Martina Voss-Tecklenburg didn’t seem completely satisfied after the final whistle. But one could not speak of dissatisfaction when the national coach took stock after the first game of the German soccer team this year. A lot of things didn’t work out in the friendly game against Sweden, which ended 0-0 in Duisburg in front of a little over 20,000 spectators on Tuesday. But there were also positive approaches to be seen in the DFB team that could be built on.

“Overall, in terms of intensity, playing through certain passes, steep, clapping and courageous actions, we didn’t do well today, especially in the first half,” said Voss-Tecklenburg. In the second half, her team did a lot better.

Nevertheless, Germany was shown the physical limits by the Swedes. The opponents were often a step faster, braver in pressing and also superior in terms of play – all things that recently distinguished Germany. “In the first half we didn’t have such a good intensity forwards and backwards. We didn’t switch well, the center was brutally open,” said captain Alexandra Popp. In fact, the absence of Lena Oberdorf from Wolfsburg, who seems to be becoming more and more indispensable in the defensive midfield of the DFB team, made itself felt. “We know that we have one of the world’s best players in sixth position,” said Voss-Tecklenburg.

We still have a few topics that we want to work on, but I wouldn’t want to overstate it today.

National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg about the performance of the DFB team against Sweden.

One result of the training camp in Marbella was a new system in which three players are used in the back line, which requires a player with good ball control, especially in the six-pointer position. If Oberdorf is not there, it will be difficult to replace them equally. Sjoeke Nüsken from Frankfurt did not succeed either in the position she was not used to, which was intended as a replacement against Sweden. Overall, more variability is needed on the six, but also in the German game going forward.

And also on the defensive there is still room for improvement. Always relying on a strong Merle Frohms is not enough in the long term. Nevertheless, the national coach could take a lot from the game for the future: “That this physique is simply there at the top level and we have to break away from it and play with fewer contacts,” said Voss-Tecklenburg. “So it’s good that we’re doing these games.”

Ultimately, of course, Sweden is not just any random carnival troupe. Coach Peter Gerhardsson’s team only lost out in the semi-finals to eventual winners England at last summer’s European Championships. “We still have a few issues that we want to work on, but I wouldn’t want to overrate it today because we also know what we’re capable of,” said Voss-Tecklenburg. These are issues that you want to tackle in April at the last international matches before the preparation for the World Cup in Herzogenaurach begins.