News (engl.)

Germany have extended their unbeaten streak in the UEFA Women’s Nations League thanks to a 4-0 win over Scotland in Dundee. Elisa Senß (1’), Cora Zicai (57’) and Lea Schüller (59’) all scored for national team head coach Christian Wück’s side, while Scotland’s Howard also turned into her own net (21’).

A crowd of 6500 fans at Tannadice Park witnessed a dominant display from Germany, with Elisa Senß putting her nation in front after just 57 seconds. While Scotland initially showed signs of a fightback, Jule Brand’s cross forced Sophie Howard into scoring an own goal (21’). That two-goal advantage provided Germany with the buffer to able to press on in attack and substitute Cora Zicai (57’) and Lea Schüller (59’) both netted as a second-half quick-fire double added some gloss to the score line.

Elisa Senß gets the ball rolling early

Klara Bühl won the first corner of the evening as early as the opening minute, which the winger then took herself, delivering towards the edge of the penalty area. Interchange between Kett, Gwinn and Senß set up the eventual chance, with the captain laying off for Senß, who fired home in some style, finding the top left-hand corner from 16 yards out – Germany were ahead and with just 57 seconds on the clock. A second corner kick from Bühl on five minutes did not turn out quite as fruitful. Ann-Katrin Berger was then tested for the first time after eight minutes via a long-range effort, but the direction the strike caused no issues for the Germany number one. Scotland looked to up the ante after falling behind early on, showing impressive intensity in their play.

Howevver, while the hosts demonstrated some positive signs, fine work from Bayern München’s Linda Dallmann ultimately led to the wind being taken from their sails. The midfielder carried the ball forward before playing in Jule Brand, who was advancing into the penalty box on the right-hand side. Her low cross created confusion in Scotland’s defensive ranks, with centre-half Howard diverting past keeper Gibson and into her own goal for 2-0.

Super-sub Zicai puts the game to bed

Further threat was created on 31 minutes as the ball landed at the feet of Giulia Gwinn following a chance for Brand, who then received the ball once more after some penalty-box chaos. The winger drove towards the by-line before cutting back across the face of goal and the ball only just evaded Schüller at the far post. Scotland tried their luck again minutes later but the shot from distance sailed high over the bar. Dallmann looked to orchestrate for Germany once more in the 40th minute, feeding Brand with an outside-of-the-foot pass. However, the Scotland defence were equal to the subsequent effort, as well as follow-up attempts from Schüller and Senß. The visitors headed into the break after remaining compact at the back throughout the first half, while also managing to penetrate an energetic Scotland side on a couple of occasions.

Freiburg’s Cora Zicai replaced Klara Bühl on the left wing for the second period and she was involved in a threatening Germany counter following a Scotland corner. Kett, who was making her senior international debut, slipped in Brand, who drove into the 18-yard-box and crossed from the left in the direction of Zicai in the centre. However, the ball was ever so slightly too inaccurate.

Zicai was not to be denied, though. Following some medical treatment required in the 54th minute by Ann-Katrin Berger, who will start in goal for Germany at the upcoming EUROs, Linda Dallmann spearheaded another attack on the Scotland box just a few minutes later. She danced past a handful of opponents and provided substitute Zicai with the perfect pass to simply stroke home into the far corner of the net for 3-0 (57’). In the 59th minute, Germany had their fourth goal through Lea Schüller’s final act of the evening. The striker latched onto a through ball from Brand before confidently dispatching into the far bottom corner. Schüller was then replaced by Giovanna Hoffmann as Sydney Lohmann also came on for Elisa Senß (60’).

Berger preserves the clean sheet

Germany went about things with confidence during the subsequent period of the proceedings, hardly allowing Scotland anything in the way of chances. The hosts’ best attempt arrived in the 79th minute when Scotland’s Clark headed the ball inches wide of the upright. Giulia Gwinn then failed to beat Scotland goalkeeper Gibson with a right-footed shot at the end of a counter-attack (81’).

National team head coach Wück used up his full quota of substitutes during the final quarter of an hour with Alara Şehitler coming on for debutant Kett in the 76th minute to mark her second senior international appearance. Laura Freigang then replaced Dallmann (85’). Berger left her impression on the game in the 86th minute when a cross from the right was over-hit and the Germany goalkeeper had to scramble to prevent the ball from finding the far top corner. In the 90th minute, Berger was once again called upon to make sure of the clean sheet. A mistake when playing out from the back presented Scotland with the ball inside the Germany six-yard box. An initial shot was blocked before Berger tipped the follow-up shot onto the crossbar with her fingertips, demonstrating remarkable reflexes. Giulia Gwinn sent the final chance of the match just wide of Scotland’s left-hand post.