South Korea’s draw with Germany has earned Morocco a place in the last 16 for the first time ever at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia-New Zealand 2023. Moroccan fans left grateful comments on the Korean Football Association (KFA) social media accounts.
South Korea, ranked 17th in the FIFA rankings, played Germany (ranked second) to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, in their third Group H match of the Women’s World Cup.
After back-to-back losses to Colombia (0-2) and Morocco (0-1), South Korea earned a point against Germany in their final group game. However, they finished bottom of the group and failed to advance to the round of 16.
Germany also finished third in the group with 4 points (+5 goal differential) and was eliminated. Colombia (+2 goal differential) and Morocco (-4 goal differential), with two wins, one loss, and six points, qualified for the Round of 16 from Group H.
If Germany had beaten South Korea on the day, the round of 16 ticket holders could have been different. The three teams would have been tied on points and would have been ranked on goal difference, which would have dropped Morocco to third place behind Germany. However, the draw between South Korea and Germany prevented this from happening.
For that, Moroccan fans are very grateful to South Korea. “Thank you Korea,” “We are brothers,” and “Morocco loves Korea infinitely” are some of the comments on the KFA’s social media accounts.
Germany, on the other hand, is in shock. 메이저놀이터
For the Germans, it’s a reminder of their “World Cup nightmare” five years ago. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the German men’s national team lost to South Korea in their final group game and failed to advance to the round of 16. At the time, the Germans were the defending champions and No. 1 in the FIFA rankings. They were considered an “absolute powerhouse. South Korea, on the other hand, had lost two games in a row and were in a bad mood.
But it was South Korea who had the last laugh. Led by back-to-back goals from Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Kim Young-kwon (Ulsan), South Korea won 2-0 and created the ‘Kazan Miracle’.
For the second time in as many tournaments, Germany was stunned by South Korea, this time at the World Cup in Russia, and had to pack their bags after failing to reach the round of 16.
German media outlet Bild called it a “World Cup catastrophe” that left the team in shock.