Germany’s U17 Women have missed their chance to play in the final of the European Championship in Iceland. Anouschka Bernhard’s team lost out to a last minute goal in their semi-final against Switzerland in Reykjavik’s Valursvöllur Stadium.
“Football can be so cruel sometimes,” said Bernhard, summarising the game in one sentence. “Naturally the disappointment is huge. We were the dominant team, had a good plan which worked well. The only accusation we can make against ourselves is that we didn’t take our chances. We didn’t use our heads in the final third,” she added.
Clear dominance from the first whistle
The German youths were dominant from the start, but they rarely turned their superiority into scoring chances. Jenny Hipp had the first big effort when her placed effort from 20 yards forced keeper Nadja Furrer into a save in the Swiss goal. The team were defensively strong and forced their southern neighbours into misplacing passes with their high pressing tactics.
Stefanie Sanders had the next and last good opportunity of the first half in the 22nd minute when her low shot went wide at the far post, but the Werder Bremen striker also had the opening shot of the second half from a similar position, again not being accurate enough with the shot. The U17s were now clearly showing themselves as more intent and focused. Sanders again missed after a solo run, but failed to see the better positioned Hipp.
Arfaoui shatters the dream in the last minute
At the other end, the Swiss also came to the party and tested Vanessa Fischer twice in two minutes. Naomi Megroz then tried with a free-kick, followed by Lara Jenzer’s low effort. Substitute Isabella Möller then returned the favour by testing Furrer from 16 yards.
The game was clearly now more balanced, and Sanders again had the best chances. Her effort in the 68th minute was cleared off the line, and in the last minute Furrer saved again. Amira Arfaoui then scored the winning goal at the other end only seconds before the final whistle.
Germany’s U17 Women have missed their chance to play in the final of the European Championship in Iceland. Anouschka Bernhard’s team lost out to a last minute goal in their semi-final against Switzerland in Reykjavik’s Valursvöllur Stadium.
“Football can be so cruel sometimes,” said Bernhard, summarising the game in one sentence. “Naturally the disappointment is huge. We were the dominant team, had a good plan which worked well. The only accusation we can make against ourselves is that we didn’t take our chances. We didn’t use our heads in the final third,” she added.
Clear dominance from the first whistle
The German youths were dominant from the start, but they rarely turned their superiority into scoring chances. Jenny Hipp had the first big effort when her placed effort from 20 yards forced keeper Nadja Furrer into a save in the Swiss goal. The team were defensively strong and forced their southern neighbours into misplacing passes with their high pressing tactics.
Stefanie Sanders had the next and last good opportunity of the first half in the 22nd minute when her low shot went wide at the far post, but the Werder Bremen striker also had the opening shot of the second half from a similar position, again not being accurate enough with the shot. The U17s were now clearly showing themselves as more intent and focused. Sanders again missed after a solo run, but failed to see the better positioned Hipp.
Arfaoui shatters the dream in the last minute
At the other end, the Swiss also came to the party and tested Vanessa Fischer twice in two minutes. Naomi Megroz then tried with a free-kick, followed by Lara Jenzer’s low effort. Substitute Isabella Möller then returned the favour by testing Furrer from 16 yards.
The game was clearly now more balanced, and Sanders again had the best chances. Her effort in the 68th minute was cleared off the line, and in the last minute Furrer saved again. Amira Arfaoui then scored the winning goal at the other end only seconds before the final whistle.
