German Fraulein National Team 2020 & beyond

I watch the u23's (Despite the coaches repeated selection nonsense), and this news of Mattner replacing Gwinn doesn't really surprise me at all.

Gonzalez initally the one FB I thought in line for a senior wnt selection this season. We've seen Injury slow her down, removing her from a lot of club and u23 football games.

But in the absence of Gonzalez, the two FB's at u23 level that have really stood out to me have been Mickenhagen, and Mattner.

Mickenhagen at LB physically robust, with a very good ability to cross, and shoot with high accuracy. It's Mattner who's basically looked like a clone of Gwinn at u23 level lol...

Initially a winger (like Gwinn), the moment Mattner trailed in a LB role last year Vs USA at u20 level, you could see how her qualities actually better suited to the international stage far better as a FB.

Deceptively quick, nice dribbling, and what appears to be a surprising level of defensive tactical awareness. Mattner honestly converted to life as a FB better than Wamser lol.

So it might be shocking to hear a youth player from the Austrian league is getting promoted to the senior wnt over more established names. But honestly, finding another FB not called Rauch, I see Gonzalez the next best option, while Mattner the closest skill profile I've seen to Gwinn.

 

Christian Wück: "I don't want to be all bad, but I know what this team is capable of. Therefore, it was a good performance, but we can do better. It's nitpicking, really. But we want to be among the top nations. And for me, that requires a team that wins these kinds of games more cleverly."

If Wück wants his team to reach that next level where they become a clear WC contender... he has to recognize the same negative tactical/positional elements of the Euro's (Nüsken, Dallmann, Knaak) still remain unresolved.

Changing the system to include a lone DM pivot the 1st intelligent adjustment from the struggles of the Euro's. But keeping the exact same players from that team, won't see Germany become a WC contender.

 

Using Wück's preference for athletes/strong physical attributes, I think he needs to start look at introducing Baum to the senior teams list of wide options...

Bühl/Endemann ------- FW -------- Brand/Baum
While I believe Bender the natural replacement for Dallmann, and a talent who's currently ahead of Baum. Baum's athleticism and directness (with and without the ball), makes her a legitimate upgrade over wasting more time watching Cerci struggle to impose herself from wide areas.

Zicai clearly not ready, Alber another year away from what she used to be, Mahmoud still recovering from injury. The wide players with the matching profiles Wück prefers, are honestly Baum, and Schimmer, with Bender the possible joker option.

And I know Dallmann in good form, being a player who's far more effective wide right, as she's very smart at finding space to operate Vs oposing FB's.

But you really notice how Wück's system truly most effective with a funcrion front 3; whenever direct speed and dribbling removed from one of the wings, the attack completely dependant on everything happening on the opposite side of the field.

 

---- Nüsken ----- Dallmann -----
---------------- Senß -----------------
This needs to eventually transition to something like this...
---- Oberdorf ----- Wrede -----
---------------- Senß -----------------

The current mid-field trio just a better configuration of the underwhelming mid-field we all witnessed during the Euro's.

A trio so weak, Wück decided during the Nations League that Brand (deployed to great effect) would take over Dallmann's AM position Vs France, and Spain.

But with Germany having a coming list of better CM/AM options (Mühlhaus, Wrede, Alara, Piljic) that doesn't even need to acknowledge Oberdorf set to return in the future too... change has to happen eventually.

Even Lohmann, or Lattwein, potentially make a return next season to win back their wnt roles. Right now, it's only Senß in a DM role I see in this current team improving even more come WC time.

 

Kett/Linder ----- CB ---- CB ----- Wamser/Gwinn
Mattner was just elevated to the senior wnt, in my opinion Gonzalez also a very strong prospect too; meaning FB roles look stable for years to come.

Considering Gwinn continues to be made from glass, I think the depth of talent high enough at FB now, to make it wise for Gwinn to be used on a more limted basis...

FB --- Küver ----- Minge --- FB
For me Küver part of Germany's best CB partnership as long as Minge considered a Co Captain.

Küver set to develop into a world class CB, with me seeing a host of young CB's who could join her one day as strong wnt level CB's too.

If Wück serious about having his team compete for titles, understanding the tactical strengths and weakness of his various CB partnerships vital.

