Germany’s exit from the group stage, sealed by a 1-1 draw against South Korea and Moroccan victory over Colombia on Friday, came as a surprise to the German delegation. Because immediately after the certainty that the round of 16 could only be followed on TV, there was a hectic search for return flights in the German camp. Because no thought was wasted on such an early date. On Saturday we will leave in several groups and not as a team at the end of the tournament with the World Cup as hoped.
The shock of the early failure was written deep in the face of the German footballers immediately after the final whistle. “I haven’t really gotten it yet, I still can’t understand what’s going on. It hurts me badly,” said captain Alexandra Popp, whose fourth World Cup goal to make it 1-1 was not enough in the end. “I can not explain. It’s surreal, the disappointment is great, I can’t put it into words,” said the visibly battered midfielder Lena Oberdorf. Jule Brand admitted: “We didn’t get our performance, what we can do, on the pitch.”
German fail in World Cup preliminary round
Germany’s dream of a third world title has burst. With the draw against South Korea and Morocco’s victory over Colombia, the co-favourites finished third in Group H and were eliminated in the group stage for the first time.
Ironically, against the Moroccans, who were able to qualify for the round of 16 with two wins at their first World Cup, the Germans got off to a perfect start with 6:0. The last-minute defeat against Colombia (1:2) threw the otherwise self-confident DFB team off track. Nothing worked against South Korea – except for Popp’s goal. In their ninth participation in the World Cup, the two-time world champions ended in the preliminary round for the first time. Before that, Germany had always been at least in the quarter-finals, regardless of the number of participants.
“Sink and analyze”
National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg takes the “historically bad result” on her cap without any excuse. “We accept responsibility, but it’s absolutely clear that I have to let things sink in and analyze them first,” said the 55-year-old. But it is still too early to ask about her future. “We have now twice achieved a result that is not enough,” said Voss-Tecklenburg, also with a view to the quarter-finals at the 2019 World Cup in France against Sweden. “We have to face that now, and that’s primarily my person, that’s clear.” The German team boss only extended her contract until 2025 in April.
AP/Rick Rycroft Voss-Tecklenburg has to be responsible for a historic end just one year after the successful EM
At least from the German Football Association (DFB), Voss-Tecklenburg, who made up for the 2019 World Cup with the final at the European Championship in the previous year, received official backing. “Together we will work through this disappointment,” said President Bernd Neuendorf in the DFB announcement. After all, Voss-Tecklenburg can point to many injuries in the defense as a possible reason. The situation among men is considered a precedent. Hansi Flick was also allowed to stay there after the bankruptcy in Qatar – but also due to the lack of an alternative. The following performances further increased the pressure on Flick.
Neuendorf also didn’t want to know anything about a step backwards in terms of women and football. The DFB boss did not see the mood at the upcoming men’s home European Championship in danger either. “I wouldn’t be so pessimistic.” You saw a sold-out cup final in Cologne. You have a lot of young women and girls who come to the clubs and want to play football there. “All of this triggered the European Championship last year. I think this anticipation will definitely come,” said Neuendorf on German television. But the 62-year-old also made it clear: “We need a sense of achievement, we need victories.”
debate
Who will wear the World Cup crown?
consolation and criticism
While the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (“The next chance will come”) and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (“Sometimes the worm is just in there”) gave consolation to the failed kickers via social media, the former boss of the German Football League (DFL ), Donata Hopfen, the fans of having to get used to such results in men and women. “German football has been left behind and urgently needs change – new ideas, openness to modern impulses and approaches. And yet there is a feeling that things will continue as before,” said the 47-year-old.
Hopfen took the management team to task: “Hopefully those responsible in football Germany will wake up in their own country before the EM 2024, otherwise the hoped-for summer fairy tale will turn into a summer scare,” warned the former DFL boss with regard to the upcoming men’s EM. Hopfen had to vacate the top post at the DFL at the end of 2022 after just one year. According to the league association, the reason for this was different ideas about the further strategic direction of the company.
Olympic qualification comes into focus
The early failure has no consequences for the German soccer players – in contrast to the quarter-finals at the 2019 World Cup – at least with a view to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. At the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this time no tickets were awarded for the Olympic tournament in one year.
The only way for European teams to secure their two designated spots is through the UEFA Nations League. Germany meets Denmark, Iceland and Wales in group three of League A. On September 22nd, the DFB-Elf in Denmark – who meet the hosts from Australia in the World Cup round of 16 on Monday (12.30 p.m., live on ORF1) – have the chance to redeem themselves for the historic end “down under”.
