Ladies’s World Cup Each day: Germany crash out as Morocco advance with Colombia Get hold of US

The 2023 Ladies’s World Cup is in full swing, and these each day recordsdata provide the newest reporting from across the event in addition to betting traces, what-to-watch-for data and greatest reads. Test in with ESPN all through the event as we deliver you the most recent from Australia and New Zealand.

The lead: Germany crash out as one other massive staff falls

BRISBANE, Australia — Germany’s Ladies’s World Cup marketing campaign got here to an finish within the group stage for the primary time of their historical past as they have been held to a 1-1 draw by South Korea, whereas Morocco’s 1-0 win over Colombia consigned the two-time champions to a shock early exit.

Germany began this World Cup with a flurry of objectives of their 6-0 demolition of Morocco, however then fell to a shock 2-1 defeat to Colombia. As they battled a number of accidents on the again, they nonetheless had a terrific probability of constructing the knockouts however wanted to beat South Korea — who had misplaced each matches with out scoring a objective — to verify.

However regardless of dominating attacking territory, Germany’s assault fell flat leaving them leaving the event far sooner than anticipated.

– Ladies’s World Cup: Touchdown web page | Schedule | Rosters | Information
– How groups can qualify for the spherical of 16

South Korea began brilliantly, with 16-year-old striker Casey Phair having an opportunity early on as her close-range shot was properly saved as Merle Frohms who turned it onto the publish. However Collin Bell’s aspect did not have to attend lengthy to take a deserved lead as Lee Younger-Ju’s by ball discovered Cho So-Hyun unmarked and he or she completed properly to provide South Korea a shock lead.

Germany began to seek out extra rhythm and tempo, dominating territory, however needed to wait till the forty first minute to vogue their first first rate alternative with Alexandra Popp heading dwelling a Svenja Huth cross.

Germany continued to pile on the stress within the second half and had a objective disallowed within the 56th minute with Popp offside. She continued to be Germany’s predominant attacking outlet and planted a header on South Korea’s bar simply three minutes later however, attempt as they could, they could not break down the opponent’s resolute defence.

Because the minutes ticked down, the match turned extra fractured, with the physicality leaving gamers sprawled on the deck. Germany had a few final determined efforts, with Sydney Lohmann firing huge after which blasting one other over. — Tom Hamilton

Information of the day

• South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana revealed she has misplaced three members of the family whereas on the World Cup after serving to her nation beat Italy 3-2 to achieve the knockout rounds for the primary time. Kgatlana, who scored the sport winner to ship the Banyana Banyana into the spherical of 16, revealed that: “Over the past three weeks, I’ve misplaced three members of the family, I might have gone dwelling, however I selected to stick with my women as a result of that is how a lot it means.” South Africa will subsequent tackle the Netherlands.

• Pia Sundhage has a contract as Brazil coach by subsequent 12 months however her position on the 2024 Olympics in Paris is not assured, in accordance with ESPN Brasil sources. The staff bowed after the group stage on the World Cup after ending third behind France and Jamaica — the primary time since 1995 that Brazil did not attain the knockout levels. The early exit additionally noticed Marta’s legendary Brazil profession finish by taking part in in her sixth World Cup however not scoring a objective.

• After teaching the Philippines on the World Cup — and beating co-hosts New Zealand within the course of — former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic has set his sights on turning Perth Glory again right into a powerhouse after being appointed coach of the embattled A-League Males aspect on a three-year deal. Stajcic mentioned aiming for finals in his first season in cost was a “non-negotiable” and added: “For those who’re taking part in within the A-League, in case you’re taking part in in any elite competitors and you are not aiming for finals, you most likely should not be there.”

Right this moment in USWNT camp

This No. 1-ranked USWNT hardly resembles the reigning Ladies’s World Cup champions, and whereas some pundits and former gamers have raised questions in regards to the gamers’ mentality, others have all referred to as out a failure of techniques and construction, that are the purview of coach Vlatko Andonovski.

It is a chicken-or-egg query: Is the USWNT not executing techniques properly as a result of the gamers lack the appropriate mentality? Or are the gamers not exhibiting the appropriate mentality as a result of the techniques are holding them again?

