Germany Defeats Denmark, While Harmed and Helped by VAR

In today’s first of two group stage matches in Group C, it would be Germany taking on Denmark for the opportunity to grab the top spot. This was a well-contested match between these two teams, with so many twists and turns, you never knew how this match was going to end. While there were many moments that VAR did get involved, Germany won this contest with the final score of two goals to one.

Denmark got the opening goal in the 26th minute, as Janni Thomspon was attacking with the ball in the middle of the pitch, but she was stopped by the German defense and lost the ball. Somehow, Amalie Vangsgaard was able to make the trailing run to pick up the ball, caught the German keeper napping as well as the defense, and scored.

Germany was getting decisions going against them by VAR, as they had a goal wiped out before Denmark scored theirs. It looked like Germany had the lead in the 19th minute when Jule Brand had the ball on the near side, made a nice pass to Klara Buhl with a smasher. But VAR ruled that two German players were in an offside position and blocked the keeper’s line of sight to wipe out the goal.

The second time Germany had VAR go against them was in the 37th minute when the referee saw a handball that was committed by the Danish defender inside the area. The referee blew her whistle and pointed at the spot for the penalty. But VAR was on the case again, and somehow saw the infraction was barely just outside the line of the Danish area. So instead of a penalty, it became a free kick. Germany failed to convert.

In the second half, Germany finally got a VAR call their way. In the 55th minute, VAR reviewed a non-call for a foul inside the Danish area, but while the contact was soft, it clearly shows Linda Dallmann getting fouled by Katrine Veje. The referee walks away from the monitor and points to the spot for the penalty. Sojeke Nusman took the penalty in the 56th minute and scored the equalizer.

Germany scores the go-ahead goal in the 66th minute, with a bit of calamity by the Danish defense. Emma Faerge tried to hammer the ball away from her side of the pitch, but accidentally smashed the face of her teammate Emma Snerle, and the force of the ball bounced into the path of Germany’s Brand, who quickly found Lea Schuller inside the area and scored.

This was one of those moments where you feel terrible for Snerle as she got taken out by friendly fire, and you would like to believe the referee had to blow the whistle for a possible head injury. She had to allow play to continue and give advantage to Germany to score. She was helped off the pitch by the Danish training staff and subbed out. You hope she can continue for the final group stage match.

This match had ten minutes of added time in the second half, but after that was over, Germany won the match and are currently in first place in Group C, while we await the second group match between Sweden and Poland later in the day. Great action, crazy situations, but overall it was a solid match from start to finish.