Germany shockingly knocked out of the Women’s World Cup

United States midfielder?Lindsey?Horan?takes questions from journalists amid the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, on August 3.

Lindsey Horan has rejected criticism of?how the US?women’s soccer team has been performing at the Women’s World Cup, labeling it as “noise.”

The US?Women’s?National Team?(USWNT) drew 0-0 with Portugal on Tuesday, a result that confirmed the four-time world champion as runner-up in Group E, but not before?the Americans came painfully close to exiting the tournament?when Portugal substitute Ana Capeta hit the post in the dying moments of the game.

One of those pundits was two-time World Cup winner and former USWNT player Carli Lloyd who quipped on the FOX broadcast that “the player of the match was that post” – a reference to Portugal coming close to a famous win late on – adding that her former teammates are “lucky to not be going home right now.”

“You guys are all watching us. Everyone in the world gets to have their opinion. And it’s the World Cup, you know, it’s the biggest stage,” added Horan as she looked ahead to the team’s last-16 knockout match against Sweden on Sunday.

“We’re playing for these big matches. We’re playing for these big moments, these pressure cookers. And that’s what we want to be a part of. And being the US national team, we’re always going to have that. You guys always want to talk about us and we’re going to take that pressure,” she added.

“We’re going to go with it, but we’re going to focus on ourselves and look at everything internally and try to keep the noise out as much as possible.”

Forward Lynn Williams added: “We are not panicking. We have made it to the round of 16. I think that we haven’t played our best soccer yet, which is the most exciting part for us. We are a team that are going to battle.”

Read more here.

Germany's?Alexandra?Popp, center,?and Melanie Leupolz applauds fans after Germany are knocked out of the World Cup at Brisbane Football Stadium, in Brisbane, Australia, on August 3.

Germany captain Alexandra Popp looked heartbroken at the full-time whistle as she tried to comprehend her team crashing out of the Women’s World Cup at the group stage for the first time ever.

The striker scored the equalizer and came so close to finding the winner, having one goal ruled out for offside.

Despite the defeat, Popp was named Player of the Match, but such an award came as little consolation to the dejected 32-year-old.

“It’s hard to say [what was missing]. We needed one more goal, but we didn’t [find it].”

Germany has long been one of the dominant sides in women’s football, but today marks the first time ever that the team has failed to reach the knockout stages of a Women’s World Cup.

Needless to say, the German players were far from their best during their 1-1 draw against South Korea.

“They looked rattled – they didn’t look like the calm, collected Germany that knew they were the world No. 2 that could just go out and play,” former New Zealand captain Rebecca Smith, who spent four years playing in Germany with Wolfsburg, told CNN Sport’s Patrick Snell.

“They really looked like they were forcing things, they weren’t playing their game.”

Despite pushing for a winner in the second half – striker Alexandra Popp hit the bar and also had a goal ruled out for offside – Germany endured an immensely frustrating evening against South Korea in Brisbane.

The result sees Morocco and Colombia both progress to the knockout stages ahead of the two-time champion – just one of the many shocks this tournament has delivered so far.

“This tournament is continually surprising all of us – it’s madness,” said Smith.

Lena Oberdorf of Germany looks dejected after the team's elimination from the tournament during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between South Korea and Germany at Brisbane Stadium on August 3, in Brisbane, Australia.

Germany crashing out from the Women’s World Cup is “one of the saddest moments” of Lena Oberdorf’s life, the midfielder said after the 1-1 draw against South Korea and subsequent elimination from the competition.

Oberdorf played the full 90 minutes as Germany strived for the goal which would have seen it through to the next phase, but it wasn’t to be for the two-time world champion.

As a result of Morocco’s 1-0 victory against Colombia, Germany was eliminated from the Women’s World Cup at the group stage for the first time in its history.

But Oberdorf says this is a low point from which the team can grow.

“We didn’t bring the quality on the pitch today and also the last game that we wanted to show,” she told reporters afterwards.

“We didn’t show the football that we wanted to show and, obviously, it’s one of the saddest moments of my life, but I think we will grow with that and we will analyze it and then we have to ask ourselves what the matter was and we have to talk about it.”

With Morocco’s victory wrapped up but the Germany vs South Korea game still going on, Moroccan players took to the field to keep track of the match in Brisbane and the permutations that came with it.

