Germany 3-0 Australia
by Ben Gilby (25/7/24)
Above: Steph Catley looks to escape during tonight’s game in Marseille. Photo: Luisa Gonzalez/Guardian.
A hugely impressive Germany side, inspired by the outstanding Jule Brand put Australia to the sword in the opening Group B clash at Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome tonight.
It was a hard lesson for The Matildas, who were never allowed to get going from an attacking perspective. That, and the relentless creativity, multiple runs into channels and razor sharp German offensive play pressured Tony Gustavsson’s side into too many errors at the back.
Australia went into the game boosted by their talismanic Arsenal duo of Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley returning to the starting lineup after missing the team’s final warm-up match against Canada with injury. Kaitlyn Torpey, who also missed that encounter, was on the bench and Mackenzie Arnold won her 50th cap in goal. On the minus side of the ledger, Tameka Yallop was ruled out.
Germany had had their own injury issues with star Lena Oberdorf missing, but they had the better of the opening exchanges offensively, with Klara Bühl breaking through on the left but the Matildas back line ensured she strayed offside.
Conversely, Australia were looking to maximise possession with Hunt and Cooney-Cross linking up well to begin to build from the back before switching out to Foord on the left and the duo of Ellie Carpenter and Hayley Raso on the right. The efforts and forward momentum it gained won the reward of two early corners. However, as the half wore on, Carpenter and Raso were rarely seen from an attacking perspective.
Australia’s second corner with 10 minutes played was gathered by German keeper Ann-Katrin Berger who released Brand into acres of space. She left Gorry in her wake upon approaching the area and, with Carpenter unable to cover, looked certain to score, but fired wildly over the top from 10 yards out.
Brand continued to exploit space, and earned her side another corner as she was able to run between Fowler and Cooney-Cross just outside the box to the right of centre. Shortly afterwards Giulia Gwinn saw a shot blocked as Germany ratcheted up the pressure.
Australia took advantage of a short stoppage as Catley received a blow to the head to re-set and went back to maximise possession once more with a slow and patient approach around the middle third of the pitch. Cooney-Cross and Foord were looking to spread the play at every opportunity, with Germany happy to let them do so as long as the Matildas were outside their box.
The next focal point for Australia was to be to find an outlet up top. Fowler was shadowed by two or three white shirts on a regular basis, and Cortnee Vine had little or no time on the ball. It would be a puzzle that Tony Gustavsson’s side struggled to solve all night, and it seriously impacted their ability to maintain any sort of possession or momentum.
That crucial nature of being able to finish at this level was emphasised when Germany won a corner on the right just before the 24-minute mark. Gwinn delivered a high flag kick to the back post where Marina Hegering got up highest between Alanna Kennedy and Foord to send a thumping header into the net.
Australia initially responded well with Fowler able to find space in the box but the Manchester City attacker couldn’t quite get a shot in on target.
Germany remained on the front foot for much of the remainder of the half. They focussed on running the ball into the channels along their right-hand flank in particular as Brand and Gwinn looked to create. They were reaping the rewards of playing two tough Euro 2025 qualifiers just before the Olympics – the understanding, organisation, and sharpness was that bit more potent as a result in their build-up play.
For The Matildas, Fowler was forced to drop increasingly deeper in a search for possession with Foord therefore left isolated out wide, with few bodies to aim for in the box.
However, Australia would gain the final chance of the first half when Raso was pulled down just outside the box by Janina Minge to the left of centre with a free-kick awarded. Up stepped Catley, but the ball fell into the arms of Berger at her near post.
The Matildas began the second period looking initially more energised. There was more vigour about the runs and greater zip and urgency on the passing. But, frustratingly, it was not to last for long as Germany served them an instant reminder of what they are capable of as Brand got free again and was able to shoot, but it went just wide of Arnold’s right hand post.
Within five minutes the same player underlined her status as the chief thorn in Australia’s side with another searing run which ended with a rocket of a shot just going over the top.
Brand weaved her magic again 10 minutes into the second half as she escaped from Hunt and squared a pass for Lea Schüller who saw her effort blocked.
Germany gained the second goal that their share of possession and territory deserved with 26 minutes remaining. It was a virtual carbon copy of the first. Another corner from Gwinn on the right this time found Schüller unmarked to power a header home.
Within three minutes, Brand got the reward for her superb performance. Germany carved Australia open with a sublime move. There was acres of space for Schüller to find Sarai Linder out on the right flank for Brand to run in unmarked to slot home from close range.
The European side thought they have got a fourth with 18 minutes to play through Alexandra Popp but Australia were saved by the assistant’s flag. Defensively Gustavsson’s side were being taken apart.
Into the final 10 minutes, Hunt turned Bibiane Schulze on the edge of the box and fired in a powerful shot which Berger held with a dive to the right hand post – and that was that.
The Matildas were never able to get going from an attacking perspective. The Germans wrapped up Fowler, forced Vine into a peripheral role, and there was little or no time for Cooney-Cross to gain any sort of momentum. Particularly in the second period, the relentless switching of play and runs into channels squeezed any hope of Carpenter or Raso being seen going forward.
Sunday’s showdown with the brilliantly unpredictable Zambia now takes on the status of a must win encounter. Germany face Emma Hayes’ USA side on the same day in what could be an absolute classic. Lots to play for – and lots to learn.
Teams: GERMANY (4-4-2): Berger, Linder, Hegering, Hendrich, Gwinn, Bühl, Minge, Popp, Brand, Schüller, Nüsken. Substitutes: Doorsoun, Endemann (for Bühl 89′), Freigang, Frohms, Lohmann (for Nüsken 46′), Schulze (for Hegering 73′), Senß (for Minge 73′).
Scorers: Hegering 24′, Schüller 64′, Brand 68′.
AUSTRALIA (4-4-2): Arnold, Catley, Hunt, Kennedy, Carpenter, Foord, Cooney-Cross, Gorry, Raso, Fowler, Vine. Substitutes: Heyman (for Foord 77′), Torpey (for Catley 78′), Polkinghorne, van Egmond (for Raso 77′), Wheeler (for Gorry 59′), Micah, Freier (for Vine 59′).
Referee: Katia García (MEX).
Attendance: Approx 20,000 (exact figure to follow).
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