The Germany U20s women’s side made a successful start to the World Cup as they picked up their first points. However the team now await their next challenge as they take on Mexico on Thursday in their second group match in Papua New Guinea.
Germany already have three points in the bag following their 3-1 victory over Venezuela and could potentially secure their place in the quarter-finals with a win over Mexico since the top two teams will reach the next round. The Mexicans also tasted victory in their first round of the competition, beating South Korea 2-0. “Mexico will do everything in their power to reach the quarterfinals before the final group game,” warned Germany head coach Maren Meinert. “We need to approach the match with the same attitude and spirit that we showed against Venezuela.”
Knaak: “We want to pressure them from the outset”
Mexico are very solid and compact, extremely disciplined and in particular have a lot of individual quality on the wings. “We expect a tricky match, just like we experienced against Venezuela, in which we will have to be switched on every minute of the game,” said captain Rebecca Knaak. “We want to put them under pressure from the very beginning.” The 20-year-old centre-back went on to explain that “the match against Mexico will definitely also be very tough.”
In terms of personnel, Maren Meinert will have to do without some important players in attack, namely Lea Schüller, who picked up a knee injury in the match against Venezuela and is out for the rest of the tournament. Meinert is not permitted to call-up a replacement for her at this stage of the tournament.
Katja Orschmann travelled to the tournament last Tuesday in place of Rieke Dieckmann, who injured her foot whilst training in Papua New Guinea before the start of the tournament. The player from 1. FC Union Berlin and twin sister with Dina Orschmann still needs time to acclimatise. “It is still a bit too early but we are very happy that she is here,” said Meinert. “After the injuries we’ve had, we want to show on the pitch that this has brought us even closer as a team.”
The Germany U20s women’s side made a successful start to the World Cup as they picked up their first points. However the team now await their next challenge as they take on Mexico on Thursday in their second group match in Papua New Guinea.
Germany already have three points in the bag following their 3-1 victory over Venezuela and could potentially secure their place in the quarter-finals with a win over Mexico since the top two teams will reach the next round. The Mexicans also tasted victory in their first round of the competition, beating South Korea 2-0. “Mexico will do everything in their power to reach the quarterfinals before the final group game,” warned Germany head coach Maren Meinert. “We need to approach the match with the same attitude and spirit that we showed against Venezuela.”
Knaak: “We want to pressure them from the outset”
Mexico are very solid and compact, extremely disciplined and in particular have a lot of individual quality on the wings. “We expect a tricky match, just like we experienced against Venezuela, in which we will have to be switched on every minute of the game,” said captain Rebecca Knaak. “We want to put them under pressure from the very beginning.” The 20-year-old centre-back went on to explain that “the match against Mexico will definitely also be very tough.”
In terms of personnel, Maren Meinert will have to do without some important players in attack, namely Lea Schüller, who picked up a knee injury in the match against Venezuela and is out for the rest of the tournament. Meinert is not permitted to call-up a replacement for her at this stage of the tournament.
Katja Orschmann travelled to the tournament last Tuesday in place of Rieke Dieckmann, who injured her foot whilst training in Papua New Guinea before the start of the tournament. The player from 1. FC Union Berlin and twin sister with Dina Orschmann still needs time to acclimatise. “It is still a bit too early but we are very happy that she is here,” said Meinert. “After the injuries we’ve had, we want to show on the pitch that this has brought us even closer as a team.”