After a listless 0-0 draw with No. 21-ranked Portugal to shut out the group stage, it turns into all of the extra crucial to determine the reply. Up subsequent, the USWNT faces Sweden within the spherical of 16 in a win-or-go-home situation that necessitates taking part in higher than the People have up up to now.

ESPN’s Caitlin Murray seems on the predominant explanation for the USWNT’s troubles at this World Cup.

Sights and sounds

Morocco beat Colombia to hitch them in subsequent spherical

PERTH, Australia — The risk was there from the get-go for Morocco as Ibtissam Jraïdi pressured a powerful save from Catalina Pérez inside the primary 60 seconds, the Atlas Lionesses possessing a transparent risk once they might work the ball into Colombia’s field.

Even with the fiercely vocal Colombian help making Perth’s Rectangular Stadium really feel prefer it had been displaced from the guts of Bogota, it was Morocco who seemed way more at dwelling within the stadium swathed in yellow.

A careless and unnecessary shove on Jraïdi in first-half stoppage time introduced in regards to the break-through, there might be no query that it was a penalty for the North African nation. Pérez once more got here up trumps to maintain the ball out, diving to her left to parry Ghizlane Chebbak’s effort, however she was unable to place the ball out of hurt’s method and Anissa Lahmari poked it dwelling within the ensuing melee.

After their dream consequence (and objectives) towards Germany, the highlight was on Colombia to impress as soon as once more, and because the second half wore on Khadija Er-Rmichi was referred to as into motion to disclaim Daniela Montoya and Mayra Ramírez with response saves earlier than getting her fingertips on a ferocious Linda Caicedo effort.

As Colombia grew, the breaks in play started to multiply inflicting the sport to fracture, impacting the entire outlook of the group, from Perth all the way in which to Brisbane.

The whistle could not sound quickly sufficient for the Atlas Lionesses, who streamed on to the pitch to rejoice. However then got here the nervous jiffy because the clock in Brisbane counted down as they awaited affirmation that Germany had bowed out.

The 2 sides in Western Australia have been the 2 nonetheless standing and thru to the following spherical, Colombia’s loss on the evening not sufficient to take them from the highest spot. — Sophie Lawson

Spanish siege mentality

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Spain ahead Jenni Hermoso has reacted to criticism of the staff’s 4-0 defeat to Japan on Monday by saying there are individuals who need to see La Roja fail. Regardless of the loss, Spain progressed to the spherical 16 after profitable their first two video games and can meet Switzerland in Auckland on Saturday.

“I believe there are folks ready for Spain to slide up, I do assume that,” she informed reporters in Wellington. “For those who take a look at social media … To be sincere, I do not look, however we all know persons are ready for us to fail.

“For all we’ve got tried to battle to be right here and to go so far as doable, there are folks which might be pleased once we do not get good outcomes. If they do not need to keep on the Spain boat, then they need to get off. What is sweet for us is help from everybody following Spain.”

Defender Irene Paredes added that the criticism didn’t “annoy” her and was “a part of the job,” saying: “It’s regular that it occurs and that extra is demanded from us as a result of we’re able to giving extra.” — Sam Marsden

Possession schmossession

MELBOURNE — Not solely will Jamaica make historical past within the World Cup’s spherical of 16, they may, remarkably, head there as considered one of solely three groups (together with Switzerland and Japan) to haven’t conceded a single objective up to now. Not unhealthy contemplating they have been drawn in a bunch with France and Brazil.

Coming in with a plan centred on a rock-solid defence anchored by goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer, The Reggae Girlz have been in a position to grind out 0-0 attracts with these high-powered opponents regardless of controlling 24% of possession towards France and simply 20% towards Brazil.

“We do not are available with a defensive thoughts, we need to rating objectives, however you bought to do what you bought to do if you wish to proceed, and it is going to be laborious work,” Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson mentioned. “We’re not going to put down and say win the sport. We do not imagine in that. If you wish to beat us, then you have to beat us. The smaller nation groups they’re gonna battle for all the things. So the pattern goes to proceed till folks can show it unsuitable.”

Certainly because the hole between soccer’s outdated guard and rising challengers has begun to shrink, the previous can not depend on a resource-driven chasm in technical skill and physicality to see off their longshot rivals. Per FIFA’s official statistics, South Africa solely managed possession for 29% of the sport towards Italy of their 3-2 win that despatched them to the spherical of 16, the identical share that Colombia retained of their momentous 2-1 win over Germany.

