German Fraulein National Team 2020 & beyond

Yeah... a decade seeing a whole lot of failure, featuring a mainly injured Popp forcing the coaches to seek other first choice striker options that included names like Mandy Islacker, and Petermann lol, before we'd see Schüller become a regular member of the wnt.

Schüller now age 26, with a record of 65 games and 45 goals.... And this tournament would be the perfect moment to step up as Germany's new first choice striker, knowing Popp close to stepping down, while the new wave of Cerci, Kössler, and Anyomi, all set to be prominent forces for two of the leagues top clubs.

People who don't really know about Endemann would read this and think we're crazy lol, but yeah.... as long as Germany's system using a front 3, I think this becomes a choice of preference.

Brand still being highly inefficient compared to Bühl, or Endemann. With her often losing the ball in bad area's of the field, with dribbling stats that continue to suggest she's still trying to do too much.

If Hrubesch starts Endemann on the right, he gets a more mature wide forward when it comes to positioning, with generally better decision making too; but as we saw Vs Zambia, it doesn't mean Endemann immune to being incredibly frustrating when it comes to some basic execution, so...

 

Which has an even stranger context when you understand Hrubesch currently maintaining the best record of a wnt coach in a very long time...

One of the few positive traits we've seen in this 2nd run with Hrubesch, is also knowing clear tactical issues, and inconsistent performances, Hrubesch's Germany continues to generate lots of good goal scoring chances.

And after managing to qualify for the knock out rounds scoring lots of goals, while looking underwhelming, his prior wild assertion that this team can win a medal, only requires him to obtain 2 more wins in his final 2 matches, before stepping away as one of the programs best wnt coaches lol.

 

Meanwhile, you have a mission: apart from any other consideration... send the cheaters home!!!

 

Well it's not that difficult to maintain the best record in a very long time when your opponents are Austria, Poland, Iceland (4 games), Australia but also Wales. If Germany had to regularly face the likes of Spain, England, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, it would be a different story. Before Hrubesch arrived, MVT had to face tricky opponents at a World Cup and before that there were friendlies against Brazil, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United States (twice), France. The only weaker teams Germany faced around that time were Vietnam who they barely beat and Zambia who they lost against.

 

His record does include the Nations League, and I'm glad you mentioned MVT's record also including the year post Euro's too, as that year run of games might have produced the single worst serious of performances I'd see from any German wnt lol.

Right now though, I'll be honest when I say Hrubesch's Germany changing formation to a 4-2-4,might have resulted in performances being a lot worse in many aspects than what we'd see from MVT's WC team...

But NO WAY would I look at Hrubesch's positive 2nd run with the wnt, be a result of only playing weak opponents; as I remember Germany wining games looking truly HORRENDOUS with MVT facing various Euro qualification opposition.

Yes... MVT's biggest moment, was probably also her most shocking win, coming with Germany beating USA away from home with a host of first team players missing.

But again, no... I will not be re-writing history right now, pretending MVT had some kind of mission impossible task of leading the wnt through a never ending run of elite opponents lol

 

Looking at more data on all 3 CM's, it appears Popp was the worst of the 3, with Nüsken only slightly better than Minge, mainly due to Nüsken somehow losing the ball 20 times compared to Minge's 13.

If you've seen Nüsken as a CM, you also know she lacks great progressive passing skills, but still did her best to fill this teams need for somebody to do this role; and Vs Zambia, she'd produce the best overall display of any of CM Hrubesch currently has at his disposal.

Moving Popp to a box to box role within a CM trio, and Minge becoming the DM pivot, also seeing them benefiting from Solano producing her best passing performance so far in a German wnt jersey.

And with this side lacking a clear physical presence like Oberdorf, Lattwein, with no sign Senß ever being allowed to take over her best role within this team, it's created a strange situation where Ruach and Bühl currently the teams most successful tacklers, which isn't a great sign lol.

Solano for the first time genuinely appearing to understood how this wnt needs their CB's to play, would become way more aggressive, having her even step into CM on more than one occasion, but never making any tackles lol.

Highlighting where why this team struggles defensively so much, as they no longer use an aggressive high press, which is seeing them losing way too many individual duels, also producing far less tackles than normal.

 

I also think it's crazy to see Alber's name not part of the u20 preliminary list...

This is the first time I think this has ever happened, no? Where a junior wnt player who's performed well enough for her club to be considered close to an eventual senior level recognition, has turned down the opportunity of a u20 WC... wow

 

Is this the first time you support Germany?

 

I surely won't in the upcoming semifinal Germany-Japan.

 

Results from Olympic Games:
Basketball Men: Germany - Japan 97:77
Basketball Women: Germany - Japan 75:64
Handball Men: Germany - Japan 37:26
Hockey Women: Germany - Japan 2:0
Volleyball Men: Germany - Japan 3:2

So who would win another Germany vs Japan match?

 

Law of large numbers suggests it would be Japan's turn to win.

 

I'm not sure that you understand the law of large numbers correct.

 

Losing in a penalty shootout counts as a draw, it's not a proper loss per se.

Sheridan is probably Canada's weakest point.

 

After the inflated scores Vs Australia, the numbers are starting to become more realistic with each match lol.

The obvious POTM here would be Bühl. Providing a goal and two assists, in a game her 2nd half would see her end up with one of the best stat lines produced by anybody so far during this tournament.

For me though, while Brand would produce a poor display of decision making, the worst player for me Vs Zambia was probably Popp. Who'd once again struggle to contribute to her teams mid-field success, even though we know the world class levels she has as a forward/attacker...

