Spain and Germany Set for Nations League Final Showdown
Spain and Germany will face off in the UEFA Women’s Nations League final, scheduled for two legs on November 28 and December 2. Both teams booked their spots through hard-fought matches.
Germany once again struggled with finishing in their first leg against Spain, which ended in a goalless draw. Although they had more opportunities, their failure to capitalize left them with only a draw, thus making the second leg all the more critical.
Typically, a 0-0 result against the reigning world champions would be seen as a positive outcome. However, Germany is acutely aware that they squandered a valuable opportunity to establish a lead heading into the return match.
Their finishing woes have been prevalent before, notably during last summer’s Euros, but this match highlighted the issue painfully. Germany dominated possession, creating numerous chances while Spain’s goalkeeper, Ann-Katrin Berger, barely had to intervene. Yet the crucial goal eluded them.
Germany’s first half was particularly frustrating. Fullback Franziska Kett had a chance to break through, but she was contained by Spain’s solid defense. Jule Brand had a potential goal cleared off the line by Irene Paredes, and Cata Coll preserved the scoreline by recovering just in time after mishandling a header from Rebecca Knaak.
With Lea Schürrer absent due to personal matters, the responsibility of scoring fell to Nicole Anyomi of Eintracht Frankfurt, who has struggled for consistency under coach Christian Wück. Despite multiple promising opportunities, both Anyomi and Klara Bühl failed to find the net. Bühl did not register her first shot until the 70th minute, and when she finally did, her effort struck the woodwork, echoing the near miss moments earlier from Spain’s Esther González.
Selina Cerci also faced her own challenges, with a long-range shot aimed directly at goalkeeper Coll. In the closing moments, Germany pushed hard for the win, with last-minute attempts from Sjoeke Nüsken and Shekiera Martinez narrowly failing to break the deadlock. Ultimately, they were left with a disappointing draw despite a commanding overall game.
Germany, once a dominant force in European women’s football with 11 major titles, including two World Cups and multiple Euros, has not lifted a trophy since the 2016 Olympics—a significant drought for a historically successful team.
Over the past ten years, their inconsistency in crucial matches has become a clear impediment, particularly when pressure mounts. Throughout the Nations League competition, Germany found the net 29 times in total, with their offensive prowess notably displayed in the group stages, including two resounding 10-1 victories.
Shortly before this match, the German Football Federation (DFB) announced a historic €100 million investment over eight years for the professionalization of the Women’s Bundesliga, aiming to enhance the national team’s competitive edge.
The DFB’s FF27 strategy includes aspirations of winning international titles by 2027, with the Nations League final and the upcoming World Cup standing as key opportunities. Thus, the emphasis is on capitalizing on these pivotal matches.
Despite the promising elements of their performance against Spain, Germany’s inability to score leaves them vulnerable against a team that may capitalize on this in the second leg. Creating 15 chances, nearly half of which were on target, is a feat not easily replicated, especially against world-class opponents.
Nevertheless, the tie remains open, and if Germany can sharpen their finishing, they stand a good chance of claiming their first major title in seven years. To snap their trophy drought, a more ruthless attacking approach will be essential in the upcoming match in Madrid.
n