They huddled around phones, furiously refreshing to seek any update on whether or not their World Cup journey had come to an end… or was continuing on in spectacular fashion.

And when the final whistle blew in Brisbane, the celebrations in Perth?could begin, with those phones coming in handy to call friends, family and whoever else as they chose to bask in the glory of their historic achievement.

Morocco's Nouhaila Benzina celebrates after the match against Colombiaas?Morocco?qualify for the knockout stages of the?World?Cup

Tears, joy, passion… we’ve had it all at this World Cup so far!

Morocco’s result was a groundbreaking win for more than just the nation itself. It continued the success of the African continent at this year’s tournament.

First, Nigeria booked its spot in the last 16. Then, South Africa scored a stunning 92nd-minute winner to sneak into the next round.

And now, Morocco showed resilience to sneak into the knockout stages in its debut tournament.

As a result, it means that three African teams have now qualified for the knockout stages of a Women’s World Cup for the first time ever – the previous best was two in 2019 when Nigeria and Cameroon made it to the stage.

Like its men’s equivalent at Qatar 2022, this Morocco team is blazing a trail and providing joy for a nation.

This truly has been a World Cup of upsets.

Three countries ranked inside the top 10 have now been eliminated before the knockout stages as Germany makes an early exit alongside Canada and Brazil.

And let’s not forget how close the US came to getting knocked out of the competition…

Instead, South Africa, Morocco and Jamaica will all make their debuts in the final 16. Morocco was ranked a lowly 72nd in the world ahead of the tournament, the second-lowest behind Zambia at No. 77.

This World Cup has had some incredible drama so far and no doubt there will be more to come in the knockout stages.

Alexandra Popp, center, of Germany reacts during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between South Korea and Germany at Brisbane Stadium on August 3, in Brisbane, Australia.

Full-time in Brisbane and the game ends 1-1.

Germany can’t find an all-important winning goal and is now eliminated from the Women’s World Cup before the knockout stages for the first time ever.

That was an effective and organized performance from South Korea, frustrating Germany after getting an early goal.

As the match unfolded, on the sidelines, a noisy South Korean crowd willed their side to step up to meet the challenge despite being bottom of the leaderboard.

Rows of fans dressed in red waved inflatable batons and chanted in time with a drum.

German fans looked crushed at the final whistle, and the flags they’d been waving every time their team seemed close to pulling ahead in the second half were tightly wound for the journey home.

Some of the German players were red-eyed in the mixed zone — seemingly unable to explain why they lost despite having had many more attempts at goal.

Some fans were not at the game to support South Korea or Germany, but to hope the Red Devils were able to prevent Germany from advancing to the knockouts.

This is surely the biggest shock of the tournament so far: a two-time champion and the world’s second-ranked team heading home.

Instead, Colombia and Morocco go through from Group H. Who would have predicted that two weeks ago, or indeed after Germany’s 6-0 win against Morocco?

What a World Cup!

Morocco players celebrate advancing to the knock out stage after the 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 3, in Perth, Australia.

It’s all over! Morocco holds on for the 1-0 victory over Colombia, meaning Germany needs to find a late goal to avoid elimination from the tournament.

Anissa Lahmari’s first-half penalty proved decisive and some second-half grit saw to a historic victory.

Colombia's?Mayra?Ramirez shoots at goal during Morocco v Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium, in Perth, Australia, on August 3.

Colombia’s Mayra Ramírez came within inches of tying the game against Morocco.

Ramírez capitalized on some slack defending from Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina, stealing the ball away from her before dribbling into the box and hitting the ball against the outside of the post and away to safety.

So close to a goal which would have changed the whole complexion of Group H!

Fans watch the match between South Korea and Germany during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup at a beer garden in Berlin, Germany, on August 3.

Bizarre to think that Germany defeated Morocco 6-0 in its opening game at this tournament, but now it’s Morocco on course to reach the knockout stages and the Frauenteam is heading home.

No German side has ever failed to get through the group stages at the Women’s World Cup but that could be about to change with Morocco leading Colombia 1-0.

The two-time champion is still tied 1-1 against South Korea in Brisbane and pushing hard for another goal.

This promises to be an incredibly fraught final 10 minutes.

