Germany’s Women’s side put in another good performance in their second SheBelieves Cup game in the USA, but were unable to record their first win of the tournament. On Saturday they played out a goalless draw with France, just days after their 1-0 loss to the hosts in their maiden fixture.
Head coach Steffi Jones made eight changes to the side that faced the Americans, with only Almuth Schult, Babett Peter and Dzsenifer Marozsan retaining their places in the XI. Felicitas Rauch, Pauline Bremer, Kathrin Hendrich, Lina Magull, Linda Dallmann, Sara Doorsoun, Mandy Islacker and Hasret Kayikci were all brought into the team by Jones for the game in Harrison.
Slow out the blocks
France were the stronger side early on and created a number of presentable opportunities in the opening exchanges. Wendy Renard hit the post with a header from a corner (19’) before Camille Abily dragged a shot agonisingly wide just moments later.
Despite this, it was the DFB-Team that had the best opportunity to score before the break. France keeper Sarah Bouhaddi fouled Kayikci in the box. However, Islacker’s penalty was too central, allowing Bouhaddi to clear with her foot.
Germany step it up
Jones made four half-time changes, with Laura Benkarth replacing Schult between the sticks and Alexandra Popp, Kristin Demann and Verena Faißt coming on for Magull, Rauch und Dallmann. These alterations saw the DFB-Team take charge of the game. Islacker had efforts blocked in the 49th and 51st minutes, with Doorsoun having a shot cleared off the line (50’).
France sub Elodie Thomis had their first real effort of the second half but her shot drifted wide and no one was on hand to tap it home. At the other end of the pitch Doorsoun found the ball at her feet inside the six-yard box but Bouhaddi stood firm. Germany’s final chance came in the 73rd minute. Marozsan’s long-range effort smacked the bar and Anja Mittag, who replaced Islacker, was unable to convert the rebound.