First home win under Wück: DFB women beat Austria with enthusiasm

Christian Wück achieved his first home victory as national coach of the German women's football team in Nuremberg. In the Nations League match against Austria, the DFB team was behind early on - but won brilliantly.

Despite an early shock, Christian Wück celebrated his first home victory as national coach of the German women's football team. The DFB selection beat Austria 4-1 (1-1) in the pouring rain in Nuremberg thanks to a clear improvement in performance after the break.

Laura Freigang (39th minute), Linda Dallmann (55th), Giovanna Hoffmann (70th) and Vivien Endemann (82nd) scored in the Nations League duel in front of 14,394 spectators in Wück's Franconian homeland. Annabel Schasching (3rd) from SC Freiburg was successful for Austria.

Wück warns of “grab bag”

Wück had warned in advance that the Austrians, who had arrived with numerous Bundesliga players and new coach Alexander Schriebl, were a "mystery package", but at the same time he also emphasized the German self-image: "We definitely want to score the first home victory under my direction."

Stina Johannes from Eintracht Frankfurt was able to compete for a place in the goalkeeping squad for the European Championships, while Olympic heroine Ann-Katrin Berger was not in the squad due to a flu infection. Wück made another change compared to the Netherlands game at left back: Felicitas Rauch was allowed to play instead of Sarai Linder.

The "teaching moments" criticized by Wück in the 2:2 draw at the Nations League opener on Friday in the Netherlands , when the German defense was outwitted twice, were also taught to Austria - and that after just over two minutes of play. Schasching scored the 1:0 for the visitors after a quick and precise counterattack. Germany's defense looked bad.

From the stands, Wück's predecessor Horst Hrubesch, along with former Freiburg coach Christian Streich, saw his old team initially put in a tired performance. Johannes even prevented a bigger deficit when she saved Hoffenheim's Julia Hickelsberger with her foot.

But the DFB goalkeeper was not free of mistakes either. She missed one cross. And after a bumpy back pass from vice-captain Janina Minge, Johannes' failed ball control almost became the perfect pass for Lilli Purtscheller from SGS Essen.

Back into the game via free kick

"We have a precise plan. And we also have enough qualities, especially in attack, to be able to decide such games," said Wück shortly before kick-off on ZDF. But his players, who were playing in their new red away jersey for the first time, showed little fire for a long time in the less than half-filled Max-Morlock Stadium. There were a few half-chances - and otherwise a lot of piecemeal work.

A standard situation caused collective cheers in the stadium before the break: Bühl's long free kick found central defender Rebecca Knaak, who passed the ball directly to Freigang. The rest: a formality for the currently top Bundesliga goalscorer with twelve goals.

Wück reacted to the weak performance with three substitutions at half-time, including Dallmann coming on for Freigang, which promptly bore fruit: The ball came to Brand via Knaak and Gwinn, who served Dallmann perfectly. The goal scorer, who was keen to play, then set up the ball herself, and Hoffmann finished effortlessly.

Driven by Dallmann and Bühl, the ball now ran through the German ranks in the way Wück would have liked earlier in the game. At times Austria could no longer keep up. Endemann, who had just been substituted for Brand, secured the final score with a low shot. And a Mexican wave in the stadium.