In this match report, we focus on Germany in their game against Switzerland. The Germans didn’t hold back and annihilated Switzerland 7-0 in this pre-Euros friendly. In this article, we will focus on the younger players of that German side.
Ratings:
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, re-watch
- D – Below average in this match
Giulia Gwinn
Player Profile
- Nationality: Germany
- Age: 23
- Date of Birth: 02/07/1999
- Current Club: Bayern München
- Career: SC Freiburg II, SC Freiburg, Bayern München
- Position: right back
Germany played in a 4-2-3-1 and Giulia Gwinn played as the right full back in the four-player defence. In this role, she defended compactly, but also interacted offensively with Svenja Huth a lot.
In defence, Gwinn has had a relatively easy game. Switzerland weren’t much of a threat, but it’s clear that Gwinn isn’t the defender that does exceedingly well in 1v1s or duels, especially in the air. She doesn’t excel but isn’t bad either. Her recovery of ground is good and her tackling ability does make up a lot for weaker areas in the duels. That doesn’t mean she has bad defensive awareness, her positioning and recognition of danger in transitions – is what makes her a proper defender.
On the ball, she is really good. She looks to receive the ball from the central defenders and progress it up the pitch, either via a carry or progressive pass. She is actively engaged with throw-ins and free kicks and corners, as her delivery is really good and that’s also what can be seen in the quality of crosses she delivers. She loves to run down the line and give a cross, but she can also distribute the long ball to the attacking players in the squad. If she comes in the position to shoot, she won’t hesitate and her finishing is of above-average quality.
Rating: A2
Lena Oberdorf
Player Profile
- Nationality: Germany
- Age: 20
- Date of Birth: 19/12/2001
- Current Club: VfL Wolfsburg
- Career: SGS Essen, VfL Wolfsburg
- Position: Defensive midfielder
Germany played in a 4-2-3-1 and Lena Oberdorf played as one of the defensive midfielders in the double pivot. Together with Sara Däbritz, they were tasked with breaking the first attacking lines and distributing passes from the defensive third.
On the ball, Oberdorf seems not the most adventurous type. When she gets the ball, she scans her possibilities and gives it to the players who are more advanced on the pitch. Her game consists of getting the ball, being press resistant, and passing the ball forward. She works closely with Däbritz, who is more of a ball carrier and Oberdorf’s intelligence acknowledges that, as she is the better defender. But on the ball, Oberdorf is very good too and if she has space, she can play a deep-lying playmaker as well.
What makes her so good off the ball, is that her defensive positioning and awareness are elite. She is eager to make that tackle or interception and doesn’t have a distinctive style of play in defending. She is both reactive and proactive, but she is remarkably often concerned with the attacking side of the game. She is a threat with attacking set pieces and gives accurate long balls, but also in the defensive set pieces, she is of vital importance. This really contributed to the direct distribution in front of the goal.
Rating: A1
Klara Bühl
Player Profile
- Nationality: Germany
- Age: 21
- Date of Birth: 07/12/2000
- Current Club: Bayern München
- Career: SC Freiburg, Bayern München
- Position: Winger
Germany played in a 4-2-3-1 and Klara Bühl played a left wide midfielder or left winger. She has a great game with three goals against Switzerland.
On the ball, she is doing great things. She is confident and progressive with the ball combined with good technical skills. Her vision is towards the goal and all her actions are linked to that. Her attacking 1v1s are good, as she combines skill with pace. After that, she often inverts and looks to give that shot assists or go for a goal herself. Her finishing based on this game can be seen as very good, as she has scored three goals. Her dribbling, take-ons and key passes, make her a winger that’s also a playmaker.
Off the ball, she has some work to do in terms of defensive awareness and positioning. In the transition from attack to defence, she has to track back and support the defensive midfield and the left full back, but she often lacks to do that at a correct pace, which sees the opposition more dangerous when they have a direct approach to attacking.
Rating: A2