Germany’s women moved closer to securing their spot in the 2027 World Cup with a 5-1 thrashing of Austria in Nuremberg on Tuesday.
Nicole Anyomi stabbed home the opener from close range on 17 minutes and Vivien Endemann scored her third goal in three games with a clever second-half volley.
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Sjoeke Nüsken headed in the third from a corner, although Austria’s Sarah Puntigam got the last touch, with Jule Brand grabbing her second assist.
Brand netted a deserved strike of her own on 76 minutes before Chiara
D’Angelo bagged Austria’s first goal of qualifying and Germany substitute Lea Schüller finished in style.
Christian Wück’s side top Group A4 with three wins from three with three left to play.
Endemann told ZDF: “We are combining well, scoring goals. It is a bit annoying we conceded but we move on to the next game.”
Austria host the return on Saturday.
The match came on a landmark day for German women in football as Marie-Louise Eta took charge of her first training session at men’s Bundesliga side Union Berlin. She is the first woman to coach a male team in Europe’s top five leagues.
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Linda Dallmann came in for Carlotta Wamser in the only change from March’s 4-0 win over Norway, but Wamser quickly entered the fray after captain Guilia Gwinn had to go off injured in the first half.
Before kick-off, former Germany stalwart and current Real Madrid midfielder Sara Däbritz, 31, was celebrated having announced her international retirement last year.
Austria host the return match on Saturday.
Germany, world champions in 2003 and 2007, went out in the group stage of the last women’s edition in 2023 but reached the Euro semi-finals last year.
Austria’s Annabell Schsching (L) and Germany’s Franziska Kett battle for the ball during the FIFA Women’s World Cup UEFA qualifying Group D soccer match between Germany and Austria at the Max-Morlock-Stadion. Daniel Karmann/dpa
Austria’s Barbara Dunst (L) and Germany’s Nicole Anyomi battle for the ball during the FIFA Women’s World Cup UEFA qualifying Group D soccer match between Germany and Austria at the Max-Morlock-Stadion. Daniel Karmann/dpa
Germany’s Vivien Endemann celebrates scoring her side’s second goal during the FIFA Women’s World Cup UEFA qualifying Group D soccer match between Germany and Austria at the Max-Morlock-Stadion. Daniel Karmann/dpa