Germany book Olympics ticket, Spain win women's Nations League

The Germany women's national team has secured a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics by finishing third in the women's Nations League.

Klara Bühl and Lea Schüller were on target as the Germans defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the match for third place on Wednesday and, therefore, took the remaining European berth at the Games this summer.

"I haven't realized (what happened) yet, but it feels very good to win here. I just hope we can keep it going. We're extremely happy," Bühl told broadcasters ZDF.

Earlier, World Cup champions Spain claimed the inaugural women's Nations League title with a 2-0 win against France.

FIFA women's player of 2023 Aitana Bonmatí broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute with a powerful side-footed finish and Mariona Caldentey wrapped up matters in the 53rd.

"Now we are going to enjoy this little by little. We know how difficult it is, because those who will be at the Olympics will have earned that qualification. It will be complicated, but we want to win every game and that’s what we aim for," Caldentey said.

Both Spain and France were already qualified to the Olympics.

Germany were clearly the dominant team throughout the entire game. They got close to an opener in the 25th, but Sjoeke Nüsken's effort smacked against Daphne Van Domselaar's right-hand post.

Substitute Schüller was on target in the 49th, but her goal was ruled out because she was offside. The breakthrough, however, came in the 66th thanks to Bühl's half-volley.

Seeking a second goal, Germany saw Oberdorf's strike going narrowly over the bar and Schüller's low effort saved by Van Domselaar.

Schüller's insistence was finally rewarded in the 78th, when she powered a strong header into the net to seal the win.

"We still have to realize what happened. We have the night to celebrate and we're unbelievably happy to have achieved that," Schüller.

The qualification to the Olympics come as a relief to Germany after a difficult 2023.

They suffered a shock group stage exit at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last summer, and are without a head coach since the the German Football Federation (DFB) parted ways with Martina Voss-Tecklenburg in November.

Horst Hrubesch started the caretaker job in October, when Voss-Tecklenburg was on sick leave, and led the team to the Nations League Finals.

"I'm extremely happy and I'm very relieved, I have to say. It wasn't always pretty but in the end I think we really deserved it. I'm very proud of my team," captain Alexandra Popp told ZDF.

Hrubesch has said he would coach the team until the Olympics if they qualify.