Alexandra Popp scores her team's first goal past South Korea keeper Kim Jung-mi at Brisbane Stadium on August 3.

Striker Alexandra Popp looks the most likely to give Germany the lead in Brisbane with a much-needed second goal.

Her first-half header for Germany was her fourth goal of the tournament, making her top scorer at this World Cup alongside Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa.

Six players – England’s Lauren James, Norway’s Sophie Román Haug, Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt, Brazil’s Ary Borges, the Netherlands’ Jill Roord and France’s Kadidiatou Diani – all have three in the race for the Golden Boot.

Germany will be hoping that the prolific Popp can add to her tally in the next half hour. As things stand, the two-time champion is facing a shock elimination from the tournament.

Germany's Alexandra Popp reacts after her goal was ruled offside by VAR against South Korea at Brisbane Stadium on August 3.

It looked like Germany had made it 2-1 with Alexandra Popp’s second of the game before the striker is ruled offside after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

A sigh of relief for South Korea, though Germany needs a goal and continues to attack.

Moments later, Popp hits the cross bar with another header! Amazing stuff in Brisbane.

Nesryne El Chad, right, of Morocco controls the ball against Mayra Ramirez of Colombia during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 3, in Perth, Australia.

The second half of Morocco and Colombia’s crunch finale to Group H has restarted with a massive 45 minutes ahead for both teams.

Both are progressing to the knockout stages with current results as they are but they both know that one goal in either game could swing things massively.

Stay tuned folks…

South Korea's Kim Hye-ri in action with?Germany's Jule Brand during South Korea v?Germany?at Brisbane Football Stadium, in Brisbane, Australia, on August 3.

A tense 45 minutes coming up for Germany as the two-time champion looks to avoid a shock elimination at the World Cup.

Currently tied 1-1 against South Korea, a win should be enough to ensure progression from Group H.

South Korea, meanwhile, is essentially playing for pride at this point but made an excellent start to this game. We’re back underway in Brisbane.

It’s all go with these two games just before half-time.

It looked like Germany had done enough to regain second position in Group H with Alexandra Popp’s headed equalizer, but that goal from Morocco changes things.

As things stand, the 1-1 scoreline won’t be enough for Germany to reach the knockout stages. The European nation will likely need at least another goal, so lots to think about before returning to the field for the second half.

Can the Taegeuk Ladies keep up the pressure and knock out the two-time champion?

Chances have been at a premium as Morocco and Colombia have fought back-and-forth, but it is the African side which heads into half-time with the lead after Anissa Lahmari’s late score.

As it stands, Morocco is heading through in what would be its first ever qualification for the knockout stages of the World Cup and Germany is shockingly heading out.

Anissa Lahmari, third left, of Morocco celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 3, in Perth, Australia.

Ibtissam Jra?di is bundled over and Morocco has a penalty!

Ghizlane Chebbak steps up with pressure on the line and it’s saved by the keeper.

Luckily for Chebbak, Anissa Lahmari is able to get to the rebound and the ball is eventually bundled home.

A great ending to a slow first half.

Alexandra Popp of Germany scores her team's first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between South Korea and Germany at Brisbane Stadium on August 3, in Brisbane, Australia.

That will help to settle any nerves among Germany’s players.

With half-time approaching, star forward Alexandra Popp rises in the box and heads in her fourth goal of the tournament to make it 1-1 against South Korea.

That lifts the world’s No. 2 team back to second in Group H behind Colombia and going through to the knockout stages as things stand.

South Korea’s opening goal against Germany was perhaps unexpected and the team’s fans reveled in the surprise lead.

One of those to lead the jubilant scenes is Eden Kwon, jumping up to his feet and raising his arms in celebration.

“It was very cool,” eight-year-old Kwon told CNN.

8-year-old Eden Kwon celebrates South Korea's opening goal against Germany at the Women's World Cup.

A group of South Korea supporters in the stadium have taken to chanting for their team and encouraging them to press forward for more goals as it aims for a shock victory and an unlikely qualification for the knockout stages of the tournament.

South Korea fans in attendance during their team's game against Germany at the Women's World Cup.

Germany's Marina Hegering, right, and South Korea's Casey Phair battle for the ball during the Women's World Cup Group H match between South Korea and Germany in Brisbane, Australia, on August 3.

