German Alexandra Popp has suffered a second you wouldn’t want in your worst enemy after her group’s disastrous elimination on the Women’s World Cup.
The No. 2 ranked group had been among the many favourites to carry the trophy in Australia, however as an alternative made a shocking early exit following an evening of excessive drama the place debutants Morocco progressed at their expense with a win over Columbia on Thursday night time.
Morocco’s upset victory meant Germany wanted to beat South Korea to progress, however solely managed a 1-1 draw.
German gamers had been completely distraught on the sphere after studying of Morocco’s victory — with their marketing campaign over on the first hurdle.
The agony and the ecstasy was all caught in a single second of uncooked emotion when Morocco realised they’d made historical past to qualify for the knockout stage of the event.
If that wasn’t dangerous sufficient, Popp was named participant of the match after scoring her fourth aim of the marketing campaign — and needed to pose with the trophy simply moments after having her coronary heart ripped from her chest.
To make issues much more merciless, her bitter expression was a case of historical past repeating 9 months after German star Kai Havertz was compelled to pose together with his Man of the Match trophy simply seconds after being eradicated on the Qatar World Cup final 12 months.
However, Popp’s scenario had one more layer of distress added in when she was compelled to conduct the necessary selfie picture that each one Player of the Match Award winners have performed this event.
“To be honest, it’s still hard to understand,” skipper Popp instructed German TV community ZDF of her group’s failure.
“I still can’t quite understand what happened here.”
The two-time former champions and one of many pre-tournament favourites observe Brazil, Italy and Olympic champions Canada out of the competitors on the first hurdle.
It is the primary time ever that the two-time champions have failed to achieve the knockouts.
It’s straightforward to grasp why her selfie got here out because it did.
Her shocked feelings had been shared by her teammates, with gamers noticed in tears as they consoled one another.
Colombia topped Group H regardless of shedding and can face Jamaica within the final 16. Morocco progressed into the knockouts additionally with two wins and a defeat — that being a 6-0 thrashing by Germany — and meet France subsequent.
Germany had been third and condemned to an early flight house.
Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg stated: “If you want to see it as a disaster in sporting terms, then it’s hard to argue against it.”
The 2003 and 2007 winners got here into the sport in entrance of just below 39,000 in Brisbane realizing {that a} win over South Korea would put them within the final 16.
But they began badly, conceding to a sensible Cho So-hyun end after simply six minutes and looking out shaky on the again early on.
Colin Bell’s South Korea regarded nothing just like the group that misplaced 2-0 to Colombia and 1-0 to Morocco.
Germany equalised simply earlier than half-time with a Popp header however for all their possession, final 12 months’s European finalists didn’t get the second aim they desperately wanted.
When Germany’s destiny was sealed the Moroccan gamers went wild on the pitch. Their French coach Reynald Pedros is relishing dealing with his homeland.
“It is special because it is France. I know the French players very well, maybe that will help us,” he stated.
The Koreans completed backside of the group with one level however not less than salvaged some satisfaction.
— with AFP
Originally revealed as World Cup participant of the match selfie is barbaric cruelty
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
