Heading for the quarter-finals: DFB women turn match against Denmark

The German women's soccer team remains on course for the quarterfinals of the European Championship, even without captain Giulia Gwinn. In the 2-1 (0-1) victory against Denmark in Basel , Sjoeke Nüsken scored a penalty and Lea Schüller scored to turn a deficit in their second group match. Coach Christian Wück's team had to fight hard for the win.

In front of 34,165 spectators in a sold-out St. Jakob-Park, Amalie Vangsgaard gave Denmark the lead in the 26th minute. Around 17,000 German fans – more than ever before at a German women's away game – cheered their favorites on nonstop. Nüsken's penalty (66th minute) and Schüller's 54th international goal (66th minute) secured a well-deserved second victory at the tournament. Following Gwinn's knee injury and tournament exit, Wolfsburg's Janina Minge led the national team out as captain for the first time. As expected, 21-year-old Carlotta Wamser (formerlyEintracht Frankfurt /futureBayer Leverkusen ) played for Gwinn at right-back.

Wristband and jersey for the missing Giulia Gwinn

The German women held Gwinn's jersey up to the cameras during the team photo, and everyone also wore a white armband with the words "GG7." Fans in the stands held up banners reading, "We're together for Giuli - get well soon." The 26-year-old Bayern star is currently still in Munich for treatment. However, Gwinn plans to be there to provide moral support for the final group stage match against Sweden on Saturday (9 p.m./ZDF and DAZN) in Zurich.

Four days after their initially difficult 2-0 opening victory against Poland , the German women's team started off with a strong performance. Elisa Senß cleared up a lot of space in midfield, giving Vangsgaard a bloody nose. The initial celebration quickly died down: Video replay showed that Nüsken was offside when Klara Bühl, who was again impressive, shot in the 18th minute.

It wasn't Denmark's feared star Pernille Harder of FC Bayern, but Vangsgaard who caught the German team cold: Janni Thomsen danced around the German defense, then Vangsgaard fired a powerful shot that made it difficult for goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to make it 1-0. The deficit made Wück's team a little nervous. A handball by Frederikke Thögersen seemed to help. However, after a minute-long VAR check, referee Catarina Campos (Portugal) ruled the move outside the penalty area. Nüsken was already standing in to replace penalty specialist Gwinn.

Breathe a sigh of relief after the break

Bühl's shots were also constantly blocked. Thus, the German women went into the locker room trailing the 2017 European Championship runners-up, who had lost their first group match against Sweden. The next video review then favored Wück's team: Katrine Veje had brought down Linda Dallmann. This time, Nüsken stepped up to the penalty spot and converted confidently. As she had done against Poland, the busy Jule Brand then shone with an assist – Schüller, who had been rather inconspicuous up to that point, made it 2-1.