Korea finish on a high to eliminate Germany from Women’s World Cup

Colin Bell cut a frustrated figure as South Korea exited the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Englishman considering what might have been after his team put on their strongest performance to hold twice champions Germany to a 1-1 draw in Brisbane to effectively knock the Europeans out of the tournament.

After disappointing displays against Colombia and Morocco ended in defeat for the Taegeuk Ladies, Bell had lamented that his team had yet to perform to their usual standard.

But here, with the pressure off, the real South Korea finally came to play, and it was the 2003 and 2007 champions who paid the price with elimination.

The Koreans went into the game with only a mathematical chance of qualifying for the next round. Those opening two defeats meant they had to defeat the Germans by five goals and hope Colombia defeated Morocco in Perth.

Bell’s team started with the intent and intensity that had been absent so far during their time in Australia. Vibrant and energised, the decision to select Casey Phair to start boosted the team, her pressing from the front unsettling the Germans from the first whistle. 

The 16-year-old almost opened the scoring with two minutes on the clock, the Germans needing goalkeeper Merle Frohms to push her low shot onto the post before it bounced to safety.

Frohm had no chance four minutes later when the German defence was left stranded by Lee Young-ju’s clinical pass through the middle, finding Cho So-hyun unmarked and with the time and space to slot first time into the corner.

The Koreans were dynamic and lively, working hard to limit the space in central positions for the Germans. Kim Hye-ri made a telling challenge to deny Alexandra Popp on the edge of the penalty area while moments later Klara Buhl dragged her shot wide of Kim Jung-mi’s goal.

Ji So-yun, so often ineffective in the games against Colombia and Morocco, kept the Germans busy with her movement on and off the ball while 20-year-old dynamo Chun Ga-ram was tenacious in the tackle.

Needing a win to be sure of progressing, the Germans were always going to crank up the pressure, and it was through the expected channel that the Europeans levelled the scores, Popp rising to meet Svenja Huth’s cross, looping her header to the left of Kim.

There were few surprises after the interval when the Germans sought to ramp up the intensity, pushing Popp further forward and repeatedly attempting to find the head of the veteran forward.

The Wolfsburg striker thought she had put her side in front in the 57th minute when she rose above Kim to head in after Sara Dabritz’s clever flick of Lea Schuller’s cross from the right had looped the ball into the air for Popp to nod home. But the goal was overturned on review, Popp deemed to have strayed into an offside position.

Two minutes later her aerial prowess threatened the Koreans again, Popp this time thumping her header against the crossbar. With 16 minutes remaining she had another sight of goal, only to head straight into the hands of Kim when a movement either side of the goalkeeper would surely have resulted in the winner.

While largely on the backfoot, the Koreans were not devoid of opportunities. Ji So-yun bent her 71st minute corner towards the far post, where Cho’s hesitation denied her an easy tap in.

But it was in defence where the Koreans were forced to do most of their work as the clock ticked down.

Park Eun-sun was thrown on for the final minutes in place of Chun and immediately moved into defence to add more height to a rearguard action that was needed as German substitute Sydney Lohmann fired off a pair of late efforts that briefly threatened.

But Bell’s team hung on to pick up their first point of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, departing Australia with the most bittersweet of results.

WHAT WE LEARNED

Finally a high energy showing: After tepid performances in their opening two games, the Koreans threw off the nervousness that held them back against Colombia and Morocco to put in an energetic showing that saw them hassle and harry the Germans in midfield, with 20-year-old Chun Ga-ram impressing and the Koreans on top in the opening 30 minutes, thanks in part to Talking Point Number Two…

Casey Phair starts at last: Having written her name in the history books in the game against Colombia when she became the young player ever at Women’s World Cup, Casey Phair underlined Bell’s assertion that she’s in the squad on the basis of her talent with a strong showing that made a significant impact. Her energy, strength and running kept the German defence under pressure, leading by example from the front and providing more time and space for the midfield to put the Europeans on the back foot. She almost opened the scoring, too, in the second minute.

Resolute defending was key: As the Germans, needing a win to advance to the next phase, grew increasingly desperate, throwing long balls into the box, the Koreans had to show significant defensive resilience. Captain Kim Hye-ri led by example, putting in several last-ditch challenges on Alexandra Popp to deny the prolific goal scorer.

WHAT THEY SAID

Colin Bell (Coach)

“The games are fast, the games are furious and you have to be able to go at that tempo otherwise you’ve got no chance in modern day women’s football.

“We didn’t have intensity in the two games previously, we were at it maybe in phases but not the way we have shown in the past.

“Today we showed what we could do. That was my team. In the first two games I didn’t recognise my own team.”

WHAT COMES NEXT

While the Taegeuk Ladies are on their way home, Bell and his squad can return to South Korea satisfied they finally showed the world their better qualities, even if they will be frustrated that it all came so late. Next up are the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September and October before the continent’s qualifiers for the Paris Olympics resume in late October.