Bundesliga: Hertha Berlin in quarantine as DFL issues COVID-19 warning
Hertha Berlin have become the first Bundesliga team to quarantine after four positive COVID-19 tests. With a surge of infections already causing chaos in Bundesliga 2, the German Football League has issued a warning.
Bundesliga strugglers Hertha Berlin have become the first top-flight German team to be ordered to quarantine after two players and two staff members tested positive for coronavirus, potentially throwing the end-of-season fixture list into chaos.
Hertha announced on Thursday morning that head coach Pal Dardai, assistant coach Admir Hamzagic and striker Dodi Lukebakio had tested positive, and that the team and staff would go into isolation, but still be able to train and play.
Germany overcome late COVID-19 crisis to dominate Australia
Germany beat Olympic-bound Australia in Wiesbaden despite four players being forced into COVID-19 quarantine shortly before kickoff. There were big performances from some new faces.
Germany delivered a big win against Australia despite positive COVID-19 tests in the squad earlier in the day
Germany 5-2 Australia,
(Nüsken 11 , Hendrich 48 , Brand 63 , Freigang 65 , Dallmann 90+1 Gielnik 82 , 90+2 )
Germany’s clash against Australia was meant to be an opportunity for the hosts to measure their mettle against another top side. Instead, increasingly common COVID-19 complications forced fresh faces to step up in Wiesbaden.
Lina Magull impressed in Wiesbaden Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg will have been pleased with her side s display
Germany women convincingly beat Australia
In their third international game of 2021, Germany women defeated Australia 5-2. Sjoeke Nüsken opened the scoring in just her second game (11’), before Kathy Hendrich doubled the lead (48’). Debutant Jule Brand (62’), Laura Freigang (64’) and Linda Dallmann (91’) added further goals to secure an impressive win in Wiesbaden.
Preparations for the clash with the ‘Matildas’ were far from ideal for Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side. Friday’s PCR tests of all players and staff came back on Saturday morning. Felicitas Rauch tested positive and, along with the three players who were in close contact with her – Lena Oberdorf, Sara Doorsoun and Svenja Huth – had to isolate and therefore missed the game.
Final thoughts
Where to start with that, or indeed finish. Kerr predicted âgoals, goals, goalsâ mid-week in camp and she was not wrong, but the wrong side of 5-2 is not a good day at the office, no matter how you spin it. Australia were disjointed, lacked fluency, repeatedly exposed on the flanks. They played superbly in the first 10 minutes until conceding the first goal, which appeared to challenge the playersâ mental resilience, and then never really recovered. There was one particularly bright spark in Goad, who was thrown on her international debut far earlier than expected after Roestbakkenâs untimely injury, and more than held her own throughout. The surety of Gielnikâs finishing is another positive.