DFB women: Clear victory in European Championship dress rehearsal against Austria

National coach Christian Wück smiled mischievously after the goal fest, while captain Giulia Gwinn raved about Germany's "fireworks display." No wonder: The goal-hungry DFB women delivered a perfect dress rehearsal for the European Championship and gained considerable momentum for their hoped-for summit in Switzerland.

Thanks to a lightning start and ruthless efficiency, the German national team prevailed 6-0 (6-0) against Austria in Vienna, four days after their Nations League gala against the Netherlands (4-0) in their final test before the EURO 2020. "We simply had an incredible amount of fun on the pitch," praised Gwinn on the ARD microphone: "The first half, in particular, was a firework display. We can be proud of that."

Sydney Lohmann scored after just 14 seconds for the storming German women's team, who had secured their group victory against the Netherlands and thus a spot in the Final Four. Lea Schüller (9th), Selina Cerci (26th), Klara Bühl (31st), Lohmann again (39th), and Laura Freigang (43rd) added more. One month before the start of their European Championship title campaign against Poland, the German team underscored their significant improvement in form.

The national coach made four changes after the brilliant performance of his likely European Championship team in Bremen. In the final part of the casting before Wück's squad announcement on June 12, Bundesliga top scorer Cerci and Lohmann submitted particularly strong applications. The duo, along with Freigang and Franziska Kett, who also impressed, were given a chance.

In front of 5,150 fans in Vienna's Franz Horr Stadium, the national coach demanded that his players provide the "icing on the cake." They delivered – and brilliantly. Less than a minute had passed when Lohmann converted a fierce cross from Cerci. The German national team subsequently made a few defensive lapses, but their neighbors from the Alpine Republic failed to capitalize on them.

And the German national team? They struck with icy coolness after straightforward attacks down the flanks. Schüller with a header, Cerci after another precise cross, and Bühl with a crisp finish punished the increasingly weak Austrian defense. In the meantime, Schüller had even missed two good opportunities (14th and 16th minutes).

With the lead behind them, Wück's team kept up the pressure. Lohmann added another from 25 meters, and Freigang capped off a nearly perfect half after an attack she had initiated herself.

At halftime, Wück sent Gwinn, Rebecca Knaak, and Bühl on an early break. The German team played the second half in a more manageable fashion, with goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger appearing more confident after the wobbles before the break. However, after a clumsy tackle by Janina Minge, Germany was fortunate that Austria was not awarded a penalty (78').

Things will get serious again for the European Championship contenders starting June 19, when Wück and his team will be working on the final touches in Herzogenaurach. A decision is expected at least a week before that on whether Lena Oberdorf, who has yet to play a competitive game since tearing her cruciate ligament, will be allowed to travel to Switzerland.

RND/SID