Unprecedented in the annals of German football history, they failed to advance to the knockout stages for the first time.
Two-time champions Germany crashed out of Women’s World Cup.
Germany, a pre-tournament favorite, realized their fate hinged on a better result than Morocco’s against Colombia in Group H. Alas, the match concluded with a 1-0 victory for Morocco.
The Euro 2022 finalists were caught off guard when South Korea’s Cho So-hyun netted an early goal in Brisbane. However, their captain, Alexandra Popp, swiftly equalized just before half-time, scoring her fourth goal in three matches.
Initially, Germany was heading to the next round as group runners-up, but their hopes were shattered when Morocco surprised Colombia by scoring minutes later in Perth. It meant that Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side had to secure a victory.
Popp stood as their best chance to score again, coming close when she thundered a header off the crossbar and bundled it over the line, only for the video assistant referee to confirm an offside call.
In a later attempt, the Wolfsburg striker sent a free header wide of the post, expressing her frustration as time ticked away for Germany.
During stoppage time, Germany persistently launched crosses into South Korea’s box to no avail. Substitute Sydney Lohmann’s efforts missed the mark, leaving the players devastated on the field and in tears, consoled by their staff.
South Korea, unfortunately, ended up at the bottom of the group, having lost their first two matches.
Looking ahead, Colombia will face Jamaica in the last 16, while Morocco will take on France.
The past 24 hours at the World Cup have been nothing short of astounding. Germany’s untimely exit will reverberate worldwide. Few could have anticipated their departure after just three games in Australia and New Zealand.
Ranked second globally, Germany had topped their group in eight of their nine previous tournament appearances and claimed back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2007.
Nonetheless, cracks had started to show during the tournament. Despite an impressive 6-0 win against Morocco in their opening match, they appeared unsteady at the back and made too many errors in possession.
They paid the price in their second match, losing 2-1 to Colombia, putting them at risk of elimination as they approached the decisive clash with South Korea.
South Korea’s 16-year-old prodigy, Casey Phair, saw her early strike denied by goalkeeper Merle Frohms, hitting the post.
Yet, Germany didn’t learn from their mistake, and South Korea exploited their backline again, with Cho converting this time.
Coming to the rescue, as she often does, Popp headed in an equalizer, granting Germany a glimmer of hope. However, as the game progressed, they grew frustrated and impatient.
Missed chances by Popp, Lohmann, and Klara Buhl proved costly, and South Korea gained confidence, wisely managing the clock and displaying staunch defense.
Germany now joins Canada and Brazil as the third top 10 team in the world to bow out in the group stages.
The shockwave among fans is immense, as Germany’s consistent presence in the latter stages of major tournaments has become customary. This downfall is particularly striking, considering they lost to England in the Euro 2022 final just twelve months ago.
The results could reshape the knockout stages. While South Korea had a disappointing tournament overall, they ended on a positive note, avoiding defeat for only the third time in 13 matches in the competition.
Casey’s goal, though it had little impact on South Korea’s fate, could be significant for the rest of the tournament, as Germany’s stunning elimination opens up the draw.
Voss-Tecklenburg’s side, had they progressed, would have been on track to meet England in the quarter-finals or semi-finals.
Now, there’s an opportunity for Morocco, the team that edged past Germany to secure a spot in the last 16, to replicate the accomplishments of their male counterparts, who astounded the world by reaching the last four in Qatar in December.
South Korea manager Colin Bell remarked, “Everybody thought that was it when Popp scored, but we kept fighting and kept playing.” He expressed surprise and sadness at Germany’s exit and credited them for their relentless efforts.
