Martina Vos-Tecklenburg didn’t bother to talk to her opponents. At the Aotia Center in Auckland, New Zealand, the national coach knew only well that German football players had drawn lucky draws for the finals of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (July 20 to August 20, 2023). Morocco, Colombia and South Korea are anti-DFB women’s groups. The three teams that have been runners-up in their respective confederations from Africa, South America and Asia – which fit perfectly with runners-up Germany – but none of these teams comprise the top tier. Vos-Tecklenburg, 54, framed his decision accordingly: “Group H is a group with three unknown teams. It’s a big challenge for us to analyze opponents in advance.”

On the contrary, it should mean that defeating your opponents should be almost a matter of comparison to your own standards. The two-time world champion couldn’t have found a more easy constellation to warm up for the next title mission in the middle of an Australian winter. It only gets really challenging in the round of 16: Germany will then probably take on France or Brazil, with world champions USA hiding in the final as soon as possible.

Cold, rainy weather would be a constant feature of this tournament: it’s not for nothing that a female penguin named Tzuni was named the official mascot. Pack your scarf and raincoat is the message for visitors to the Nine Oceans World Cup cities. Because the German games will likely be played in European time due to the morning time difference (the exact kick-off time has not yet been determined), it is likely that the German EM heroines will once again take with them millions of spectators. On television at home.

FIFA sees the reduced distance as an argument for the Men’s World Cup in Qatar, while this fixture is opposed in the Women’s World Cup.

The most pressing task, however, is finding a well-located place to live, as the three group games will take place in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. New Zealand’s detour on this major long-distance event, which is sub-optimal in terms of stability, will certainly not be made. For the men’s World Cup in Qatar, world federation FIFA prefers to inspire compactness, a claim rebutted in the Women’s World Cup.

Voss-Tecklenburg will now go on a week-long inspection trip Down Under to see for himself accommodation options and training grounds. The changing weather speaks against Melbourne, where the Group of 16 winners also take place. The fact that the semi-finals and finals speak for Sydney – the place of longing is Stadium Australia, where the European Championship final against England in the best position at Wembley missed the final stage (1:2 AET ) was achieved.

Voss-Tecklenburg and his outfit begin on July 24 against Morocco, with Colombia’s second rival on July 30. Finally, on August 3, South Korea, who has been coached by Colin Bell, who has lived in the Weserwald since 2019.

Born in England and a former professional at FSV Mainz 05, she made a name for herself in German women’s football primarily as a coach in 1. FFC Frankfurt, which led to them winning the Champions League in 2015. Since taking office, the 61-year-old Bell has been impressed by the hard work, willingness to learn and dedication of his national players.

“South Korea is a very, very strong team that plays great technical football with a German coach,” warned Voss-Tecklenburg. Colombia, on the other hand, has a “completely different style of play”, Morocco, as a big unknown, benefited from an expanded field of 32 teams.

FIFA promises it will be the best, most colorful and most spectacular World Cup ever – and anything surprising would have happened

The three participants have not yet been determined, they will only be determined at the Intercontinental Playoff Tournament in February 2023. Countries such as Chinese Taipei, Haiti, Panama, Paraguay and Papua New Guinea may have expectations, which does not help the quality of the bloated area of ​​the participants. Among the favorites is four-time world champion USA, whose national coach Jill Ellis, meanwhile, “expects the most demanding World Cup ever” given the increased quality of the top nations. European representatives England, Germany, Sweden, France, Spain and the Netherlands are also highly rated, as are Olympic champions Canada and Japan, world champions in 2011 and vice world champions in 2015.

At the grand draw ceremony in Auckland, Senegal’s FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, promised not only the best, but “the most colourful, most spectacular and most attended World Cup ever”. Anything else would have been surprising.