Germany vs. South Korea
Female footballing enthusiasts across the German Bundesrepublik find themselves slightly on edge as the German women’s national team prepares for a pressure-laden Group H encounter against South Korea tomorrow. The DFB-Frauen – after beginning their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign with an impressive 6-0 win over Morocco – suffered a shock defeat against Colombia in the second round of group-stage-play. The nation’s first defeat in a WWC group stage since 1995 presses German backs firmly against the wall.
Everything remains possible in Group H. The Moroccans were able to rebound from their defeat to the Germans an pull out a 1-0 victory in their second fixture. The North African debutants remain alive as they prepare to face group leaders Colombia in the concurrent kickoff. The Koreans, meanwhile, can even qualify themselves with a Moroccan loss and a big victory over Germany. Though Martin Voss-Tecklenburg’s players have maintained an optimistic tone ahead of the tie, German fans cannot help but be reminded of the third group stage game during the 2018 men’s tournament.
South Korea eliminated Germany on that day five years ago.
Germany
Some more bad injury news in the DFB defensive ranks has quickly been cancelled out. Starting center back Sara Doorsoun’s thigh injury shall keep the veteran out of Thursday’s fixture. Doorsoun remained in the locker room for the second 45 against Morocco whilst Sjoeke Nüskens filled in. This matters little as Kathrin Hendrich’s regular defensive partner Marina Hegering has officially been passed fit. The German coaching staff confirmed a start for the stalwart yesterday.
In terms of the tactics from the previous match, Voss-Tecklenburg lined her team up in the manner (outside his personal build) foreseen by the author. Chantal Hagel slotted in for the injured Felicitas Rauch at left-back. Lena Oberdorf returned to the XI whilst Hegering remained out in favor of Doorsoun. At times the shape functioned as a 4-2-3-1. More frequently, however, a 4-1-4-1 manifested itself on the overhead cam. Oberdorf directed midfield traffic from her own solo axis. Sara Däbritz moved up to pair with Lina Magull.
Lineup—Germany—Match Two (4-1-4-1)
The DFB-Mädels received mostly positive reviews in all the main German press sources. Hagel in particular was widely lauded, as was her counterpart Svenja Huth. The two makeshift fullbacks demonstrated the capacity to synchronize their vertical movements well. The duo clearly practiced their approach play well on the training pitch. It very much appears as if this partnership shall be kept in place. The same applies to Oberdorf’s positioning. Germany’s “Midfield Titan” turned in an incredible performance from her pocket slot.
Däbritz and Lina Magull incurred some criticism for the manner in which they shuttled traffic. Link-up play outside the box central succumbed to many broken sequences. Magull received the lowest grades in German press critiques. The consensus seems to be that either Magull or Däbritz will be sacrificed in favor of an additional striker. Both Voss-Tecklenburg and her primary assistant Britta Carlson let it slip at a presser that they were strongly considering adding an additional presence in the box.
Lineup—Germany—Match Three (Projected) (4-1-3-2)
In all likelihood, this translates to a start for Lea Schüller over Lina Magull. Voss-Tecklenburg and Carlson also noted that the attack required some fresh ideas on the flanks. The author thus projects a flip for Jule Brand and Klara Bühl. Brand – who can play comfortably on the left – popped up on that side frequently during some of the early German charges. With Huth settling in at her new position and confidently pushing forward at the right moments, Brand isn’t needed there anyway. Bühl’s ability to switch things up on long horizontal carries renders there no need for an advanced ten.
The principal game-plan of the German team will be to utilize their aerial advantage in the early going in order to attain an early lead. A different forward constellation is needed in order to find a way past South Korean manager Colin Bell’s extra protection in the box. Despite the fact that they haven’t netted a goal in this tournament, the current incarnation of “Taeguk Nanja” should not be underestimated. The opponent – all female footballing fans will acknowledge – remains stacked with talent.
South Korea
One expected more from this nation following the success they’ve enjoyed under their new trainer over the past few years. South Korea’s new English gaffer, a well-known name within German footballing circles, led the team to the 2022 Asian Continental Championship Final last year. The squad also features established stars such as Lee Geum-Min, Ji So-Yun, Cho So-Hyun, Kim Hye-Ri, and Moon Mi-Ra. Excitement abounds over the teenage talents Bae Ye-Bin and Casey Phair.
Bell knows his German football. He ended his playing career and began his coaching career in the Bundesrepublik. The 61-year-old managed both mens and women’s team in the country. He took the old 1. FFC Frankfurt to the Women’s Champions League title and oversaw the Ortenau club SC Sand; long considering to be one of the biggest breeding grounds for German female football talents. Bell has surely been prepping his girls for this showdown for quite some time. Yes, we’re nervous.
Lineup—South Korea—Match One (3-5-2)
The Nanja held their own against tournament darlings Colombia for the opening half-hour of their first group stage fixture. Unfortunately, the match tipped after Catalina Usme converted a handball penalty and Bell’s ranks never really recovered. In control of upwards of 70 percent possession in the early stages, Choe Yu-Ri and Lee Geum-Min weren’t far off target on chances engineered via both open play and dead-balls. Keeper Yoon Young-Geul committed an error on the second Colombian goal and Cafeteras keeper Catalina Perez stood tall to stop two efforts from Lee.
Bell switched net-minders for the second match, giving Kim Mi-Jung the go over Yoon. Park Yun-Son was also preferred to Choe Yu-Ri at striker. The back-three was re-tooled to be run by Hong Hye-Ji on an inverted pivot. Lim Seong-Joo was supposed to start in place of Shim Sao-Yeon, but had to be scratched courtesy of an injury in warm-ups. The 3-5-2 remained in place and actually delivered its fair share of pop following a surprise early Moroccan goal.
Bell nevertheless had to switch things up with his team trailing at the half. Choe and Moon entered for Son and Cho. The 3-4-3 reformat paid immediate dividends with the Nanja coming close to equalizing three times prior to the hour-mark. Optically and technically, the South Koreans remained superior. Three more forwards, including the 16-year-old phenom Phair, would come on later on whilst the formation below stayed in place.
The second half of Match Two:
Lineup—South Korea—46th minute (3-4-3)
One conjectures that Bell will debut with the 3-5-2 in tomorrow’s fixture, possibly even scooting the wingbacks down the pitch to maximize protection on the flanks. Provided the Asians can frustrate the Germans early, a dangerous 3-4-3 lurks with each passing minute that the DFB-XI cannot establish a lead. Phair, having hit the post late, might even get a starting nod in this fixture. The Germans may find themselves undone by two teenage phenoms in the space of a few days.
Nerves, indeed.