Pope’s multi-goal performance the most in a single game at the tournament
Brazil defeats Panama, 4-0
Germany was as strong as expected. They are the favorites in Group H.
Germany cruised to a 6-0 victory over Morocco in their FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia-New Zealand 2023 Group H opener at Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. ET, led by a multi-goal performance from Alexandra Pope (Wolfsburg).
Germany, the two-time defending World Cup champions ranked No. 2 in the FIFA rankings, came out firing on all cylinders in the first game and looked like the most dominant team in Group H.
It was the most goals scored by a team in a single game at the tournament. Morocco, playing in their first-ever Women’s World Cup, faced a tough introduction to the competition.
Group H included Germany and Morocco (ranked 72nd), as well as Colleen Bell’s South Korea (17th) and Colombia (25th).
South Korea will face Colombia on Friday, followed by Morocco in game two and Germany in the final three.
The top two teams in each group will qualify for the round of 16.
Germany, runners-up at last year’s Women’s Euro 2022, are the favorites to win the tournament. They will be looking to win their first World Cup in 16 years, since 2007.
Global star and captain Pope showed her consistent form with two goals. She scored in the 11th and 39th minutes of the first half to give Germany the lead.
Pope broke the deadlock in the 11th minute with a precise header from a Katrin Hendrich (Wolfsburg) cross. She added another in the 39th minute with a header off a corner set piece.
Germany went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
At the start of the second half, they opened the scoring again.
Clara Bühl (Bayern Munich) capitalized on a Moroccan mistake in the first pass and converted for the third goal. It was 3-0 less than a minute into the second half.
Morocco conceded two more goals in the second half on back-to-back own goals in the ninth and 34th minutes. Leah Schiller (Bayern Munich) completed the rout with a late goal in the 45th minute.
Meanwhile, in an earlier Group G match, Italy defeated Argentina 1-0 thanks to a 42nd-minute goal from Cristiana Girelli (Juventus).
In Group F, Brazil cruised to a 4-0 victory over Panama in their first game, led by an Ari Borges hat trick. 카지노사이트 It was the first hat trick of the tournament.