Alexandra Popp scored twice in the first half and Germany added four more in the second in a 6-0 rout of Morocco in their Women’s World Cup debut on Monday.
The margin of victory is the biggest of the tournament so far as the two-time champions dominated the entire match against Morocco, the first Arab and North African country to qualify for the tournament
Popp scored his 63rd and 64th international goals, moving to third on the German all-time list. The Wolfsburg striker quickly made her mark on the tournament after missing the 2022 European Championship final against England due to injury.
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Germany’s Klara Buehl celebrates after scoring her team’s third goal during the Women’s World Cup Group H soccer match between Germany and Morocco in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, July 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
The second half featured two Moroccan own goals sandwiched between goals by Klara Bühl and Lea Schüller.
KEY MOMENTS
In the 11th minute, Popp scored with a header from Kathrin Hendrich’s cross. He doubled his tally with another header in the 39th minute from a Klara Bühl corner.
Bühl scored the third goal with a shot with his right foot 23 seconds into the second half. For the fourth goal at 54, Svenja Huth served a ball in from a corner rebound. The ball then bounced off Moroccan defender Hanane Aït El Haj for an own goal.
Another Yasmin Mrabet own goal followed before Lea Schüller completed the scoring for Germany in the 90th minute.
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Germany’s Jule Brand and Lena Lattwein, right, embrace at the end of the Women’s World Cup Group H soccer match between Germany and Morocco in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, July 24, 2023. Germany won 6-0. (AP Photo/Victoria Adkins)
BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT
After losing to Zambia and Brazil in recent friendlies, Germany announced themselves as a contender to win the tournament with a comfortable victory. The 2003 and 2007 World Cup winners advanced to at least the quarterfinals in each of their eight previous World Cup appearances. Germany is top of Group H, with Colombia and South Korea set to play their first match on Tuesday.
The heavy defeat adds pressure to the remaining group stage matches for the Moroccans, who need to improve their performance to keep alive hopes of advancing to the knockout stage of the tournament.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“I haven’t set a goal for myself how many goals I will score. I want to reach the final and win the final. Other than that, I’m happy. I hadn’t scored very well before (in the World Cup), but these two goals were a boost.” – Alexandra Popp, captain of Germany.
“We have to go again, there are two more games. We have the spirit, we have the fight and we will regroup and go against South Korea again.” – Rosella Ayane, player from Morocco.
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Germany’s Klara Buehl, left, celebrates after scoring her team’s third goal during the Women’s World Cup Group H soccer match between Germany and Morocco in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, July 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
WHATS NEXT
Germany will travel to Sydney for their next match against Colombia, who advanced to the round of 16 in their last World Cup appearance. Morocco will play against South Korea at the Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide. Both games are scheduled for Sunday.
