Soccer World Cup
Clear victory against Morocco: DFB women shoot themselves in the role of favorites
As a substitute, Lea Schüller (hidden) ensured the 6-0 final score against Morocco
© Robert Cianflone / Getty Images
The DFB team made a successful start to the 2023 World Cup. Alexandra Popp headed the first two goals against Morocco. In the 2nd half the result became clear.
Alexandra Popp, who else? The captain gave the German soccer team a 6-0 (2-0) win in the first game at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand Morocco prepares. Last year’s European Championship star scored the first two goals (11th and 39th minutes) with a header in the preliminary round against the tournament debutants from North Africa in Melbourne. In addition, Klara Bühl (46th) and Lea Schüller (90th) for the DFB selection as well as Hanane Aït El Haj (54th) and Zineb Redouani (79th) met their own goal.
On the way to the hoped-for third World Cup star, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s selection was able to wipe away any doubts that had arisen about top form. The next opponent, Colombia, next Sunday in Sydney, could be a much tougher test for the European runners-up.
In front of 27,256 spectators in the Albert Park stadium, which was not sold out, Popp showed his well-known jubilation gesture twice on Monday evening (local time), alluding to the classic film “.ET” (“Phone home”): the left hand on the imaginary telephone, the index finger stretched towards the sky. When they were substituted late (83rd), the German fans in the stadium cheered.
Three DFB players are missing against Morocco
As indicated in the past few days, Voss-Tecklenburg had to rebuild their defense due to injury. Defense chief Marina Hegering (bruised heel) and midfield clearer Lena Oberdorf (thigh injury) were on the bench, as was Sjoeke Nüsken (lateral ligament strain in the knee). Chelsea pro Melanie Leupolz, the only mother in the German team, represented Oberdorf with a solid performance. The experienced Sara Doorsoun played in central defense for Hegering.
Morocco’s players proudly presented themselves at the national anthem. The North African men’s national team caused a sensation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Now the women went, for whose training conditions King Mohammed VI. entered their first World Cup tournament as the runners-up in the Africa Cup – and had to fight a lot.
Australia and New Zealand
USA, England, Germany: These are the favorites of the Women’s World Cup
“We don’t want to be surprised on the defensive and develop security,” Voss-Tecklenburg said shortly before kick-off on ZDF. “We want to dominate the game from our side.”
The DFB women immediately took the initiative. Wolfsburg’s Svenja Huth played at full-back, but kept rushing forward over the right. Just as the Moroccans were getting a little braver, Mrabet made a hair-raising misstep. Goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi dived under Kathrin Hendrich’s cross ball – and Popp headed in unchallenged. The 32-year-old from Wolfsburg celebrated like she did at the European Championships in England last year when she rose to become a tournament star with six goals.
Alexandra Popp provides goals and security
One of the approximately 2,000 German fans in the stadium was Sami Khedira. The 2014 world champion saw how the early opening goal of the DFB team continued to provide security. After the disappointing test match performances against Vietnam and Zambia, some criticism had arisen. Popp then made it 2-0 with a header from a Bühl corner. It was her 64th goal in 129 internationals.
In a wild phase after the restart, Bayern player Bühl made it 3-0 with a determined shot into the far corner before the beleaguered Moroccans scored into their own net for the first time after a Huth cross. At the second own goal, the Moroccan defense was far too unsorted, Schüller put the end late.