The Germany Women's National Football Team faces Austria on February 25, 2025, at the Max-Morlock-Stadium in Nürnberg, seeking their first victory of the UEFA Nations League season after drawing 2-2 against the Netherlands. This match holds considerable significance as it serves as preparation for the upcoming Women's European Championship 2025.
Bundestrainer Christian Wück has been vocal about the team's mixed performance against the Netherlands, recognizing the challenges they faced. "It was a game with many phases. We didn't start well but earned the equalizer at 1-1. After leading 2-1 and being clearly the stronger side, we failed to build on our advantage," he stated, indicating the lessons learned from their first outing.
Captain Giulia Gwinn expressed the importance of starting the Nations League with a win and acknowledged the team's ups and downs during the last match, saying, "We had set out to start the Nations League with a victory. The game had its highs and lows. We had many moments where we could have decided the game, but we lacked the final efficiency and ruthlessness before the goal." This sentiment underlines the determination of the team to secure their first win against their neighbors.
Adding to the mix of challenges, the team has faced injuries to key players, particularly affecting the goalkeeper position. Ann-Katrin Berger, who started against the Netherlands, is now sidelined due to illness, and the once-promising Sophia Winkler is out due to a knee injury. Wück confirmed Stina Johannes will now take the gloves for this pivotal match, marking her second appearance under his management.
Against Austria, supporters will witness the team debuting their new away jerseys intended for the EM 2025, brought to life by Adidas. The match is also accessible to fans as it will be broadcast live on ZDF, with coverage starting at 17:55 and kickoff set for 18:15.
Despite the defensive issues exhibited against the Netherlands, the DFB-Frauen showed glimmers of potential, particularly with Klara Bühl and Lea Schüller exhibiting individual talent. Wück has emphasized the need for the team to adopt precise crossing as part of their strategy going forward, hoping it becomes a hallmark of their style of play. "That must become our trademark," he declared confidently.
According to midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken, finding the right roles within the team is key and may take time. "It takes time to figure out roles, and this will all come together as we progress through the upcoming matches," she remarked, reflecting the collective sentiment of the squad focused on building their coherence.
The overarching goal isn't just to excel at the Nations League but also to solidify the team's composition as they gear up for the complex tournament structure of the EM 2025 where only group winners will advance to the semifinals. The urgency is palpable as the team prepares for this challenge, and Christian Wück must establish a core group of players who can seamlessly blend for the upcoming months.
With the clock ticking and only five competitive matches left before the European Championship, the stakes couldn't be higher for the team to demonstrate their growth and adaptability on the solid footballing stage. The match against Austria will set the tone for their final preparations and their drive to achieve success on home soil.