SYDNEY – In an exhilarating conclusion to the group stage of the Women’s World Cup, two-time champion Germany suffered a shocking early exit on Thursday, while the underdog team Morocco advanced to the knockout stage. Colombia also secured its spot as Group H winner, adding to the series of upsets witnessed in the opening weeks of the tournament, co-hosted in Australia and New Zealand.
The day before, another favorite, Brazil, was eliminated by Jamaica, who secured a spot in the round of 16, along with South Africa after its stoppage-time winner against Italy.
Germany’s elimination came after a disappointing 1-1 draw with South Korea, which was a significant blow to their hopes of advancing. Ranked No. 2 by FIFA and a formidable force in women’s soccer, Germany was expected to dominate its group, which also included Colombia and South Korea. However, after a 2-1 loss to Colombia and the draw with South Korea, the team failed to progress to the next stage, marking the first time Germany has not advanced from the group stage at a Women’s World Cup.
The scenes of German players covering their faces in dismay and tears in the eyes of the team captain, Alexandra Popp, were in stark contrast to the jubilation in Perth, where Morocco secured its place in the round of 16 as the runner-up in Group H. Despite being ranked 72nd by FIFA, Morocco made history as the first Arab team to secure a win at the Women’s World Cup by defeating South Korea in their second match. Subsequently, they defeated Colombia 1-0 to advance to the knockout stage.
The women’s team’s historic achievement echoes the success of the men’s team at the last men’s World Cup in Qatar, where Morocco became the first African team to reach the semifinals.
The women’s round of 16 will see Morocco facing off against France, while Colombia will take on Jamaica, another team that has stunned the tournament with its impressive performances. Jamaica held France to a goalless draw in its opening game and then went on to shut out Brazil, leaving the Copa America champion in disbelief.
The tournament’s expanded format to include 32 teams has seen more underdog teams challenging the established nations, resulting in numerous upsets and closely contested matches. The usual escape route for third-placed teams to advance to the knockout stage has been removed, with only the top two from each group qualifying.
As the Women’s World Cup continues to unfold, it’s evident that the playing field is becoming more level, and the established powerhouses will need to adapt to this new reality in women’s soccer.