German Fraulein National Team 2020 & beyond

I think it's weird Frohms disgruntled with her treatment during the Olympics, has become the first player to openly state her desire to walk away from the wnt. As I question why we still haven't heard anything from the other senior members of the wnt, that were all expected to announce their retirement decisions much sooner...

Reading the news on Frohms' decision, it appears Wück continues to be talking to various senior players about their potential future roles on his team. And that's not probably not too surprising considering the clout they still hold.

But with Wuck's first match with the wnt being two friendly matches, I also don't see any real season for him to continue with any prior continuity if he wants to introduce new ideas into his vision for this team.

Facing England at Wembley, and then Australia at home, might be targeted as the two goodbye games for Popp and Hegering.... But coming after the strained WC and Olympics cycles, I think it would also be healthier to see Wück take a far more aggressive approach to start his era.

 

I still believe Popp age 33 still performing at a level she could easily remain a permanent fixture of the early Wück era, but after the WC and Olympics struggles, it would be incredibly positive to see a better blend of old and new faces in his first squad.

 

...

 

1:0 Janzen (6)
2:0 Nachtigall(24)
3:0 Bender(26)

 

Argentina memories

 

4:0 Nachtigall (37)

Seven more to score.... (or just save energy now)

 

Janzen gifts Argentina a goal with her back pass. But now penalty Germany.
Zicai was fouled but referee changed her decision after review.

 

5:1 Zicai (69)

Just avoid injuries now.

 

The u20's produce a shockingly comfortable victory Vs Argentina, and move on to face USA in the quarter finals.

Again, I'm not 100% convinced Peter's system is the most efficient way to get strong performances from these players..., forcing the teams only defenders to take so much individual responsibility facing relentless 1v1 duels.

But so far it's found a way to allow Germany to not only retain a lot more possession of the ball, to offset the systems one major weakness to transitions aka counter attacks. it's also had the benefit of the extra attackers in mid-field to generate chances and goals I never thought possible prior to the tournament...

However... as I predicted, we'd see Bender continue to play a significant role offensively, assisting and scoring Vs Argentina, as her general theme of annoying opposing defenders to continued, resulting in more defenders trying to foul in hopes it slows her down lol.

But I also have to say the teams best individual performance would come from Zicai, during a match she'd never receive any help from her LB, but still end up providing a constant threat wining her 1v1, and 1v2 duels, with impressive direct dribbling skills.

Oh... and while I don't think Nachtigall a particularly impressive player, she'd also probably have her best moments wearing a wnt jersey Vs Argentina. Yet never doing enough to convince me Steiner not the superior #9, with her ability to press, retain possession, and create for others, being qualities that would help this team far more Vs a physically stronger USA.

 

Marina Hegering retired from national team

Nach 42 Länderspielen, einem Vize-Titel bei der EM 2022 und Olympia-Bronze beendet Abwehrspielerin Marina Hegering ihre Karriere in der deutschen Nationalmannschaft. Wir sind stolz auf dich, Marina und freuen uns mit dir auf die weitere Zukunft beim VfL!👏💚
➡️… pic.twitter.com/Vzx5ff7Ua9

— VfL Wolfsburg Frauen (@VfL_Frauen) September 13, 2024

 

After 42 international matches, Marina Hegering announces her retirement from the wnt...

 

I literally just posted about it being strange that we hadn't heard anything from the wnt's senior players concerning their future on this team. So after Hegering decided it's time to step away, does this mean we'll finally get some form of resolution on the positions of Popp, and Hendrich too...?

 

A little more on Hegering... In my opinion she was a highly underrated wnt player, who often found herself being disrespected by hew own fans for successfully managing to hold together a suspect wnt, that required her to construct a far more complex libero style for herself to be at her most effective as a CB.

And with the wnt moving into a new era of coaching, while it was previously impressive seeing what Hegering was able to accomplish playing for poor coaches, within poor systems that often made it hard for anyone to shine defensively, I genuinely hope to see Wück establish a modern defensive system that demands less of his defenders individually, to gaining more from them collectively.

This constantly lacking collective element of the wnt's general play preventing the team from being able to reach it's full potential, I think it would take defensive options to a whole new level, if the coaches could create a team greater than the sum of it's parts, elevating players beyond constantly needing to be world class before they can effect games positively.

Meaning if Hegering's time with the wnt defined by lots of chaos and individual quality, it would be great to see the new era begin with more genuine CB options being called into the squad, stepping away from the past practice of attempting to convert CM's into being deployed within defensive roles.

 

Not sure how exactly Paulina Krumbiegel is positioned right now for what concerns Germany NT, but today she scored a brace giving Juventus the win over Como :

 

I'm here in time to watch the German victory
North Korea won so I guess third place will be the maximum for Germany.

 

HT 0:0

 

Foul on Bender. Zicai with an excellent penalty. 1:0 (61)

 

Nachtigall should have scored but then Bender finishes.
2:0 (90+2)

 

USA scores at 90+8 and 90+9. A disaster.

 

Must be leg day today. Why run 90m' , when you can run 120m'.