Draw in Brisbane: German women eliminated in World Cup group stage
The German Women's National team is headed home early from the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. A 1-1 draw against South Korea in their final group stage fixture against South Korea in Brisbane proved insufficient to qualify for the knockout round out of their group.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's German Women's National Team's World Cup has concluded. A rousing victory against Morocco in their tournament opener was followed up by a loss to Colombia in the second group stage fixture. The DFB-Frauen could only earn a 1-1 draw with South Korea in their third group stage match. The result might have been enough to see the team through, but the same Moroccan side that the Germans so throughly dismantled were able to upset both the Koreans and Columbians to snatch second place in the group.
Bundestrainerin Voss-Tecklenburg made two changes to the XI that suffered a round two defeat against Colombia on Sunday. Center back Marina Hegering - after nursing an injury for nearly a month - was once again fit enough to start alongside central defensive partner Kathrin Hendrich. Hegering took the place of the injured Sara Doorsoun. As had been hinted at by the coaching staff in pressers this week, the Germans added an additional striker to lend the squad more targets in the box. Lea Schüller took the place of the out-of-form Lina Magull.
An incredibly disorganized start from the Germans led to the South Koreans taking a deserved early lead. There were immediate signs that the ad-hoc back-four was mistake prone. A poor clearance from right back Svenja Huth gave 16-year-old phenom Casey Phair a chance to test keeper Merle Frohms with a close-range effort in the 3rd. Three minutes after that, the German defensive ranks - looking completely apathetic - were split apart by a simple through ball. Frohms stood no chance against unmarked striker So Hyun-Cho. The Asians took a 1-0 lead.
It took some time for the DFB-ranks to shake off the shock. Upfield movement was rare. When the team did manage to get forward, passes and crosses in the final third were far too inaccurate to produce legitimate chances. The defensive chain was nevertheless able to solidify somewhat and prevent the Lady Taeguks from rattling off any more dangerous counters. After a first-half during which the Germans appeared extremely nervous and unconfident, Alexandra Popp was at least able to snatch the equalizer near the end. The captain headed home a Huth cross from the right in the 42nd.
Voss-Tecklenburg's side nonetheless continued to struggle to find a way past the South Korean press after the restart. It appeared as if Popp had bagged a brace and given the Germans the lead with a dream goal in the 57th. Popp emphatically headed a diving header into the back of the net after her partner Schüller furthered a ball for her with a cheeky back heel. The tally was unfortunately chalked off due to Popp's offside position. On the very next attack from open play, Popp headed an inch-perfect Huth service off the crossbar.
The match flattened out a bit for a while until Popp recorded another shot on target in the 74th. A powerful header off a diagonal from substitute Sydney Lohmann regrettably went straight at keeper Kim Jung-Mi. That would sadly be the last threat seen from the DFB-team until deep into extended injury time. Substitute Lohmann tried twice from distance in the waning minutes, yet saw her efforts miss the mark. The Koreans remained focused and steadfast in the midfield duels. Germany's World Cup campaign thus ended with a soft whimper.