Upsets and Advances: Women’s World Cup
In a thrilling conclusion to the group stage of the Women’s World Cup, Germany, a two-time champion, suffered a shocking exit on Thursday, while the underdog team of Morocco advanced to the knockout stage. Colombia emerged as the Group H winner, adding to the series of upsets during the early weeks of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Earlier, Brazil, another favorite, was eliminated by Jamaica, who secured a spot in the round of 16. South Africa also made it to the next stage with a stoppage-time winner against Italy.
Germany’s unexpected departure came after a 1-1 draw with South Korea, marking the first time they failed to advance from the group stage in the Women’s World Cup. The team, ranked No. 2 by FIFA, was considered a top contender after starting the tournament with a dominant 6-0 victory over Morocco. However, subsequent losses against Colombia and South Korea led to their untimely exit.
In contrast, Morocco, ranked 72nd, created history by becoming the first Arab team to secure a win in the Women’s World Cup. They continued their success with back-to-back 1-0 wins against South Korea and Colombia, securing a place in the round of 16.
The tournament’s expanded format to 32 teams had raised concerns about the quality of play, but it has witnessed numerous underdogs upsetting stronger teams. The established nations are facing a more level playing field in women’s soccer, with surprises becoming the norm.
Now, Morocco faces France, while Colombia takes on Jamaica, in what promises to be an exciting round of 16.
Re-reported from the article originally published in Republic TV