------- Gwinn

Lacking the quality of Däbritz, Oberdorf, Lohmann, Lattwein, or Magull. I don't even think Nüsken better than Minge, or Gräwe.

But if 3 CM's the only way to give this team a competitive chance, then surely Nüsken enters this teams CM alongside Minge - Senß...

 

Not the whole club season necessarily, her injury recovery takes between 8 and 12 months.

 

Very sad news re Oberdorf. Without her, Däbritz, Magull would have been nice to have in the squad. At least the attack seems to be functioning well and producing chances.
Would it be fair to say the defense functioned a lot better against Austria ? Or as much a case of their attack not being sharp. First clean sheet for a while. Berger also part of that obviously.

 

I imagine these games will be available through ZDF's streaming options... no..?

Bayern have one of the best ACL rehabilitation programs, so she might actually be on the field before the end of the club season. But like you suggest, her first season with Bayern will basically start 2025/24 now.

 

The loss of Oberdorf within a squad dealing with other absentees is a big deal, but Germany still have one more legit elite CM/AM available to them, who could see this tournament a potential break through moment if she can stay healthy over consecutive games...

And it's crazy knowing it's Minge who was identified to joined Wolfsburg as a replacement for Oberdorf, who's now in line to be a part of the Olympic team as Oberdorf's replacement there too.

Minge a legit goal threat, who's deceptively aggressive making tackles, also possessing a good sense of positional/tactical discipline.

Without Lattwein, or Magull, Minge presents a unique half and half version of two style of player combined into one. And hopefully Hrubesch notices this instead of staying true to his weird blind faith in Freigang and Nüsken...