Germany have what it takes to take down big international prey
Germany’s last Women’s World Cup was a catastrophe to say the least. They started off well by beating Morocco 6-0, but were reduced to only two meager goals against Colombia and South Korea, which resulted in their first ever group stage elimination. Since then, Germany have not played many opponents outside of Europe, due to various qualifiers and Nations League fixtures, apart from the 2024 Olympics. So it would have been natural to be a bit skeptical of their ability to play well against teams
from other continents.
Enter Australia, who are no pushovers, as they reached the final of the Asian Cup. Germany wasted no time in putting them to the sword, creating many chances and allowing very little, and eventually emerging rather comfortable winners. Of course, just one game against Australia does not say much, but it does give a glimmer of hope for the Germans ahead of next year’s World Cup. It does show that Germany is not averse to playing well against strong international opposition. In comparison, Germany struggled against the likes of Zambia and Vietnam ahead of the 2023 editions.
If you don’t take your chances, you will pay the price
Given the number of chances Germany created against Australia, they arguably should have scored at least two more goals. Yes, “what ifs” ultimately mean very little in any sport, but Germany’s missed chances were not only detrimental to the attack, but also to their defense. With the scoreline still within reach, Australia pounced when they could late in both halves. In the first half, they immediately took advantage of a weak German cross at the other end to counter and halve the deficit. In the second half, they pulled another goal back after Germany had missed two sitters.
Bayern Munich fans will all relate to what happens when a team does not take its chances—there is no shortage of examples. But this phenomenon is not exclusive to Bayern and Germany. Every football team in the world will pay dearly one way or another if they do not finish their dinner. This will be a dilemma for coach Christian Wück going forward, as his attack is not exactly firing on all cylinders at the moment. Speaking of which…
Bayern Munich runs Germany
The last time Germany won a World Cup at the senior level, it was largely thanks to a strong Bayern Munich contingent. Apparently, the current women’s team is no different. The team started with three Bayern players in Klara Bühl, Franziska Kett, and Ena Mahmutovic against Australia. The attack was free-flowing, Kett herself played a major role in the first goal, and Germany were in a good place. However, when Bühl and Kett were substituted at halftime, Germany’s form dropped noticeably. The attack was almost single-handedly run by Linda Dallmann, another Bayern representative, who also provided the assist for Germany’s third.
Now, the drop in form may not be explicitly linked to Bayern’s presence and absence. Notably, Lyon’s Jule Brand also had an excellent game until she was subbed off. This writer is also admittedly biased in his findings. Still, it is a rather telling phenomenon that both the German men and women are reliant on Bayern to contribute to the success of the national teams. Would things have been even better if Giulia Gwinn had not been injured? Perhaps.
What about Japan?
It just so happens that Germany’s next opponent will be none other than the team that beat Australia in the Asian Cup final: Japan. Nadeshiko Japan are coming off a good run of form, having won both the Asian Cup and the Asian Games while only conceding three goals across 12 matches. They have only lost to the United States and South Africa all year, and most recently defeated Haiti 5-1 a few days ago. They will also be a great endurance test for the Germans, who will face their first European opponent of 2026.
Bayern Munich fans will also relish this as a chance to see a little Bayern derby, as Frauen starlet Momoko Tanikawa will be suiting up for the Nadeshiko. It remains to be seen who will walk away with bragging rights, or if the spoils will be shared when the Frauen regroup at the end of the week.
Germany play Japan on Tuesday in Bremen, while Bayern’s next game is a league fixture against VfB Stuttgart the following Monday.
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