Germany is advancing, but not as forcefully as appearances suggest. The eight-time champions were given an almighty scare by Austria, which contributed hugely to a pulsating contest, and they may be happy with that test come Wednesday’s semi-final. It will take an excellent opponent to dislodge Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side, but France, Holland and for that matter England will have been encouraged by some of the frailties on display here.
They would have been well regarded if one of Austria’s near misses had yielded a bigger reward. The underdogs hit the woodwork three times and while Germany did so on two occasions of their own, it was testament to the way they fought back. It was also a reminder that Austria aren’t really small anymore: after finishing third on their debut in 2017, they’ve matched their famous neighbors for long spells here and it’s unthinkable that their challenging days at this level are over. .
In the end, Germany were simply more clinical and, when given a hand, showed no inclination to be polite about it. Austrian goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger will be devastated by her involvement in both goals. A late delivery hammered on Alexandra Popp, the rebound going past her and sealing the result, will see the blooper roll in, but also played an unfortunate part in Lina Magull’s opener. Although Germany’s attack still had a lot to do when Zinsberger kicked under pressure, they would not have had the chance to switch gears if he had kicked it successfully.
“We fought hard and managed to dominate the game in parts,” said Austria coach Irene Fuhrmann. “At the end we made a couple of too many mistakes, an opponent at this level takes advantage of that, but I’m very proud of my team’s performance.”
Lina Magull watches her goal beat the Austrian goalkeeper to put Germany ahead. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
The farcical nature of the second goal shouldn’t detract from the fact that it felt like a proper tournament game – another high-quality ding-dong between two bright and inventive sides who wanted to give it a go. Germany overwhelmed every player with their intensity down the flanks, but Austria took it upon themselves to push them back and even went close before Marina Georgieva headed home a corner from the right in the 13th minute. If this had gone on the skin it would have been deliciously altered. Instead, a harsh lesson quickly followed, all the more frustrating because Germany had yet to begin.
As he would do later, Popp forced Zinsberger into a curling kick and the ball ended up with left winger Klara Bühl. There have been few more electric performers this month than the 21-year-old from Bayern Munich and she once again sped down the flank, cutting in a cross which Popp cleverly left for Magull to quickly convert on the run. “Klara has a big heart, she’s amazing,” Voss-Tecklenburg said.
More openings came and went for Germany, Svenja Huth threatening twice and Giulia Gwinn clipping the same post as Georgieva shortly after the break. But perhaps the defining moment came in the 53rd minute, when Zinsberger’s opposite number Merle Frohms fouled his own position in a similar position. Barbara Dunst, a player who can travel home from these championships with her head held high, took possession but floated an audacious 40-yard effort against the crossbar. While Germany had worked the margins to their advantage, Austria had fallen cruelly short.
However, Fuhrmann’s players kept coming and quickly hit a post again through Sarah Puntigam. At this point the pace was relentless and the goal action almost non-stop, but Germany gradually asserted dominance and operated with a measure of the composure that Voss-Tecklenburg felt had deserted them in the first period
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“I felt we were deserving winners,” he said. “It was a great game for the fans: respect and compliments to Austria, because they did exactly what we expected. They played good football, had a clear plan and a great mentality. At first we weren’t brave enough, but we became a little calmer.”
Bühl sent a poor 20-yarder against the crossbar as time expired and missed a quarry before being substituted. Then Popp, whose finish in more conventional situations had been out of place, earned the reward his prodigious work-rate deserved and brought Germany closer to another chance at supremacy.
“There will be bigger and bigger challenges the closer we get,” Voss-Tecklenburg said. England can still provide the ultimate test at Wembley.