German Fraulein National Team 2020 & beyond

Hrubesch isn't particularly cautious or conservative for any of his wnt matches. Home, or away, it's always the same issues with this team, but it just happens to appear more pronounced for the players when their away from home.

And yes... if zero tactics MVT and her awful team selections managed to find two different positive 45 min spells of football Vs the USwnt, I also believe Hrubesch's Olympic side very capable of producing a better performance Vs the same opponent.

But when you see the damage a good athletic u14 boys team forward will do versus professional senior wnt level defenders, I think what the defences of Australia, USA, Germany, will do to contain Zambia's little man, will also play a huge role in the way this Olympic group ends...

 

Speaking on this a little more... don't you think it strange we don't see Germany recreating their own equivalent of what your USwnt coaches did here...?

I know Germany constantly playing serious matches, not friendlies. But swap Anyomi for Shaw, Senß for Coffey, with the dispensable CM's in this case being Minge and Magull (neither likely to be headed to the Olympics).

It puts into perspective how much talent Germany has in CM positions, and at the same time demonstrates the frustrating inability of coaches to utilise this quality to construct a team correctly too.

Oberdorf - Senß - Nüsken together looking great on paper, but without real balance all 3 unable to showcase their true qualities. We'd see Nüsken the odd player here, with the CM only growing stronger when she was replaced by Minge in the 2nd half.

 

I have solved the problem for you. (I didn't knew Anyomi has a sister)

 

Yes... I always think it's dumb watching the various German wnt's straight up ignore the importance of a CAM within a 4-3-3 system.

And without hindsight of knowing the final result, the HT change (4-3-3 to 4-4-2) Vs Netherland's was a genuinely huge risk for this side to use away from home, facing an opponent who could have easily gained a major momentum shift fuelled by strong home support too.

Luckily though, the change from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 would happen against a Netherland's side who's 3-5-2 seemed to lack the quality within their own CM, to take full advantage of the extra CM they'd gain.

But when you see how the 4-4-2 typically looks for Germany Vs tougher opposition, it was actually very reasonable for me to feel rather concerned about the 2nd half Vs the Netherland's, having just witnessed how poor the same formation would look Vs France during another painfully bad 45 mins.

 

Yeah... I see this happening too. But this being the German wnt were talking about here, we should 100% expect some kind of completely confusing /random player selection to take place lol..

I really dislike the fact Germany currently looking like their all set to use the EXACT same (4-4-2) two forward tactical approach we'd see a poor Neid side deploy throughout her final tournament with the wnt...

And with this 4-4-2, I'm also hugely sceptical about the general effectiveness of a Nüsken - Oberdorf within a double 6 too, having seen these two demonstrating very little chemistry working together as a tactically stable CM duo...

Oberdorf - Lattwein as a double 6 at club level always showcasing great balance together. In my opinion, the closest I've seen to this effectiveness for the wnt being the period of time the system adjusted to have Oberdorf - Senß closer to each other Vs Iceland.

The style Senß using as a CM/DM, allowing Oberdorf to move forward more often to positively influence the attack... it had me think this partnership could potentially end up with Oberdorf replicating a far better version of what Behringer would do for the Olympic team in 2016...

 

@hotjam2 Hrubesch recently sounded like he's already got Däbritz in his final 18, and this with Lohmann also being one of his favourites too, regardless of club form, having me think we'll see him take 5 CM's to the Olympics.

18 Squad....
FW: Popp - Schüller
WF: Bühl - Brand - Endemann
AM: Däbritz - Lohmann
CM: Oberdorf - Nüsken - Senß
FB: Rauch - Linder - Gwinn
CB: Hegering - Hegering - Solano
GK: Frohms - Johannes

-------------------------- Popp ----------------- Schüller ---------------------------------
Bühl ------------------------------------------------------------------ Brand/Endemann
---------- Oberdorf/Senß/Däbritz ---------- Nüsken/Lohmann --------------
Rauch/Linder ----- Hegering/Solano ----------- Hendrich ------ Gwinn
--------------------------------- Frohms/Johannes ------------------------------------

I have a feeling both Minge, and Kössler, going to be a regular members of the wnt post the Olympics, but won't be called into Hrubesch's final 18, with Solano taken ahead of Doorsoun too.

This with me knowing the wnt coaches probably really eager to do something stupid here lo. Like leave Endemann out, using the belief Lohmann's wide role at Bayern makes it possible to bring Freigang along as a 3rd striker...

 

If it was me selecting the Olympic squad, I'd take Küver as one of the utility defenders. But with Küver still dealing with minor injuries, I'd leave out Rauch and take Wolter as the teams utility defender...

Like Küver, Wolter actually a CB who's skill set see's her able to produce strong performances within both FB roles. Making this an easy decision for me if I wanted 4 CB's, and 3 FB options, within my final 18 Olympic squad.

