2023 WWC Update: Germany Humble Debutant Morocco

Two time FIFA women world cup winners Germany began their 2023 campaign in style as they put debutants the Atlas Lioness of Morocco to the sword with a 6-0 bashing in Melbourne.

German striker Alexandra Popp, who was ruled out of the Euro 2022 final through injury, made her mark with two clinical headers in the first half.

Klara Buhl pounced on a rebound shortly after half-time to extend Germany’s lead, before Morocco’s Hanane Ait el Haj and Yasmin Mrabet found the back of their own net on separate occasions.

Germany continued to cause problems and completed the rout when substitute Lea Schuller added a sixth, firing it into an empty net after a swift counter-attack on the right.

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It was a strong performance from Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side as they created numerous chances and looked sharp going forward, hitting the woodwork on two occasions and having a goal ruled out for offside.

Despite missing key players Lena Oberdorf and Marina Hegering through injury, Germany maintained their impressive record in the group stages of the competition, losing only once in 25 matches.

Morocco is one of the eight teams making their World Cup debut this year, and the Atlas Lioness have followed the same losing streak of their fellow debutants.

Meanwhile, In the last game of the day, Ary Borges scored a brilliant hat-trick as Brazil made a dominant start to their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, thrashing another debutant Panama 4-0 in Group F.

Borges set the tone right away, breaking through the Panama defence and poking her effort towards Yenith Bailey in just 44 seconds.

The winger netted a double in the first half and set up Bia Zaneratto shortly after the interval with a backheel, before heading home the fourth goal.

Brazil seats top of group f while 2019 host France are placed second after a goalless draw against Jamaica.

BBC Sports