DFB women beat France: Three positive findings, one old “shortcoming”

Christian Wück used the key words right at the beginning of his analysis on TV. "The only shortcoming was our efficiency in front of goal," said the German women's national team coach on ARD on Friday evening. The German women's national team deservedly won the first leg of their Nations League semifinal against France 1-0. But only just – due to their lack of efficiency. Wück's team created numerous top-class chances.

Captain Giulia Gwinn, in her first international match since the knee injury she sustained in the opening European Championship victory against Poland, summed up the flaw almost word for word. "The only thing we lacked was efficiency," said the FC Bayern Munich full-back.

With her winning goal from long-range in the 79th minute, Klara Bühl gave Germany a good starting position for the return match next Tuesday (9:10 p.m., ZDF) in Caen. There, the German national team will aim to secure its place in the final of the European Nations' tournament.

The European Championship semifinalist, who defeated the French in the last eight of the European Championship just over three months ago, despite being outnumbered and thanks to Ann-Katrin Berger's heroic performance between the sticks, was clearly the dominant team in this encounter in Düsseldorf. It was only due to a lack of accuracy in their finishing that the decision took so long to come.

However, there were three positive aspects to the narrow victory in the first appearance after the tournament in Switzerland.

Because Berger, the spectacular savior of the European Championship quarter-finals in Basel in July, was out injured, Stina Johannes (in only her fourth international match) was given the support of the national coach. The 25-year-old made a strong save on the line, particularly from substitute Melvine Malard's chance (73'). The VfL Wolfsburg goalkeeper was a solid backup overall, with Johannes exhibiting only minor wobbles with the ball at her feet.

Meanwhile, her VfL teammate Camilla Küver provided particular defensive stability in central defense on her debut. Called up to the senior national team for the first time, the 22-year-old was selected from the start, playing alongside former Wolfsburg player Kathrin Hendrich, who now plays for Chicago. Küver's presence, her strong actions off the ball, and her courageous yet consistently precise build-up play were impressive.

Nicole Anyomi surprisingly started in attack instead of Munich's Lea Schüller. Traveling without the injured Giovanna Hoffmann (torn cruciate ligament), Wück wanted to rely on the Frankfurt player's dynamism. Although the 25-year-old missed a great chance from a few meters, she played well.

"We had planned to play our game differently, with more possession," Wück explained to the ARD microphone after the match. The German women were supposed to create opportunities "not only from the outside, but also from the middle." They succeeded.

While Germany had to play with a man down for long periods in two of their five matches at the European Championship this summer, including the hard-fought victory after a penalty shootout against France, they performed dominantly in front of over 37,000 spectators, minimizing major errors in their own build-up play and moving the ball well. Sjoeke Nüsken, playing centrally, Jule Brand, and Carlotta Wamser, who moved from back to right forward due to Gwinn's return, were particularly enthusiastic.

“You could see what we are capable of and what kind of football we want to play,” said winning goal scorer Bühl.

As was the case at the European Championships – Gwinn's early injury, two red cards, and other absences, including the still-missing Sarai Linder – Wück was once again without key players. In addition to Hoffmann, hopeful Lena Oberdorf, barely fit and on the verge of her DFB comeback, suffered a (repeated) cruciate ligament tear in the same knee she suffered in early summer 2024.

The national coach will not only be without Berger, but also another goalkeeper, Ena Mahmutovic. Janina Minge, who had been called upon to replace Gwinn as captain at the European Championships, was suspended due to a yellow card. But there was no shortage of leaders. Returning player Gwinn drove the team forward from the back, while Nüsken and Brand took over the attacking role in the center, but also distinguished themselves with robust tackling.

With their sympathy for the injured, the Germans demonstrated their intact team spirit. During the European Championship, Gwinn had worn white forearm tape with the inscription #GG7. Now, the jerseys of the two long-term injured players were laid out in the players' circle before kickoff. After Bühl's goal, Gwinn, who was substituted after 60 minutes, celebrated on the sidelines wearing the jersey of her Bayern teammate, Oberdorf – and held out Leipzig's Hoffmann's jersey for Bühl to raise.

Bühl, who replaced Cora Zicai immediately after the 1-0 goal, followed Schüller's example at the European Championships. "We had so many chances today, and I knew I had one more chance before being substituted," said the winger. Schüller, who came on for Anyomi in the 60th minute against France, also took advantage of her scoring opportunities in the group matches against Poland and Denmark precisely when her substitute had already been called to the sidelines by Wück.

The national coach praised Bühl for her high level of commitment, saying she had an "incredibly high quantity, many actions, for a player of her caliber" – he added: "world class" – but she also needed to improve "her efficiency." He had already criticized her and the entire team for this in Switzerland.

Nüsken also missed three great chances against the French team – one with a header and two with her foot, one even from close range in front of goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, who was too poorly placed to fire the shot straight into the arms of the German national team player, who is currently unused at Chelsea. Wück's assessment was therefore also partially positive: "It annoyed me immensely; the 1-0 was deserved, but far too small."