 

Potential easiest way to upgrade in the near future..
------------------ Anyomi/Schüller -------------------
Bühl/Endemann ------------------ Brand/Dallmann
---- Nüsken/Wrede --- Oberdorf/Mühlhaus ----
--------------------- Senß/Gräwe ------------------------
Kett/Linder --------------------------- Gwinn/Wamser
------- Küver/Knaak ---------- Minge/CB ----------

Needing to find a 4th CB, Deihm another DM option, Alara, Lohmann, Piljic, all CM potentials if others get injured. Baum, Schimmer, Bender, candidates for a 4th choice wide forward. With doubts Cerci ever going to be deployed as a striker..

I'm also confused why Berger starts every wnt game, and Mahmutovic so few.... But looking at the clear identity in the player selection of rivals, you can really see how much work still to do if Wück is creating a series team/squad to win a tournament.

 

FT: Germany 2 : 1 (1-0) France
3' Rückert
66' Morissaint
79' Börner

Germany qualify for the u19 European Championship Finals...

 

U23's Germany 1 : 0 (1-0) Italy
7' Birkholz

Starting 11: Dick - Gonzalez, Ostemeier, Landenberger, Gloning - Piljic, Zdebel - Baum, Weidauer, Bender - Birkholz.

Germany ending the tournament in 5th place.

 

Somehow Germany's u19 forced to play within Behringer's poorly constructed 3-4-3, beat France to qualify for a Euro's finals.

France being physically dominant, winning ever 50/50 duel, wouldn't capitalize on their slight dominance, while Germany would find a way to take minimal chances with a level of efficiency previously unseen.

Behringer feeling like another example of a great player not being able to transition into being a great coach.... The biggest compliment I can give, is she accomplished this result without the help of Wrede.

The reasons for Behringer being allowed to have her team tactically completely independent from the rest of the program still unknown. But she just had her biggest success, and has to continue to improve so this doesn't end up being an anomaly.

Wrede is the only u19 player who could start for the senior wnt, everyone else a long way from the senior wnt being a reality. Regardless of Behringer's limitations, the line of talent thankfully still exists.

 

U23's game just looks like player being fould, needless backwards passing, and a general lack of good decision making.

Gonzalez validating my opinion she's not 100% back to her normal standards, explaining why Mattner was called up to the senior wnt ahead of her.

At some point Ostemeier has to be moved to the senior wnt, or removed from the u23's so younger players can recieve game time.

Without Alara, and now Mühlhaus, it's being painfully clear the u23 coach can't identify the issues his team continues to have using two forwards and no AM's within his system...

Baum a little too confident in her athleticism at times, she's becoming one dimensional constantly cutting in to try and shoot, even when the oposing FB shows her oceans of space to go on the outside.

Birkholz finally allowed to be the regular starter, is proving why her attributes as a wide forward, so much better suited to international football than Boboy, Weidauer, Martinez, and league top scorer Fudalla...

 

Birkholz really a perfect example why Fudalla won't work for Wück's style wnt. Fudalla's traits not even valuable until she showcases an ability to play as a AM/CAM.

In a short period of time, we've seen Birkholz prove herself the best lone forward the German u23 wnt has seen. Producing better overall effectiveness in a lone forward role than various superior club level names.

If your a club like Frankfurt... you might also be smart to invest in Birkholz right now, knowing Anyomi set to leave....

But during this rather disappointing u23 tournament, more names have successfully integrated into the senior team, as Birkholz becomes the discovery bigger clubs might need to pay close attention too.

I maintain my belief Martinez should still be part of the u23's.... Schimmer, Wrede, and Fudalla, the key names I see most in need of the bridge between club and senior level football.

Fudalla far too good at scoring goals to be deemed useless by a coach who actually in need genuine goal threat from his mid-field. The u23's a perfect place for Fudalla to try and learn how to be an effective AM.

Wrede still age 17, but Germany's next elite CM. The u23's a perfect habitat for her to train/play alongside more talented players, in preparation for her eventual senior wnt nomination.

Schimmer a dynamic wide forward with a lot of equally bad and positive traits, that could benefit massively from her training and playing on a more tactically demanding international stage.

 

Lotta Wrede will be out for some months with a foot injury.