It was not a good start for Morocco as they fell to a 6-0 loss to Germany at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Alexandra Popp struck twice as Germany made an impressive start to their Australia & New Zealand 2023 campaign with the tournament’s biggest win thus far.
The two-time champions had only lost one of their previous 24 group-stage matches at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, and debutantes Morocco never looked like doubling that meagre tally.
They fell behind as early as the 11th minute, when Germany’s energetic high press forced the Atlas Lionesses to surrender possession in their own defensive third. There was still plenty of work to do but Kathrin Hendrich and Popp did it with aplomb, with a tantalising cross from the former bulleted home by a perfectly timed header from the latter.
Few players at this tournament are more dangerous in the air than Popp, and the Germany captain underlined her aerial prowess with another excellent goal later in the half. Again, the service was impeccable, but the veteran striker still needed to show strength and agility to twist her body to glance in Klara Buhl’s inswinging corner.
Buhl went from provider to scorer in the opening minute of the second half, following up to fire home emphatically after another of her superb crosses had caused havoc in the Atlas Lionesses’ defence.
Salt was then applied to Moroccan wounds as Germany tightened their grip, with two scruffy own goals – courtesy of the unfortunate Hanane Ait Al Haj and Yasmin Mrabet – followed by a late Lea Schuller strike.
The European giants now hold a commanding lead at the top of Group H ahead of Tuesday’s meeting between the section’s other two teams, Colombia and Korea Republic.
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