German women have to rebuild team for World Cup qualifying decider

Germany aim to clinch their place at the women's World Cup with victory over Norway on Friday but will have to do so with a changed team.

Captain Giulia Gwinn is missing due to injury, key defender Janina Minge is serving a red card suspension while full back Franziska Kett and forward Nicole Anyomi are injured as well.

In addition, there is a big question mark around goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger who has an abdominal injury.

Germany top the qualifying group one point ahead of Norway and will clinch first place and direct entry to the 2027 tournament in Brazil, instead of a play-off detour in autumn, with a victory in Cologne.

If there is any other result the group win will be decided on the final matchday Tuesday when Norway host Austria and Germany visit Slovenia.

Germany won the reverse fixture 4-0 in Norway but the game was closer than the result indicates. And Germany were held 0-0 in Austria in their last qualifier in April.

But coach Christian Wück remains upbeat, saying amid the woes: "I believe we will have the quality on the pitch to win another match against Norway.

“This match against Norway will be a really important one for us, not just in terms of qualification, but also in terms of how we feel going into the coming weeks and months.”

The good news Germany is that winger Klara Bühl is back and also that Norway will be without their top scorer, former World Player of the Year Ada Hegerberg.

Germany defender Sophia Kleinherne said confidently that the play-off option "is of course not on our mind" and that the team has "the clear ambition" and quality "to clinch matters on Friday."