Mwape: Compact Play Key to Avoiding Defeat Against Germany

Mwape: Compact Play Key to Avoiding Defeat Against Germany

Copper Queens head coach Bruce Mwape emphasizes the importance of playing a compact game against Germany to avoid defeat.

Acknowledging the formidable challenge posed by the 2016 Olympic gold medalists, Mwape is determined to see his team bounce back from their disappointing loss to Australia and secure their first-ever Olympic win.

Mwape insists that the team cannot afford to lose to Germany, as they aim to return home with a victory. “Germany is a strong team, so we need to play a compact game.

If we play an open game, we risk losing, which we can’t afford. We want to go back home with a win or at least a draw, but the best outcome would be a win,” Mwape stated.

He added, “A win would mean a lot. In our first Olympics in Tokyo, we only managed a draw. If we get a win, it will show some improvement compared to the last tournament.”

The Copper Queens suffered a frustrating 6-5 loss to the Matildas on Sunday after leading 5-2, much to the dismay of their fans.

However, Mwape remains optimistic about the future, urging patience and resilience.

“It’s not the end of the world. This isn’t the last game we will play; we have other tournaments ahead. Fans need to be patient.

You can lose today, but there’s always next time. When we win next, they will be happy,” he said.

“I understand the fans can’t be happy because we’ve lost two games in a row. As far as I know, the fans are still behind this team.

That’s why they can be upset, but they should forget about these two games. We have more tournaments to come, and next time we will try to play better.”

The Copper Queens will face Germany tomorrow in their final group game at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-Étienne.

Kickoff is set for 19:00 Central African Time.