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It wasn’t a particularly pretty win and it was aided by some questionable refereeing decisions, but Germany made it two wins from two with a 2-1 win over a tricky Denmark side.
Having been denied by VAR twice in the first half – correctly – decisions were more favourable in the second. Amalie Vangsgaard had given Andree Jeglertz’s side a shock first-half lead, but Germany were awarded a soft penalty, again by VAR, which was converted by Sjoeke Nusken before Lea Schüller was able to sweep in the winner despite a visibly out of it Emma Snerle on the ground having taken a ball to the face from a teammate’s clearance.
The Danes face an anxious wait. A win or draw for Sweden against Poland in the late kick-off will send them out of the tournament.
Around 16,000 Germany fans were expected at St Jakob-Park, around half its capacity, but it felt like far more had packed in, the record for a group stage game not involving the hosts broken by an attendance of 34,165.
Hosted in Basel, nestled close to the borders of both France and Germany, meant that this was as close to a home game as is possible and the fans treated it as such, singing “We have a home game in Basel” as they marched towards the ground with a “Get well soon GG #7’ banner stretched between some – a tribute to captain Giulia Gwinn who suffered a medial ligament injury in Germany’s opening game against Poland.
Carlotta Wamser came in for the injured Gwinn at right-back, while Janina Minge took the captain’s armband with Nusken named the team’s new vice-captain for the tournament. Gwinn’s absence for the remainder of the tournament is a huge blow, but Germany remain one of the favourites even without the influential full-back.
Denmark were unchanged from the team that suffered a 1-0 loss to Sweden in their opening game. “They were unlucky to lose against Sweden,” Germany manager Christian Wuck had warned. “They were very compact and were able to pose a threat on the counter, and we’re expecting a similar style of play against us.” He was right to caution of Demark’s threat, Pernille Harder may be the talisman but there is talent beyond the two-time European player of the year.
Germany looked to have broken the resolve of the well-organised and compact Denmark defence inside 20 minutes but, after a lengthy wait for a VAR check, Klara Buhl’s effort was ruled out, Nusken deemed to have interfered with play from an offside position as the ball flew through her legs and past the blindsided Maja Bay Østergaard.
Less than 10 minutes later, Germany were behind Janni Thomsen was dispossessed by Lea Schüller but Vangsgaard was on hand to pinch the loose ball and fire past Ann-Katrin Berger. For the first time the crowd was hushed, the rhythmic clapping and periodic chanting paused while the small pocket of red shirts went wild behind the Danish goal.
Wuck’s side would be denied a chance to level via another VAR intervention, Frederikke Thøgersen’s handball having taken place just outside the box on the left after initially being awarded as a penalty by referee Catarina Campos.
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There was further lengthy VAR intervention after the break, this time in Germany’s favour, Katrine Veje adjudged to have brought down Linda Dallmann inside the box. It was soft, very soft, but the referee pointed to the spot after being told to go to the monitor. Nusken stepped up and powered it low into a corner, lifting the crowd to their feet and back to full voice in the process.
Germany were fortunate for the goal that put them ahead for the first time too. Emma Faerge’s clearance walloped teammate Snerle in the face sending her to the ground but, despite the head injury, the referee inexplicably allowed play to continue and Jule Brand laid off to Schüller to stroke in. Such was the ferocity with which Snerle was hit she looked dazed and unsteady leaving the pitch after the goal, half-carried by the two members of the medical team that accompanied her.
Emma Hasbo replaced Snerle and Denmark went in search of an equaliser that would keep their knockout stage hopes alive.
It didn’t come, Germany are all-but into the quarter-finals albeit in a slightly unconvincing fashion and Denmark must wait and see whether they will have anything to play for in their final group game against Poland.
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