WWC 2023: Group H Preview
Germany are perennial favorites, but it's been a long 16 years since they have tasted World Cup glory. Can star forward Alexandra Popp and her teammates lead Deutschland back atop the mountain this year?
Germany
FIFA Rank: #2
Qualified as: Winners of UEFA Group H
The Skinny
Although several countries are getting there, Germany is the only one that can truly claim to be one of the powerhouses, if not THE powerhouse, of both the men's and women's game. Case in point, they remain the only nation to win World Cup trophies in both tournaments, and just like their male counterparts, the women enter just about every major tournament as a betting favorite. Fresh off a narrow, thrilling loss in the European Championship final last summer, and a dominant qualification journey, that is no different this time around. But, by their extremely lofty standards, it's been a long time in the barren wilderness for Germany. Since winning back-to-back World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007, they are yet to even return to the Final, let alone win. They are also trophy-less in their last three Euro Cups, with a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics marking their only major trophy in the last decade. As the heavy favorites in this group, and a potentially favorable bracket up to the quarterfinals, a star-studded roster will be intent on returning to the trophy podium in Sydney.
Morocco
FIFA Rank: #72
Qualified as: Runners-up of 2022 Africa Cup of Nations
The Skinny
Morocco's women's team has gone from 0 to 100 incredibly fast. Before the start of 2022, Morocco had not only never played in the World Cup or Olympics before, they had only played in two African Nations Cups ever, crashing out in the group stages in 1998 and 2000. Knowing all this, it may not shock you to learn that the Lionesses of Atlas are the second-lowest ranked side in the tournament, at #72. But, last summer, approximately six months before their Men's team would become the first African side to reach the World Cup semifinals, the women were tasked with hosting the African Cup, and wouldn't you know it, they only went all the way to the Final. They would eventually fall just short, losing by one goal to South Africa. Still, even if it took place on home soil, their African Nations Cup run will give them confidence that they can turn some heads this summer, and with a roster filled with players playing in England, France and Spain, they just might.
Colombia
FIFA Rank: #25
Qualified as: Runners-up of 2022 Copa América Femenina
The Skinny
Yet another runner-up in a continental tournament from last year lands in this group. Like Morocco before them, Colombia reached their confederation's final last summer on home soil, before falling by one goal in the final match, in their case to Brazil. Las Cafeteras made a decent impression in their two World Cup appearances prior; scoring a point and two competitive losses in a difficult group in 2011, and then crashing the Round of 16 just four years later, where they put up an admirable fight against eventual champions United States. After missing the 2019 tourney altogether, Colombia will be eager to be back and prove themselves again. The South Americans boast a roster that combines young talent and veteran experience, and have lost only to Brazil, France, and Italy in the last two years.
South Korea
FIFA Rank: #17
Qualified as: Runners-up of 2022 Asian Cup
The Skinny
And yet another runner-up in a continental tournament from last year lands in this group. South Korea have never won a major tournament, but came as close as they ever have last year, reaching their first-ever Final. They lost a 3-2 thriller to China, but it was enough to secure a bid for their third consecutive World Cup, after having not made any before 2015. In their previous two trips to the Cup, Korea crashed the Round of 16 on their first attempt; they "regressed" four years ago with a last-place finish in their group, but considering they were in the hardest group in the entire tournament, some forgiveness can be given. This time, the "Taeguk Ladies" have a talented, synergetic squad that's ranked the highest Korea have ever been ranked, and confidence is high that they can make noise in Australia.
Group H Best XI
You may be thinking to yourself, "this Group H 'Best XI' pretty much just looks like Germany's starting lineup." Guess what? You're absolutely right. I wanted to avoid this outcome, so as to not give the impression there isn't plenty of talent elsewhere in Group H. I could shout out Colombia's living legend Lady Andrade, for example, or their 18-year old Real Madrid star Linda Caicedo. I could recognize Moroccan star striker Rosella Ayane, or South Korea's tandem of Lee Geum Min and Cho So Hyun. But this is supposed to be the Best XI, and if I'm being honest, none of those names are supplanting Alexandra Popp or Bayern Munich's Lea Schüller in attack. They're not taking the place of Lyon's Sara Däbritz or Wolfsburg's Lena Oberdrof in midfield. To say DFB-Frauenteam have no weaknesses whatsoever might be a slight overstatement...but only a slight one.
Group Prediction
This final group keeps with the theme that's developed in the latter half of these group previews: 1st place and last place is very clear-cut, but there's real intrigue in the 2nd place race. Morocco will almost surely finish at the bottom, and it would be stunning if anyone but the Germans took top honors, but who will join them in the knockout stages? It's a shame Colombia and South Korea were drawn into the same group because truthfully, both were teams I thought might be poised to surprise some favored teams in the group stages, but almost surely one of them will be going home after Round 1. I find the two of them match up very evenly; so evenly, in fact, that I expect a draw in their Matchday 1 showdown might be the most likely result. But, despite the slight talent advantage Colombia have, I think Korea are a little more fully realized as a a team, and that + the geographical advantage will allow them to hang a little tougher against Germany. The margin between the two may be as simple as that.
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