“All people’s organized now and the bodily half is fairly good as properly,” Brazil coach Pia Sundhage mentioned after her aspect’s draw with Jamaica. “Not solely that, in case you play the ball [and you’re] dispossessed, then you’ve got this counter-attack scenario.

“In 4 years, the perfect staff is not going to give away the ball away. For those who take a look at accomplished passes, I believe that share will rise sooner or later [while] nonetheless protecting the pace of play — the perfect might be able to doing that.” — Joey Lynch

Man! I Really feel Like a Matilda!

BRISBANE, Australia — In case you have been questioning how the vibes are in Matildas camp following their magnificent 4-0 victory over Canada in Melbourne, the reply is: immaculate.

Taking to the observe for his or her first session since reaching the spherical of 16, the staff strolled out to start stretching and warming up. Out of nowhere the immediately recognizable and iconic opening of Shania Twain’s “Man! I Really feel Like a Girl!” blared out by the audio system. Let’s go women, certainly.

Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Charli Grant have been bopping alongside whereas Mackenzie Arnold was dancing as properly. The goalkeeper was filled with reward for the track choice.

“That was really Georgia, our energy and conditioning assistant,” Arnold informed media.” She was really beneath slightly little bit of stress with that. We simply informed her to placed on some tunes and that was what she got here out with. So fortunately, it was a banger. In any other case, it might have been a bit embarrassing for her.”

When requested in regards to the staff’s playlist, Arnold was fast to say captain Sam Kerr’s position within the music choice. “We’re really right into a little bit of singalongs,” she mentioned. “So like not one of the ‘doof-doof’ s—. We’re not likely into that. Little little bit of a beat behind it. Sam’s really fairly good at that. She finds the bangers and places them on.”

And whereas Twain’s world 1997 hit acquired the group going, it is an iconic Aussie track which has grow to be the staff’s anthem. “‘Strawberry Kisses’ by Nikki Webster has been a staff favourite,” Arnold admitted.

Webster herself is not any stranger to Stadium Australia, singing throughout the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympics. As for a way the staff landed on Webster’s hit?

“It is really Steph Catley’s favorite track and now we have all jumped on the wagon.” — Marissa Lordanic

Options of the day

The USWNT’s path to the Ladies’s World Cup last
Which groups should the USWNT beat with a purpose to carry the Ladies’s World Cup for a 3rd successive time? ESPN lays out the trail forward.

Marta’s World Cup finale overshadowed by Brazil’s poor play
Whereas Marta’s sixth World Cup might have been one too many, there might be questions on whether or not Pia Sundhage is the appropriate coach to guide Brazil.

And, lastly …

MELBOURNE — Are you the suspicious kind? In that case, are you the suspicious kind and a dwelling legend of soccer coming in the direction of the tip of your profession? In case you are, you may need to keep away from the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (MRS) for a short while.

Throughout one 48-hour interval this week, the Melbourne venue has seen each Christine Sinclair and Marta’s illustrious World Cup careers finish upon its floor: two icons of the sport, whose careers span many years and go away legacies not possible to correctly quantify.

Provided that they function the pure conclusion to the tip of a footballing chapter — in addition to the beginning of one other — World Cups usually present some degree of synchronicity and coincidence.

However few would have anticipated the considerably bittersweet declare to worldwide notoriety that the venue would safe heading into the event; Sinclair’s Canada turning into the first-ever reigning Olympic champions to be bundled out within the group levels of the next World Cup once they misplaced 4-0 to Australia, and Marta’s Brazil crashing out on the first hurdle for the primary time since 1995 once they floor out a 0-0 stalemate with Jamaica.

Each greats have been aiming to grow to be the primary participant — male or feminine — to attain at six totally different World Cups. However the rectangle of disappointment had different concepts.

And whereas MRS’ contribution to the World Cup ends after the spherical of 16, it isn’t carried out but claiming legacies. For on Sunday, both the World Cup profession of USWNT talisman Megan Rapinoe or Swedish stalwart Caroline Seger will finish when their sides meet. — Joey Lynch