How will Group H play out in the 2023 Women’s World Cup?
Part 8 of a series
The highly anticipated 2023 Women’s World Cup has finally commenced, with teams from all eight groups eagerly competing to make their presence felt in the tournament.
After thoroughly examining the dynamics of Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group F, and Group G, our focus now shifts to the last group, Group H. This captivating ensemble brings together Germany, Morocco, Colombia and South Korea.
The inclusion of these teams ignites a host of intriguing questions that will find answers during the initial clash between Germany and Morocco, setting the stage for an exhilarating journey within the group.
First Place: Germany
The clear favorites to lead this group are Germany, a two-time World Cup winner, eight-time European champion, and Euro 2022 runners-up.
Their impressive performance at last summer’s Euros nearly resulted in a victory over England in the final. Eager to prove themselves, they aim to avoid a repeat of their 2019 quarter-final exit, which was their worst showing in a Women’s World Cup.
However, Germany faced some challenges leading up to this tournament. They suffered 3-2 and 2-1 defeats against Zambia and Brazil, respectively, had a tough time against a resilient Vietnam side despite securing a narrow 2-1 win, and managed a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands. Having consistency in the group stage will be crucial to their success.
Alexandra Popp, a key player for Germany, will be competing in her fourth Women’s World Cup. Having made her debut in 2011 and captained her team in 2019, she is highly respected by defenders worldwide. Her size, power, and goal-scoring abilities make her a formidable threat on the field. If not for a freak injury that ruled her out of the Euro 2022 final, she could have celebrated with the Golden Ball, Golden Boot and a winner’s medal, instead of England’s Beth Mead.
With the right strategy and execution, Germany, 16 years after their last World Cup title, possesses the necessary tools to potentially clinch their third victory in the tournament.
Second Place: Colombia
Colombia has a significant opportunity to make a splash in this tournament.
Their spirits are high after an impressive performance in the 2022 Copa America Femenina final, where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Brazil.
Linda Caicedo, an exceptionally talented teenager in global football, has been making waves. She made her national team debut at just 14 years old and has since been a key player. Her contributions, including two goals, were crucial to Colombia’s journey to the Copa America Femenina final, earning her a spot in the tournament’s team.
Off the field, the Real Madrid forward overcame extraordinary obstacles. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years ago, she fought through treatment and made a full recovery, emerging as one of South America’s top players.
Catalina Usme, the experienced striker with 25 goals for the national team, is another player to watch. With World Cup experience dating back to 2011, she brings valuable expertise to the squad.
Colombia’s chances to advance could improve if Germany or South Korea struggle in their group matches, presenting an opportunity for Colombia to progress to the knockout phase.
Third Place: South Korea
Participating in their fourth Women’s World Cup, South Korea aims to surprise their group competitors.
South Korea’s tournament record is average, having failed to advance from their group in two out of three previous appearances.
Despite missing out on the Tokyo Olympics, South Korea displayed their best performance in the Asian Cup by reaching the final. They narrowly lost 3-2 to China, scoring 11 goals and conceding four.
The squad brings ample experience to this tournament. Five players have earned 100 or more caps. Kim Jung-mi is expected to start as the goalkeeper with 136 caps, while captain Kim Hye-ri and Lim Seon-joo form the backline with a combined 216 appearances. In the midfield, Cho So-hyun and Ji So-yun bring their experience from 290 combined matches.
Ji So-yun is a key source of goals for the team, leading with 67 goals in 145 matches with the national team.
South Korea could be a dark horse in this group, but success against Germany and Colombia will require some luck if they hope to progress to the knockout rounds.
Fourth Place: Morocco
Prior to this tournament, no Arab nation had ever qualified for the Women’s World Cup.
That changed when Morocco secured their ticket after defeating Botswana 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations.
Despite ultimately losing 2-1 to South Africa in the final, Morocco displayed an impressive performance throughout their run. As the hosts, they scored nine goals and conceded five in six matches.
Despite their success, they realistically face greater challenges in their development and lack the resources of more experienced nations like South Korea. Their modest ranking of 72nd in the world underscores the work they have ahead to achieve their long-term goals.
One player to watch is Ghizlane Chebbak, following in her father Larbi Chebbak’s footsteps, who also played for Morocco. She has become one of the leading names in women’s football in Africa.
The 32-year-old national team captain played a vital role in her country’s journey to the 2022 WAFCON final, finishing as the top goalscorer of the tournament, standing out in the group stage, and being selected for the Team of the Tournament. She has also earned multiple Moroccan Player of the Year awards.
Morocco’s time in the Women’s World Cup may end in the group stage due to the high quality of their opponents, but reaching this point in the first place is a significant step in the right direction for the national team.