Germany beat Japan 2:1 in Bremen, Bühl scoring the winner in the 73rd minute
Klara Bühl scored in the 73rd minute to give Germany's women a 2:1 friendly win over Japan, after Momoko Tanikawa had put Japan ahead in the first half and Linda Dallmann had equalised.
Japan lead, then Germany turn it round
Germany's women beat Japan 2:1 (1:1) in a friendly on Tuesday, 13 October, at the Weserstadion in Bremen. Momoko Tanikawa gave the Asian champions the lead in the 15th minute, when she received a pass from Aoba Fujino and, after Sophia Kleinherne was caught out of position and slipped, placed her shot into the left top corner past goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic. Linda Dallmann equalised in the 28th minute: after Franziska Kett sent Klara Bühl down the left, Bühl's pass found Dallmann, who drove a right-footed shot under the crossbar. Bühl then scored the winner in the 73rd minute. Attendance was 26,574 according to N-tv, while Tagesspiegel put it at around 27,000.
- Momoko Tanikawa puts Japan 1:0 ahead
- Linda Dallmann equalises to make it 1:1
- Klara Bühl scores the 2:1 winner
Wück's plan and the line-up
Coach Christian Wück made four changes from the 4:2 win over Australia on Friday, 9 October, in Karlsruhe. Marie Müller came in on the right and Sophia Kleinherne into the back line, while Linda Dallmann and Nicole Anyomi started in attack in place of Janina Minge, Carlotta Wamser, Cora Zicai and Melissa Kössler. Lea Schüller was unavailable because of an infection, and Kössler replaced Anyomi at half-time. Ena Mahmutovic kept goal because Ann-Katrin Berger was rested. Before kick-off Wück had called Japan an absolute top team in the world.
The Japanese players are certainly one of the strongest teams alongside Spain when they have the ball.
Wück's plan, letting the opponent keep the ball and waiting for counter-attacks, worked in Bremen. Germany had clearly less possession but kept control over long stretches, and Bühl's winner came from exactly such a counter. The team also created several chances with a mix of short and long passes. Still, it gave away too many cheap turnovers and was not clean on the counter, while Japan's long balls and quick one-twos opened gaps in a defence set up to be compact.
Outlook before the World Cup
Germany have now beaten two top-level opponents in this window, Australia and Japan, and have gone eight matches unbeaten. Two more friendlies are planned for late November, probably in South America. The World Cup draw takes place on 11 December in Rio de Janeiro. The tournament in Brazil runs from 24 June to 25 July 2027, and qualification for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles is also on the agenda, with the team due to qualify next spring. Linda Dallmann, 32, collected points with Wück in central midfield. She also came close to a second goal before half-time, missing the ball at the second post by a whisker in the 37th minute, and Bühl struck the post 180 seconds later.