Casey Phair has already made history at this tournament by becoming the youngest ever player to appear at a Women’s World Cup — just 26 days after celebrating her 16th birthday.

She came agonizingly close to another record right at the start of this game when her shot was saved onto the outside of the post by German goalkeeper Merle Frohms, denying Phair the title of youngest-ever goalscorer at the Women’s World Cup.

Still, it’s been a fantastic start to this game from South Korea, which failed to score in its first two games. Germany, heading home as things stand, will be starting to feel the pressure.

Cho Sohyun of Korea Republic celebrates after scoring her team's first goal against Germany.

After a brilliant start to this game, South Korea has now been rewarded with an early goal!

Just moments after Casey Phair saw her shot saved onto the post, Cho So-hyun gives her side the lead as she calmly places a shot past Merle Frohms.

That’s the first time ever that South Korea has scored first in a Women’s World Cup game.

With Morocco and Colombia still locked at 0-0, Germany, one of the pre-tournament favorites, is heading home as things stand.

South Korea's Cho So-hyun celebrates scoring their first goal against Germany with teammates.

Here we go then, the final two group stages games are underway in Brisbane and Perth.

Colombia is in pole position to qualify as the top team in Group H, while Germany and Morocco will both also be hopeful of reaching the knockout stages.

There’s a lot on the line today.

Kick-off is just minutes away and fans are starting to take their seats at Brisbane Stadium.

Among them is Shash Kafle, the only member of his family who was born in Germany. Ahead of the game, he’s turned his artistic skills to making this special flag to support his team.

Shash Kafle holds his hand-drawn flag in support for Germany.

Shash turns eight in a few days and knows who’s going to win: Germany, of course. His parents, Dinesh and Renu (below right), are from Nepal and now live in Brisbane.

Shash Kafle (second-left) stands with his parents Dinesh and Renu and Raj Pandeya (L).

South Korea fans have made the long journey for their country’s final Group H game against Germany.

Amongst those are JB and Youseok who flew from South Korea to watch the game with their friend Daehee, who lives in Sydney.

(From L to R) South Korea fans Kim Daehee, JB Jun and Kim Youseok before their country's game against Germany at the Women's World Cup.

“We hope to win the game, of course, but Germany’s a strong team,” Daehee told CNN.

With their glasses and flags, the trio are proving popular with local fans, being stopped for photos as they make their way into Brisbane Stadium.

Daehee is hoping history repeats itself following South Korea’s win against Germany in the 2018 men’s World Cup and Japan’s defeat of them four years later.

The Park family before South Korea's Women's World Cup game against Germany.

The Park family, who traveled to Australia from Seoul for the game against Germany, are members of South Korean fan group The Red Devils adorned with their devil horns, a sign of their fandom.

The atmosphere is buzzing and it’s set to be a good time in Brisbane.

A win in this game should guarantee Germany a spot in the knockout rounds of the World Cup, though a draw or defeat could also be enough depending on the result between Colombia and Morocco.

South Korea, which has won just one of its last 12 Women’s World Cup games, needs a miracle to qualify from this group having lost both of its opening games.

Here’s how the teams are lining up in Brisbane.

Germany starting 11:

Goalkeeper: Merle Frohms

Defense: Chantal Hagel, Kathrin Hendrich, Marina Hegering, Svenja Huth

Midfield: Lena Oberdorf, Alexandra Popp (captain), Sara Daebritz, Klara Buehl, Jule Brand

Forward: Lea Schueller

South Korea starting 11:

Goalkeeper: Kim Jung-mi

Defense: Shim Seo-yeon, Lee Young-ju, Kim Hye-ri (captain)

Midfield: Choo Hyo-joo, Cho So-hyun, Ji So-yun, Chun Ga-ram, Jang Sel-gi

Forward: Choe Yu-ri, Casey Phair

Linda Caicedo of Colombia celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the match against Germany at Sydney Football Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

World Cup?tournaments tend to be defined by an emerging star and, this year, it’s?Colombia’s?18-year-old sensation Linda Caicedo who is shining brightest.

The teenager, who signed for?Real Madrid?earlier this year, was highly thought of before games got underway in Australia and New Zealand but she’s exceeded almost every expectation.

In Colombia’s two games, Caicedo has scored twice and inspired her team to two victories, including a famous win against two-time world champion Germany.

