Even after the heavy 4-1 defeat to the USWNT last time out, Germany Women look set to reach the quarter-final stage of the Paris Olympics, as long as they avoid defeat against Zambia on Wednesday. Last Word on Football brings you our Germany Women predicted lineup for the match.
Germany Women Predicted Lineup vs Zambia Women
How Germany Women Have Lined Up Recently
Against the USA, the team began as follows: Ann-Katrin Berger started in goal. Meanwhile, Giulia Gwinn and Felicitas Rauch took up their positions on the flanks of the back four.
Kathrin Hendrich as well as Marina Hegering were the central defensive pair, as Janina Minge covered the holding midfield roles with Alexandra Popp. Lastly, Jule Brand, Sjoeke Nüsken, Klara Bühl, and Lea Schüller made up the front four.
Coach Horst Hrubesch made one change to the Germany lineup compared to the opening victory against Australia. The illness of Sarai Linder forced him to bring Rauch into the side at left-back.
Read More: Three Germany Players to Watch: Women’s Football at the 2024 Olympics
The strange thing was that there were only two substitutions made by Hrubesch against the United States, despite the packed match calendar in these Olympics and the narrow 18-player roster to choose from. There is very little chance for recovery for the players who spend much time on the pitch every three days.
Germany Women’s Recent Form and Tactics
Despite the severity of the loss to the States, the team’s performance was not nearly as bad as the 4-1 result would indicate. It was simply the case that the defensive errors were punished mercilessly, as they tend to be at this level.
It will be interesting to see whether the coaching staff make adjustments, both in terms of personnel and tactics. Zambia will be a very different challenge to the Germans than Australia or the USA were.
Read More: Three Things We Learnt From Germany Women’s Final Matches Before the 2024 Olympics
The Zambians have their strengths in the offensive third, particularly when catching opposition defences out of position and counterattacking. Either way, the Germans will have to return to basics and focus on their own strengths of organisation and discipline.
Germany Women Injuries to Consider
Linder will not have recovered from her illness yet, while Popp has received some knocks on her knee so far in the tournament, which may or may not keep her out of this match.
Germany Women Predicted Lineup vs Zambia Women
Berger, Gwinn, Doorsoun, Schulze-Solano, Rauch, Popp, Minge, Brand, Nüsken, Bühl, Schüller.
