The match
The two-time world champions take on debutantes Morocco in their first group match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™. While results suggest that Germany’s preparations did not go entirely to plan, they can now switch to tournament mode.
Meanwhile the wave of euphoria generated by the success of the men’s team at Qatar 2022 coupled with their own run to the final of last year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations mean Morocco arrive at the tournament with plenty of motivation – despite being well aware that they are in a tough group.
Team news
Germany beat Vietnam 2-1 and lost 3-2 to Zambia in their World Cup warm-up matches. Head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg will have to do without defender Marina Hegering following a heel injury, and midfielder Lena Oberdorf who is struggling with a thigh strain. While both have returned to training, they are unlikely to be fully fit for Germany’s opening game.
Morocco prepared for the tournament with two goalless draws against Italy and Switzerland before being narrowly beating 1-0 by Jamaica in their final warm-up match. Reynald Pedros is expected to have the entire squad at his disposal for their inaugural World Cup game against Germany.
Players to watch
Alexandra Popp
This is already the Germany captain’s fourth Women’s World Cup and her second wearing the armband after 2019. Although she has now won everything there is to win at club level, the biggest international honour of all still eludes her. “Poppi’s just a born leader,” international team-mate Lea Schuller said in an interview with FIFA. “She’s someone who can get the whole team behind her, so to speak. When she runs forward, it does something to the team.”
Ghizlane Chebbak
Fresh from finishing as top scorer and best player at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Chebbak will now captain her country at their first-ever Women’s World Cup – and is drawing inspiration from their male counterparts. “The men’s team have shown us that nothing is impossible if you fight for it and you stay focused,” she said in an interview with FIFA.
Facts and figures
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Germany have qualified for every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup to date, reaching the knockout stages each time.
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Die Nationalelf have lost just one of their 24 group matches at the Women’s World Cup (a 3-2 defeat by Sweden in 1995).
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This is the first time Morocco have qualified for the finals of a Women’s World Cup, making them the first-ever Arab nation to qualify for the tournament.
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Ghizlane Chebbak was named player of the tournament when Morocco finished as runners-up at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Quotes
“We’ve stoked expectations, and we want to compete for the title. That creates pressure, but you have to be able to deal with that. We promise there will be passion and intensity. We will go to – and beyond – our limits.”
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, Germany coach
“We’ll be ready for the first match against Germany and we’ll do what we can in the group phase to qualify for the last 16. It all comes down to how much work you put in. It’s up to us to show them that it’s not going to be that easy for them and that we’re going to give it our best shot.”
Reynald Pedros, Morocco coach
