Germany crash out of FIFA women’s World Cup following draw with South Korea

 

BRISBANE – History repeated itself on Thursday when two-time champions Germany crashed out of the women’s World Cup in the group stage for the first time, after being held 1-1 by South Korea.

The draw was not enough because Morocco beat Colombia 1-0 in the other game and joined the South Americans in the last 16. Five years ago the German men had also suffered a first-ever group stage exit when they lost 2-0 against South Korea at the World Cup in Russia.

In Brisbane, South Korea led in the sixth minute from Cho So Hyun with their first goal of the tournament, and all the 2003 and 2007 champions Germany managed was a 42nd-minute equalizer from Alexandra Popp.

Captain Popp had another goal disallowed for offside and headed against the bar as South Korea bowed out with pride after earning a first point.

Germany, who had lost 2-1 to Colombia after winning 6-0 against Morocco, slipped to third in Group H and out of the tournament as debutants Morocco got their second win from Anissa Lahmari on the stroke of half-time in Perth.

It is another setback for German football as the men’s team did also not survive the group stage of the 2022 World Cup and has won only one of the following five games this year. The men’s U19 team did then not survive the group as title holders at the recent Euros.

The exit for the women’s Euro 2022 finalists came after mixed results earlier in the year and amid some injury woes. But coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg insisted that “we came here with other goals.

“The support from home was there, we wanted to play much better and win the game. But in the end it is about results,” she told broadcasters ZDF.

“We didn’t find our game. We showed heart and tried. We were shocked by the first goal and lost our calmness. A lot of basics were missing. Our performance was not enough to get through this group.”

South Korea coach Colin Bell, who has coached in Germany in the past, said: “I know the German team inside out. We had big aims and needed a moment of success. The whole burdon was gone when we scored.

“I have spent half of my life in Germany and I feel sorry for them. They tried everything.”

Germany are the most prominent casualty of the tournament which has also seen Olympic champions Canada, former finalists Brazil, Italy and co-hosts New Zealand crash out.

In the last 16, Morocco will now face France on Tuesday while Colombia take on Jamaica the same day.

The round starts on Saturday with Switzerland v Spain and Japan v Norway, Sunday’s games are Netherlands v South Africa and Sweden v title holders United States, and Monday’s matches England v Nigeria and Australia v Denmark.

Germany had entered the crunch game with returning defender Marina Hegring, and Popp and Lea Schüller as two forwards for plenty of attacking pressure.

But it was the South Koreans who tore Germany’s defence apart early on.

In the third minute, 16-year-old Casey Phair was played through and her shot was palmed against the outside post by goalkeeper Merle Frohms.

It was 1-0 for the underdogs in the sixth when Lee Young Ju’s long ball sliced open the German defence again, and Cho calmly converted pasr Frohms into the bottom left corner.

Germany slowly woke up but South Korea continued to press high and gave them little space, and long crosses trying to find Popp lacked precision just as other attempts to threaten.

But in the 42nd one of those crosses, from Svenja Huth, finally found its target and Popp’s header went into the right corner for the equalizer.

Popp nodded into the net again in the 57th but the goal was nullified for offside, and her next header three minutes later hit the crossbar.

It was all over for Germany when substitute Sydney Lohmann aimed wide and high in the 16 minutes of stoppage time.

“I can’t grasp it yet. I don’t know what to say. I don’t understand it,” Popp said. Winger Jule Brandt added: “I am lost for words. I am very disappointed. It wasn’t enough. We were motivated but didn’t show it on the pitch. We weren’t efficient enough.”

In Perth, Ibtissam Jraidi was pushed down by Daniela Arias, the ensuing penalty from Ghizlane Chebbak was saved by goalkeeper Catalina Perez but Lahmari was present to convert the loose ball in first half stoppage time.

Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi made a stunning save from Montoya after the break, with Lorena Bedoya hitting the side-netting on the rebound as the North Africans preserved their lead for a historic last 16 birth.