But knowing how these coaches think, I doubt they have any comprehension of Wolter ever being a strong CB. Meaning Rauch will go to the Olympics as a back up LB, Linder being a start and cover for Gwinn, with the last resort 4th choice CB being Oberdorf or Nüsken.

I'm guessing your talking about Germany's two 2022 friendlies Vs the USwnt...? And if this the case, I think your using some highly impressive revisionist history to convince anybody MVT's team selections meant to be "effective" lol...

Popp starting the first match as a CM within a double 6. Nüsken starting at CB. Kleinherne at RB. Rall a right side wide forward. While Freigang the #9... of course things should only get better from this lol..., and luckily they did.

The key positives with this particular game, coming with a surprising individual performance from Krumbiegel, and seeing Germany by pure luck correctly deploying CAM's during both 1st and 2nd half's.

However, trying to call this performance intentionally "effective" seems rather disingenuous lol, when we'd never actually see Germany successfully showcase anything witnessed during this game ever again.

MVT's side gradually improving with her 2nd half subs, in ways we should all realise by now to be pure coincidence, not design. It most blatant in your supposed "faster lineup", where it featuring the not so athletic duo of Magull and Hagel as AM's, playing ahead of Oberdorf as a DM pivot lol...

I'm pretty sure it was the improved ball movement, not individual physical advantages, favouring Germany's 2nd improvements to win the first match. And in no way do I see this a positive result of MVT actively selecting a side to try and accentuate traits of speed/power.

 

@hotjam2 If Gwinn and Linder both healthy, I really don't see the need to take Rauch when the coaches have two other FB's both very comfortable playing in LB/RB roles. And not when the coaches should know Wolter can play in all 3 defensive roles as a 3rd and 4th choice utility player.

---------------- Popp/Däbritz ------------ Schüller ---------------------------
Bühl ------------------------------------------------------------ Brand/Endemann
------------- Oberdorf/Senß ---------- Nüsken/Lohmann -----------------
Linder ----- Hegering/Solano ----------- Hendrich ------ Gwinn/Wolter

And as you see here, with it all but certain Däbritz will be going if healthy, I think it would also make more sense to only use Däbritz if she's replacing one of the forwards.

Däbritz's goal scoring this season up, but her general creativity way down. The last thing we need to see, is Däbritz anywhere near the CM roles come the Olympics...

 

Lol,,, but your comparing Macario being used as a lone forward, to a box to box playing Nüsken...

Macario producing her most impressive football for a UWCL winning Lyon side, where she was used as the teams main CAM, within a CM trio she'd feature alongside her USwnt team mate Horan, and one of the games elite female DM's (Henry)...

So yeah... I know Nüsken is a really good player (this not my issue with her), but using a league match Vs a 7th place Aston Villa, to try and make comparisons between two very different players, within two very different role, probably unwise lol....

 

Olympic outfit

 

@hotjam2 I have constantly insisted we rarely witness Germany coming close to performing at the standards their players truly capable of producing. Which means yes, I'm fully aware of the talent Germany posses right now.

However, I'm also fully aware of the damage MVT would do to this team post Euro's, resulting in the current problematic scenario we see now, where Hrubesch is always fighting an uphill battle trying to rebuild a new identity/system for this group of players, while also needing to win competitive matches.

And it within this atmosphere of tactical struggle for Germany, I see the USwnt benefiting from a period of experimentation, that will likely see them fielding a much improved version of the team Germany would face twice back in 2022.

Since 2022, Germany gaining a very strong new FB in Linder, maybe a new CB in Solano.., with the attacks depth potentially being upgrading with the addition of Edemann too. But this happening for a team who's coaches still can't seem to find a final resolution to the selection process of their best starting CM configuration.

So this not really a question of who has the better individual players, but who will construct the better team come the Olympics. Right now... while Germany continue to jump between a 4-3-3, and 4-4-2, to me it's the USwnt who appears to be slightly ahead when it comes to the construction of their new look team...

 

The official ambassadors for the joint Euro's bid from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.... and look who's front a centre....

It seems to change regularly, but if anybody can find the official job title of Silvia Neid now within the DFB, good luck lol. Neid must wield some serious power behind the scenes of the DFB...

 

So a few random and somewhat drunken thoughts after watching the icelend game in full.
Klara Bühl could be potentially the most important german player going forward.
So much abilitry in attack to both provide and take chances. Jule Brand showed incredible desire and endevour and created a lot.
Seeing Oberdorf take the armbard for the first time was exciting. When her pass acuracy matches her vison, we will will start to see the world class player emerge. Schuller has got to be in there, is good. Defence on set piece needs to be addressed. Who are the best defenders going forward ? I feel Hendrich has done enough and has valuable experience. Is
Sara Däbritz someone who can come back in ?

