Women’s World Cup 2023: Seismic shock as Germany crash out in group stages after South Korea draw

Two-time champions Germany crashed out of the Women’s World Cup at the group stage for the first time in their history as they were held to a shock 1-1 draw by South Korea in Brisbane.

The Euro 2022 finalists were rocking from the start of the Group H encounter when they conceded after only six minutes as Cho So-Hyun raced through the middle unmarked to stun Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side with a clinical finish.

The powerful Alexandra Popp popped up with a classy headed equaliser on 42 minutes, but the 2003 and 2007 winners could not find the second goal they craved in a frantic second half that lacked any true sign of potency.

Popp had a goal disallowed and also hit the bar with two more headers, but in truth her side did not do enough to claim the three points as Sydney Lohmann smashed a shot narrowly over deep into added time with desperation mounting for the world’s No. 2 side.

Morocco’s 1-0 win over Colombia in Perth in Thursday’s other match consigned Germany to third place in the section on four points – two points off the top two qualifying spots – and an early exit amid plenty of recriminations.

Colombia will face Jamaica in Melbourne on Tuesday as Group H winners with Morocco meeting France in Adelaide as group runners-up later on Tuesday.

The brutal truth of Germany’s exit from this tournament is that they were simply not good enough when push came to shove in the final third of the opposition half.

A 6-0 win against Morocco in their opening match of the World Cup proved to be a false dawn as they were humbled by Colombia 2-1 late on before lacking any true potency to break down a vibrant, but limited South Korean side in Brisbane.

It is a bitter disappointment for Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s squad to suffer the ignominy of being the first national team in history to suffer an exit at the group stage of a World Cup, but they have nobody to blame but themselves in flattering to deceive.

They were arguably far too dependent on the totemic Alexandra Popp of Wolfsburg and her powerful menace in the air, but that also boils down to tactics and having the ingenuity to break down stuffy, packed defences in other ways.

As odd as it sounds, Germany depart this World Cup knowing they were technically by far the best team in Group H, but failing to live up to the hype on the pitch will leave them bewildered in trying to make sense of how they managed to blow it.

Scored a wonderful goal to give a robust and resolute South Korea an early lead and did not stop moving for the rest of the match as she powered around the pitch to close down space and support her team in attack whenever possible.

Cho required treatment for cramp before being carried off injured in added time after being fouled, but can be proud of her efforts in helping South Korea claim a famous and merited draw against the former world champions.

Germany: Merle Frohms 6, Marina Hegering 6, Kathrin Hendrich 6, Chantal Hagel 6, Svenja Huth 6, Alexandra Popp 7, Lena Oberdorf 6, Sara Däbritz 6, Lea Schüller 6, Klara Bühl 7, Jule Brand 6 Subs: Lena Lattwein 6, Sydney Lohmann 6, Nicole Anyomi 5

South Korea: Kim Jung-Mi 7, Chun Ga-Ram 8, Shim Seo-Yeon 8, Kim Hye-Ri 8, Cho So-Hyun 8, Ji So-Yun 8, Choe Yu-Ri 7, Jang Sel-Gi 7, Choo Hyo-Joo 7, Lee Young-Ju 7, Casey Phai 7 Subs: Kang Chae-Rim, Park Eun-Sun, Moon Mi-Ra

4′ SOUTH KOREA ALMOST GRAB THE LEAD! – Casey Phair inches away from becoming the youngest scorer in World Cup history as she clips the post with keeper Merle Frohms doing superbly to tip that onto the goal frame. So unfortunate for Phair and South Korea. German defence cut wide open. Worrying.

6′ GOAL FOR SOUTH KOREA! – Are we heading for a massive upset as Cho So-Hyun bounds through the middle unmarked to slip the ball beyond Merle Frohms? Germany defence all over the show again at the back. South Korea lead 1-0. Lee Young-Ju with the pass for the goal.

42′ GOAL FOR GERMANY! – There is the equaliser. And it is Alexandra Popp, who else you might ask, who comes to the rescue as she rises to head home Svenja Huth’s cross in the box. What was the panic about? Germany back on level terms at 1-1.

58′ NO GOAL FOR GERMANY – South Korea breathe a huge sigh of relief as the offside call against Popp is confirmed via VAR. Wasn’t much in that decision, but probably just strayed a yard or two off.

60′ POPP HITS THE BAR! The former champions are coming closer to that vital second goal as Popp shows her danger again in the air by nodding the ball off the bar with the South Korean keeper well beaten. Svenja Huth providing a telling cross.

90’+11′ SO CLOSE FOR GERMANY! – This time it is Sydney Lohmann who hammers a shot inches over from just inside the box. Almost the winning goal in added time. What a finale here in Brisbane.