Germany face first-ever Women's World Cup group stage elimination
Posted : 03 August 2023
In a stunning upset, two-time champions Germany were eliminated from the Women's World Cup group stages after a draw with South Korea. This marks the first time in Germany's history that they have failed to reach the knockout stages.
Entering the tournament as one of the favorites, Germany needed a better result than Morocco's against Colombia to advance in Group H. However, Morocco secured a 1-0 victory, dashing Germany's hopes.
South Korea took an early lead through Cho So-hyun's goal, but Germany's captain, Alexandra Popp, equalized shortly before half-time. At that moment, Germany was on track to progress as group runners-up. However, Morocco's late goal against Colombia meant that Germany had to secure a win to advance.
Popp came close to scoring again, hitting the crossbar with a powerful header and seeing another effort ruled offside by the video assistant referee. As time ran out, Germany's frustration grew, and their attempts to find a winning goal were unsuccessful. South Korea defended resolutely, and the match ended in a draw.
The full-time whistle brought disappointment and tears for the German players, who were consoled by staff members. South Korea finished at the bottom of the group, having lost their first two matches.
Germany's early exit from the tournament comes as a shock, considering their impressive track record in previous editions. Ranked second in the world, they had consistently performed well in previous World Cups and won titles in 2003 and 2007.
However, during this tournament, their vulnerabilities were exposed, particularly in defense and ball possession. A defeat to Colombia and a shaky performance against South Korea led to their untimely exit.
This Women's World Cup has already been full of surprises, with Germany's early departure adding to the unpredictability. Olympic champions Canada and South American giants Brazil have also failed to progress from the group stages.
For German supporters, this result is a significant disappointment, as they are accustomed to seeing their team perform well in major tournaments. The exit is a major letdown, especially after their loss to England in the Euro 2022 final just 12 months ago.
ADD A COMMENT :
Hot Topics
User name is required Email Id is required Comment is required
ADD A COMMENT :