 

Lyon Women's Coach Sonia Bompastor on Sara Däbritz 🗣️ :
" Unfortunately, she injured her ankle during training. She had surgery and it’s the end of the season for her. There is still a little hope for the Olympic Games with
🇩🇪 Germany." pic.twitter.com/nRr6e66sum

— mamdouh hamid (@mamdwwy) April 19, 2024

 

So.... Däbritz is the first player from this team to see a serious injury remove her from participating at the Olympics.

And with this news, I think it confirms Senß now almost guaranteed a place within the final 18, leaving me to believe it now a battle between Freigang, Anyomi, Magull, Kössler, for who will take the role of 3rd FW/5 mid-fielder...

 

With so much change happening within the DFB, I thought this video particularly relevant right now...

 

Agreed... since her days at Freiburg, I felt given enough time Bühl would eventually emerge as an elite wide forward. And at age 23, she's developed an overall game now, that see's her regularly performing as the senior wnt's most effective player.

A wide forward I'm also convinced held back from her true potential at club level. It's been really interesting to see Bühl's development on the international stage during one of the most unstable periods for the wnt...

Great tactical understanding of her role, no matter if she's pushed on her left foot, moves onto her right, dribbling at speed, or making intelligent quick passes, when Bühl playing for the wnt now, she's almost guaranteed to score or produce a key assist every match...

Hmmmm.... there's still a level of untapped potential within Brand's game, that could easily see her producing unstoppable performances if she ever figures out how to best utilise her skill set, to provide consistent end product...

The thing everyone forgets about Obedorf, is that she's established a world class reputation within a role she only started playing a month before the Euro's....

Until MVT moved her into a DM role, all her best performances at club level were either as CAM, or CM. And I think the wnt hasn't really seen the best of Oberdorf yet, as she's never been used within a box to box role... well, until the 2nd half of the last match lol.

Oberdorf within a box to box CM role for the wnt, more likely to unleash her full potential, moving her game beyond simply being a defensive screen for CB's. And it crazy to think until Hrubesch, CB/DM is the only roles she's had for the wnt lol.

 

Huh... excuse me, but Brand is peaking now..? Endemann has already eclipsed Brand's career best league performance in numbers, and your claiming Brand is the German wnt player peaking for the Olympics...

Oberdorf being healthy, no longer running around overweight, instantly makes a huge difference towards her general performance. But if we're speaking about players who appear to be moving into peak form... I think we need to raise the bar a little higher on what Brand should be accomplishing lol.

Well.. I'm convinced this actually an issue born directly from many years of the DFB's systemic flawed player analysis process, creating a scenario the wnt can't even start to benefit from the various defensive talents within it's wider player pool.

The peak of this flawed process witnessed during the WC, where the coaches wouldn't even acknowledge having any credible defensive options to replace Gwinn post Euro's, resulting in the entire system that brought them success, just being thrown out of the window.

Highlighting how regardless of consistent junior wnt success finding strong defensive options, or clubs developing solid CB/FB options, the process in which young defensive players selected for the senior wnt simply broken, resulting in Germany's 3 main CB's all being aged over 30, with no clear competition to replace them...

Oh, and what's even more ridiculous about this scenario, is knowing we'd have to thank Hegering basically rediscovering the lost art of the libero role, to make everything run effectively during the last Euro's, or else we would have seen one of Oberdorf, Lattwein, Nüsken embarrass themselves as CB's again...

So as you hint, it should be obvious Solano a temporary solution to a much bigger problem here... but at least she a solution that actually wants to use defenders within defensive roles again. And we'll only know if this frustrating cycle can finally be broken once Wück, and Meinert, take over a team that has no choice but to rejuvenate it CB options.

 

Not dealing with FK's/Corners correctly, is clearly an issue of needing better organisation. But I also believe someone like Wolter could be a good short term option for the Olympic squad as a 3rd/4th choice CB..., as I could see her surprise a lot of people with the strong qualities she'd provide the wnt team as a CB.

Plus with Däbritz being ruled out of the Olympics now, it will be interesting to see if Hrubesch goes with maturity/experience, or selects based on form/potential...

My initial mid-field 5 being Däbritz, Magull, Oberdorf, Nüsken, Lattwein, I'm now looking at the final 18 replacing Däbritz with Senß, with Magull unlikely to see her name called too...

 

Fowler & Cooney Cross are the main ones I wish to see getting more game time as they are young and still developing. Foord & Catley if they get can get some minutes and maintain fitness should be ok. Raso is limited technically, its no surprise she is not starting at Madrid.

Carpenter has been playing in the Lyon CL matches so far, her defensive game needs a lot of work.