It was in that game, early in the second half, that she produced one of the moments of the World Cup so far.

With the scores level, the youngster picked the ball up in Germany’s box before jinking past two defenders and rifling a shot into the corner of the net.

It was a magical moment that underlined her potential to become one of the finest players in the women’s game.

“I wanted to shoot and thank God the ball went in,” Caicedo told?FIFA?after the game.

Overcoming a cancer diagnosis

At just 14, Caicedo made her professional debut for Colombian side America de Cali and finished her first season as the league’s top scorer in her side’s title win, according to FIFA+.

Just a few months later and she earned her international call-up to the Colombian national side.

Things were progressing quickly for the youngster, but all was about to come to a halt.

At 15, Caicedo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, shortly after making her senior debut for the national side. The youngster underwent surgery and chemotherapy treatment.

If that wasn’t enough weight for the youngster’s shoulders, it all happened during the the Covid-19 pandemic.

“There was a difficult process, thank God I could overcome it,” she said, per the BBC. “My family was always behind me and my coach beside me was always very close.”

Just two years after her diagnosis and Caicedo was back helping Colombia reach the final of Copa América Femenina where, despite finishing runner-up to Brazil, she was named the best player of the tournament.

Read more about Caicedo’s journey here.

Morocco and Colombia come into the decisive Group H finale with their strongest possible teams. Morocco is led by its first ever World Cup goalscorer Ibtissam Jra?di and Colombia is spearheaded by teenage sensation Linda Caicedo.

Morocco starting 11:

Goalkeeper: Khadija Er-Rmichi

Defense: Zineb Redouani, Nouha?la Benzina, Nesryne El Chad, Hanane A?t El Haj

Midfield: élodie Nakkach, Ghizlane Chebbak (captain), Fatima Tagnaout, Sakina Ouzraoui

Forward: Ibtissam Jra?di, Anissa Lahmari

Colombia starting 11:

Goalkeeper: Catalina Pérez

Defense: Manuela Vanegas, Daniela Arias, Carolina Arias, Jorelyn Carabalí

Midfield: Lorena Bedoya Durango, Daniela Montoya (captain), Mayra Ramírez, Leicy Santos, Linda Caicedo

Forward: Catalina Usme

On Thursday, South Korea takes on Germany and Morocco faces Colombia to decide who will advance to the final 16 from Group H.

Colombia is on the brink of a spot in the knockout stages thanks to a?surprise victory?over Germany in its second group game. A draw or better against Morocco in its final group game will see it top Group H.

The second qualification place looks set to go down to the wire with both Germany and Morocco level on three points.

Germany may need to beat South Korea in its final group game to guarantee a place in the last 16.

Colombia's midfielder Manuela Vanegas, left, celebrates scoring her team's second goal during the match against Germany at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney on July 30, 2023.

Colombia produced one of the most dramatic?Women’s World Cup?upsets, scoring in the last minute to beat two-time world champion Germany 2-1 on?Sunday.

The South American side looked to have been denied a famous win after Alexandra Popp equalized for?Germany?from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, canceling out 18-year-old sensation Linda Caicedo’s wonderful opener at the start of the second half.

But, in the dying seconds, Manuela Vanegas scored with a brilliant header from a corner to spark frenzied celebrations inside the Sydney Football Stadium.

The winning goal, which officially came in the 97th minute, secured Colombia its biggest win to date and inflicted on Germany its first World Cup group stage defeat since 1995.

The world No. 25 was very much the underdog heading into the game against a Germany side ranked 2nd in the world and considered one of the pre-tournament favorites.

Here’s where things stand in the group: With one round of fixtures left, Colombia is top of Group H with Germany in second, ahead of Morocco on goal difference.

Brazil's forward Marta waves after the match, serving as her final World Cup game, against Jamaica at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on August 2, 2023.

As the group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup winds down, Wednesday proved to be yet another dramatic day at the competition.

The Reggae Girlz from Jamaica earned historic qualification to the knockouts, sending Brazil crashing out of the tournament. While France beat Panama 6-3 in a high-scoring affair in Sydney.

Here are more of the headlines from yesterday’s action down under:

It’s the final day of the group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup!

Group H is the last group left to settle which teams will move on to the knockout rounds.

Here are the matches set to kick off from down under on Thursday: