The German women’s football team has dropped points for the first time in the qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. The national team under coach Christian Wück played to a disappointing 0-0 draw against hosts Austria in Ried in front of around 4300 spectators. Captain Janina Minge was shown a red card in the 79th minute for a professional foul. In their ninth meeting, Germany failed to beat Austria for the first time.
Although the DFB women still lead Group 4 with ten points and 14:1 goal difference, they are now only one point ahead of the second-placed team before the match against Norway on June 5 in Cologne. Only the group winner qualifies directly. Despite three clear victories earlier, the German team struggled this time. Four days after a 5-1 win in Nuremberg, the Germans seemed visibly intent on implementing the passing accuracy and smarter play requested by Wück but struggled again in the first half.
Both teams had to play without their regular captains: Munich’s Giulia Gwinn was absent from the German national team due to a dislocated shoulder suffered in Nuremberg, while Austria’s record international player and captain Sarah Puntigam was sidelined with a concussion. As expected, Leverkusen’s Carlotta Wamser replaced Gwinn as right-back. In attack, Wück tried something new, starting Larissa Mühlhaus behind striker Nicole Anyomi instead of Linda Dallmann for the first time in her third international match.
The 23-year-old initiated the first chance with a chip. Werder Bremen goalkeeper Mariella El Sherif, Mühlhaus’ club teammate, made a crucial save (4th minute) against Jule Brand. The German women mostly attacked through the wings, but their efforts were ineffective. Wück was vocal and impatient on the sideline, giving instructions after half-time. A shot from Elisa Senk just missed the goal, and the only other chance came when Minge hit the crossbar after an Endemann injury led to Dallmann’s introduction. Later on, Kett and striker Lea Schüller were brought on to create more danger.
Instead of scoring, the Germans grew more nervous. “What are you waiting for?” Wück shouted from the sidelines when the tempo was slow. In the 72nd minute, a Mühlhaus free-kick almost resulted in a goal, but El Sherif saved Nüsken’s header, and Minge hit the rebound against the crossbar (72nd minute). Shortly after, the Wolfsburg player was sent off for stopping Julia Hickelsberger abruptly and illegally during an Austrian counterattack.
