In the third to last test match before the World Cup, the DFB women can compete with the South American champions. Compared to the Netherlands appearance, the national coach demands an increase.
More than 30,000 spectators in Nuremberg’s Max Morlock Stadium, with Brazil a very interesting opponent – and a few tears will also flow. 100 days before the start of the World Cup in the summer, the German footballers say goodbye to their former captain Dzsenifer Marozsan.
“I’m overjoyed that so many people are coming to the stadium. The team deserves it, of course it’s also a gift for me,” said the 30-year-old playmaker from Olympique Lyon before the international match this Tuesday (6 p.m. / ARD). against the South American champions.
Marozsan is to wear the DFB jersey for the 112th and last time at the end of a selection career that was marked by the 2013 European Championship title and the 2016 Olympic victory, but also by many injuries and a pulmonary embolism in the former Frankfurt player in 2018. National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg announced that the three-time German “Soccer Player of the Year” will come on as a substitute in the second half. Marozsan suspects that the official farewell will take her away: “Basically, I’m a very, very emotional person and built close to the water.”
“man with a heart of gold”
While national coach Voss-Tecklenburg still has a lot of work ahead of him after the flattering 1-0 win against the Netherlands in Sittard on Friday in view of the World Cup and has to do without regular goalkeeper Merle Frohms from VfL Wolfsburg (back problems), Marozsan is allowed to play behind the scenes and Enjoy the appreciation of their fellow players once more.
“She is a person with a heart of gold. Of course she fills a gap,” says her long-time roommate Svenja Huth from VfL Wolfsburg. “We’ve known each other for over 16, 17 years. We’ve celebrated a lot of successes, but we’ve also experienced defeats – including personal setbacks. The distance doesn’t matter: I know 100 percent that no matter where she is, she’ll set off straight away would do.”
A year ago, Marozsan tore his cruciate ligament in the 2-3 draw in the World Cup qualifier in Serbia and thus missed the European Championship in England. “Unfortunately, my knee isn’t what it was anymore. Even if I play all the sessions at the club, all the games. I have to do a lot to make it possible,” she says. “It always tweaks. That’s only half the fun, I have to admit.”
Marozsan’s club future open
It is unclear whether the Saarlander with Hungarian roots will still play in the club after the season. Her contract in Lyon, where she won the Champions League six times, is up. “She is one of the world’s best technicians, she has fantastic human character traits. We will continue to communicate privately,” says Voss-Tecklenburg.
At the World Cup from July 20th to August 20th in Australia and New Zealand, Marozsan will no longer be able to help the DFB women. There, the Vice European Champions meet Morocco, Colombia and South Korea in the preliminary round. The Brazilians, who play in Nürnberg without their injured former world footballer Marta, could already be the opponents in the round of 16. Last week they lost the Finalissima against European champions England after a 1-1 draw on penalties.
As in the 0-0 draw against Sweden at the start of the year in Duisburg, the game in the Netherlands also showed that the German team still has a lot to improve if they want to aim for their third World Cup title after 2003 and 2007. “What we need in our game is more security when passing, more phases of possession – otherwise it hurts,” says Voss-Tecklenburg. Before the tournament, she is planning two more home international matches on June 24 and July 7 as part of preparations for the World Cup in Herzogenaurach; the opponents have not yet been determined. (dpa)