Germany's women finish World Cup qualifying with a flat 2-0 win in Slovenia, Wück gets a birthday gift
A heavily rotated German side laboured to a 2-0 victory in Ljubljana, with an own goal and a Shekiera Martinez strike sealing a sixth win from six qualifiers.
A dead rubber in Ljubljana
Germany's place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil was already secure, booked four days earlier with a 2-0 home win over Norway. The trip to face group-bottom Slovenia carried no competitive weight, and coach Christian Wück used the occasion to rotate heavily. He made eight changes to the starting eleven that beat the Norwegians, handing a debut in goal to Ena Mahmutovic and resting Ann-Katrin Berger. Janina Minge returned from suspension to captain the side in place of the injured Giulia Gwinn.
A disjointed first half
Wück had asked for "the necessary seriousness" from his reshuffled team, but for long stretches of the first half that was missing. Germany dominated possession without creating chances, their build-up play riddled with errors. Slovenia looked more dangerous on the counter and thought they had taken the lead in the 19th minute when Maja Sternad fired under the bar, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Minutes later, a misplaced pass from Mahmutovic gifted Lara Prasnikar a clear sight of goal, but the former Bundesliga player's shot was too central.
We want to approach the whole thing with the necessary seriousness. No matter which team of ours is on the pitch, it will be a test.
A fortunate lead
The breakthrough came in the 39th minute from a set piece. Klara Bühl whipped in a corner that Sarai Linder glanced on at the near post. The ball was heading wide until Prasnikar, stretching to clear, diverted it into her own net with the tip of her boot. The goal was credited to Linder, whose faint touch was the last from a German player. It was a flattering lead for a side that had struggled to create anything from open play.
Martinez opens her account
Wück made three substitutions at the break and the changes brought more urgency. Substitute Larissa Mühlhaus tested the goalkeeper from distance shortly after the restart. Then, in the 50th minute, Slovenian keeper Zala Mersnik fumbled a cross, and Shekiera Martinez pounced on the loose ball to score her first international goal from close range. The goal drained what little tension remained, and Germany began to create chances more freely as the half wore on.
Perfect record, imperfect performance
The 2-0 win meant Germany finished their League A qualifying group with six wins from six matches, the only team in the section to do so. The performance in Ljubljana, however, was far from the standard expected of a two-time world champion. Wück now turns his attention to preparing the squad for the finals in Brazil, with plenty of work to do on the evidence of this disjointed display.