Special mention also needing to go to Solano. Showcasing intelligent positioning, and controlled aggression to keep the pink elephant quiet. She's also do this while while producing her best passing display for the German wnt, even showing the confidence to step into mid-field for the first time, mirroring what we typically see from Hegering...

 

Vs UEFA rivals France, Canada would use a 4-2-3-1 to match the host nation in creating the same amount of shots/shots on target with only 35% possession...

So clearly Canada's strength is defending, as their right side defender Rose has been their most effective tackler, within a team very comfortable/flexible in changing their shape to negatively impact performances of the oppositions best player. (That's Bühl's side of the field...)

Their CM Fleming over 3 games also producing the 2nd most key passes of any player seen so far, highlighting the importance for Germany to finally show up and compete in mid-field too.

I don't know if it good or bad that neither of these teams have been particularly great when it comes to passing/possession, but if USA's front 3 is ahead of everyone right now for overall goal threat, it's still interesting to see Germany's front 3 end the group stage second place across all teams for total shots.

Facing any opponent with a strong CM the most obvious weakness for Hrubesch's Germany, the way Canada play would seem like they'll allow Germany to have enough of the ball to be dangerous, but do so with the intent of being physically aggressive to win the ball and exploit individual errors. (something Germany have allowed too much)

 

During a first half Germany would start within a 4-2-4, Brand attempted 11 dribbles Vs Zambia, only succeeding 4 times....

So far this has been a tournament where the formation has placed a lot of focus on Brand's ability to transition through dribbling. But after the 2nd half formation adjustments Vs Zambia, I think Brand potentially becomes more effective doing less if she's placed closer to goal within a front 3...

Taking the 2nd most dribbles in this tournament, and accomplishing very little... surely you place Brand closer to goal, and we see needing less touches to contribute more key passes, and potentially goals.

 

And should we not make it to Paris, it would be an honor to welcome Nadeshiko into the club of World and Olympic Champions

 

Solano was fantastic. Cool, calm and collected. I never felt nervous with her at the backline. I think she has the position on lock and we will see who will be her partner after the Olympics. I hope we will see some new blood. Hegering is probably done and Hendrich will be 34-35 at the next World Cup.

 

I think the match will be a slugfest and the longer it stays 0:0, the better it is for Canada. Could go like that Colombia WC match, where Germany gets beat by a set piece. If Germany scores first and Canada has to come, then Brand/Endemann and Bühl should use their speed on the counter. And Schüller needs to be efficent, because we might not see many chances.

 

Unfortunately no such luck, but I think they did ok to hold USA to 2 goals, and managed to score 1 too. Coach is gone now so hoping they get someone with better tactics and ideas about squad rotation, and we SK back ASAP. We are hosting Asain Cup in 2026 and we are hopefully prepared for Brazil 27.
Just hoping for Germany to progress now and knock the drone pilots out.
A Spain v USA final looks likely. No one in Australia plays or cares much about rugby union either, it's an elite private school game mostly. Rugby League is the popular sport. New Zealand is the real rugby union country. Nonetheless USA did well.

 

She'd accomplish this with a rather strange stat of not completing many tackles over 90 mins lol... All of her best defensive sequences, coming through her strong positioning, and controlled aggression while facing various 1v1 duels.

Solano not even replicating all the unique qualities that makes Hegering so important for this team, would still manage produce something I never even believed possible from her, recording the single best progressive passing stats of any German player during the group stage....

Meaning we might have seen the first sign of Solano's unique traits for this team. As she doesn't win arial duels, doesn't dribble, doesn't make hard tackles, but seems tactically smart, and deceptively competent at making accurate progressive long passes along the ground.

Give Germany a real CM trio, a defensive system everyone understands, and I genuinely believe defensive options will look significantly better on a regular basis.

But yes... alongside Solano, we should see names like Kleinherne, Krug, Wolter, Pucks, Veit, Küver, become some of the main options coming directly into the post Olympics pool of CB's.

 

Hmmm.... what I've seen of Canada, I think Germany scores against them. With the biggest offensive threat of Canada (set plays & directness) also potentially fixed with the inclusion of Berger, and the use of a dedicated DM now too.

Germany's outfielders also pretty good at dealing with high balls, and now have a GK who's very commanding at claiming high airborne crosses too. Leaving the biggest threat from Canada, coming from them exploiting any individual errors that they can force inside Germany defensive 3rd of the field.

But neither Germany or Canada having a single player in the top 20 for accurate final third passes lol, should tell us a lot about the two teams, and how this game will probably look..

Regardless of highly inconsistent team performances over 90 mins, Germany continue to generate a lot of chances under Hrubesch... and this hasn't stoped during the Olympics.

But yes... with Schüller at the top of the list for having the most attempts on goal, your also 100% correct saying she'll need to start being more efficient with her shooting...

Brand #2 for most successful dribbles, but frustrating ineffective when it comes to chances created, or shots on goal. Bühl being placed closer to goal finally coming to life Vs Zambia, hopefully hinting at her return to top form.

As long as Germany's shape can remain compact again, with forwards being more efficient with their chances, they posses a legit attacking threat to hurt teams like Canada.

And I say this knowing Germany have already faced the two toughest attacks in this tournament; both exposing their weakness, and revealing potential strengths. Right now most of the concern with Germany, is not knowing which Germany likely to show up for the first 45 mins...