Germany will try to keep their perfect Women's World Cup qualifying start intact when they host Austria on Tuesday at Max-Morlock Stadion in Nürnberg.
Christian Wück's side opened the campaign in March with nine unanswered goals against Slovenia and Norway, and they now face an Austria team that has lost both of its matches by single-goal margins. Germany's list is led by Berger, Gwinn, Minge, Knaak, Kett, Senß, Nüsken, Wamser, Brand, Endemann and Anyomi, while Cora Zicai is back in the squad after missing the first two games because of illness.
The match also comes with a bit of movement off the pitch. Vivien Endemann, who scored in Germany's first two qualifiers and struck first in the 4-0 win away to Norway, is set to leave Wolfsburg for Liverpool. Germany have qualified for every Women's World Cup since the competition began in 1991, but they were knocked out in the group stage last time out, a reminder that history alone will not carry them through this campaign.
Austria, meanwhile, are still chasing a first World Cup berth even though they have reached the knockout stage in both of their European Championship appearances. Their named side for Tuesday features El Sherif, Hanshaw, Kirchberger, Gutmann, Naschenweng, Puntigam, Dunst, Brunnthaler, Schasching, Billa and Hickelsberger-Fuller, with the return meeting set for Saturday in Austria. For Germany, the margin for error is already thin, and another clean performance would keep the pressure firmly on a team still looking for its first breakthrough at this level.
