2023-08-03 15:10:00
After the elimination of Germany on Thursday, the French footballers will meet Morocco next Tuesday in the round of 16 of the World Cup.
GA with AFP Kadidiatou Diani (centre) celebrates a goal during the 2023 Women’s World Cup. © DAN HIMBRECHTS / MAXPPP / EPA/MAXPPP Published on 03/08/2023 at 15:10
This Thursday, August 3, during the Women’s World Cup, Germany, second in the world in the FIFA rankings, was eliminated after being surpassed in its group by Colombia and Morocco. Morocco, who will meet France in the round of 16 next Tuesday, managed an unexpected qualification with 6 points in their first participation in a World Cup, following their 1-0 victory against Colombia in Perth.
The players, coached by Frenchman Reynald Pedros, secured second place with two wins from three games, dethroning the Germans, who got just 4 points and were beaten 6-0 in the opener. Colombia (6 pts), first in the game on goal difference against Morocco, will face Jamaica in the eighth.
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A first for the Germans
The fall is severe for the Mannschaft, one of the favorites for the title, which has always reached the quarter-finals in each of its previous participations. The reigning European vice-champions had their destiny in their hands, but they stammered against South Korea (1-1), in Brisbane, during a crazy evening that few observers predicted. They were surprised from the start, by Cho So-hyun, who took advantage of a gross defensive alignment error to score in the 6th minute, alone against goalkeeper Merle Frohms.
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Frohms had distinguished herself just before (2nd), by diverting on her post a dangerous strike from Casey Phair who, at 16, came a few centimeters from becoming the youngest scorer in the history of the competition.
As a good captain, the experienced Alexandra Popp equalized with a header (42nd) to straighten her team, won by nervousness. This goal would have been enough if, almost at the same time, Morocco had not opened the scoring against Colombia, by Anissa Lahmari (45th + 4).
At half-time, despite a draw, Germany were eliminated and needed a win to move back into the top two. Despite Svenja Huth (59th) and Sydney Lohmann (90th + 10), they have never managed to deceive the vigilance of the South Koreans, who leave the competition with their heads held high.
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