Germany march on, but not as emphatically as appearances suggest. The eight-times champions were given an almighty fright by Austria, who contributed hugely to a pulsating contest, and they may be glad of such a test by the time Wednesday’s semi-final comes around. It will take an outstanding opponent to dislodge Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side but France, the Netherlands and, for that matter, England will have been encouraged by some of the weaknesses that were exposed here.
They would have been prised wide open if one of Austria’s near-misses had brought greater reward. The underdogs struck the woodwork three times and, while Germany did so on two occasions of their own, it was testament to the way they carried the fight. It was also a reminder that Austria are not really minnows any more: after finishing third on their debut in 2017 they matched their celebrated neighbours for long periods here and it is unthinkable that their days challenging at this level are over.
In the end Germany were simply more clinical and, when given a helping hand, showed no inclination to be polite about it. The Austria goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger will feel desolate about her part in both goals. A late clearance hammered against Alexandra Popp, the ricochet flying past her and confirming the outcome, will make the blooper reels but she also played an unfortunate part in Lina Magull’s opener. While Germany’s attack still had plenty to do when Zinsberger rushed a kick under pressure, they would not have had the opportunity to go through the gears if she had successfully launched it upfield.
“We fought very hard and managed to dominate the game in parts,” said the Austria coach, Irene Fuhrmann. “In the end we just made a couple of mistakes too many, an opponent at this level capitalises on that, but I’m very proud of my team’s performance.”
The farcical nature of the second goal must not detract from the fact that this felt like a proper tournament game: another high-quality ding-dong between two bright, inventive sides who wanted to have a go. Germany have overwhelmed all comers with their intensity down the flanks but Austria took it upon themselves to push them back, coming close even before Marina Georgieva headed a corner against an upright in the 13th minute. Had that gone in the complexion would have altered deliciously. Instead a harsh lesson followed quickly, all the more frustratingly because Germany had yet to get going.
Just as she would to more glaring effect later, Popp forced Zinsberger into a snatched kick and the ball ended up with the left winger Klara Bühl. There have been few more electric performers this month than the 21-year-old from Bayern Munich and she sped down the flank again, cutting across a centre that Popp left intelligently for Magull to convert crisply on the run. “Klara has a big heart, she is incredible,” Voss-Tecklenburg said.
Further openings came and went for Germany, Svenja Huth threatening twice and Giulia Gwinn clipping the same post as Georgieva shortly after half-time. But perhaps the defining moment came in the 53rd minute when Zinsberger’s opposite number, Merle Frohms, undercooked a clearance of her own in a similar position. Barbara Dunst, a player who can travel home from these championships with her head held high, seized possession but floated an audacious 40-yard effort against the crossbar. While Germany had worked the fine margins in their favour, Austria had fallen cruelly short.
Nonetheless Fuhrmann’s players kept coming and quickly thudded a post again through Sarah Puntigam. At this point the pace was relentless and the goalmouth action almost unstinting, but Germany gradually asserted a stranglehold and operated with a measure of the composure Voss-Tecklenburg felt had deserted them in the opening period.
“I felt we were deserved winners,” she said. “It was a great game for the fans: respect and compliment to Austria, because they did exactly what we expected them to do. They played good football, had a clear plan and a great mentality. In the beginning we weren’t courageous enough, but we became a bit calmer.”
Bühl dipped a wicked 20-yarder against the bar as time ticked away, and missed a sitter before being substituted. Then Popp, whose finishing in more conventional situations had been off beam, gained the prize her prodigious workrate deserved and took Germany nearer to another shot at supremacy.
“There will be bigger and bigger challenges the closer we get,” Voss-Tecklenburg said. England may yet provide the ultimate test at Wembley.
