Dismal Defeat: Germany's Shocking Elimination from the Women's World Cup – What Went Wrong?

Germany, a highly regarded team that entered Australia as one of the top contenders, suffered a major setback right from the start in a group that was assumed to be easy for them.

Merely a year ago, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's team reached the finals of the European Championships held at Wembley, coming agonizingly close to securing their ninth continental title.

A year later, the 'Die Nationalelf' finds themselves eliminated in the group stages of an international tournament, which is a first in their history.

Remarkably, South Korea and Colombia seemed to have a knack for orchestrating their downfall, occasionally even resorting to peculiar tactics to achieve it.

Injuries, injuries, injuries

Did Germany's two-time champions face a devastating fate even before the start of the game? Or was their downfall the result of numerous shortcomings throughout the team?

Germany, plagued by a considerable number of injuries, may have contributed to their defensive vulnerabilities, which we can somewhat excuse.

Without star right-back Giulia Gwinn, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament last October, and Carolin Simon, who also sustained the same injury during their friendly against Zambia, they arrived at the World Cup.

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The defence had several concerning problems.

Marina Hegering, who showcased her talent at the Euros last summer, was unable to play in the first two matches because of an ankle injury. Additionally, Sara Doorsoun had to be substituted at half-time in the loss against Colombia due to a muscle problem.

Sure, none of this was ideal, but with Voss-Tecklenburg's squad's depth, it wasn't anticipated to set off a chain effect.

A suspect shift in system

In contrast to Sarina Wiegman's approach, Voss-Tecklenburg made significant changes, albeit not in the same manner, when England faced the possibility of being without Kiera Walsh for their final group matches.

Svenja Huth was positioned as the right-back, while Sara Doorsoun took on the role of the central anchor in a 4-3-3 formation. Chantel Hagel, a left-footed midfielder, was assigned to the left-back position.

As a result, Germany only had two established defenders in their initial lineup. This shortage was evident in their performance.

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Germany manager Martina Voss-Tecklenburg failed to maximize the potential of her players, despite their previous success in reaching the Euros final. Both Colombia and South Korea effectively utilized wing play and stretched Germany's defense throughout two matches, preventing them from achieving dominance in Group H.

Nina Potzel, the host of 'Die 45', a German football podcast, extensively discussed this issue on the latest episode of 'The Offside Rule'.

She expressed her frustration, stating, "They consistently chose to attack through the middle, completely disregarding the option of utilizing the wings. Additionally, the overall communication among the defenders was subpar."

"There were times where I felt, 'why are you going that way, when there's so much space elsewhere'?"

Defensive uncertainty was something South Korea manager Colin Bell had also spotted.

Regarding Huth and Hagel, he stated, "Since they lack the formal training as full-backs, it was appropriate to focus on exploiting those positions. While they are highly skilled players, they do not possess the attributes of traditional full-backs."

He hit the nail on the head.

Star attacker missing in action

The defensive vulnerabilities of the Germans may have been imposed upon them, but the situation is not the same when it comes to their offensive tactics.

This team boasts numerous talented players, yet there was a noticeable absence of inventiveness and precision in the midfield.

Klara Buhl and Jule Brand, known as Germany's most talented playmakers, were unable to thrive under the new system. Alexandra Popp looked lonely and disconnected as the forward, while Lena Oberdorf, who is typically unpredictable, had to rely on frustrating challenges in the midfield.

Natasha Dowie, a former English striker, recently appeared as a guest on 'The Offside Rule' podcast. During the episode, she shared her opinions on the offense of last year's European Championship finalists and their struggles.

Playing against the Germans is often challenging. Although they got off to a strong start against Morocco, it appears that they have become overly dependent on Popp. Considering the abundance of talented players and their substantial quality, focusing solely on her seems unreasonable. Oberdorf, in particular, has been a significant disappointment throughout this tournament.

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While she was a player who many tipped to be one of the breakout young stars, the Wolfsburg forward too was carrying an injury that meant she could not perform at her best.

This was partially attributed to the cleverness and determination of her opponents.

For example, Bell's choice to employ the towering 36-year-old center-forward Eun-sun Park as a temporary defender to guard against Popp was without a doubt one of the most unconventional strategic adjustments in the World Cup's history.

The fact that it worked tells of two things: the nations that we projected to fade out of the tournament deserve our praise, and, more worryingly, Germany had no plan B.

What next?

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Germany's Alexandra Popp could not guide her team into the last 16

All the promises and hopeful ambitions made after last summer's exciting Euros campaign feel hollow.

"We've previously emphasized that this tournament serves as a pivotal moment in our progression," reiterated Voss-Tecklenburg in July of last year. "Although it may not have sufficed at present, it propels us towards the subsequent phase."

Whatever unfolded subsequently has left the German national team in an unfavorable position.

Potzel found herself equally perplexed and astonished by the current state of affairs, one year after a triumphant national venture in England.

"I cannot fathom what went awry. I am genuinely taken aback, just like everyone else. The team appeared entirely transformed, exhibiting a deficiency in pass accuracy and a lack of communication amongst themselves," she expressed.

Her harsh critique raises a crucial inquiry: How can Germany bounce back from this situation? Will an internal investigation suffice, or will something more significant be required to uncover the weaknesses in the collective defense?

The following months will offer resolutions to these inquiries and beyond.

What is the schedule?

The round of 16 is set to be played from August 5 to August 8, with a total of eight thrilling games taking place simultaneously in various locations across Australia and New Zealand.

Following the exciting round of 16, the highly anticipated quarter-finals are slated to be held in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney on August 11 and 12, adding to the electrifying atmosphere of this global sporting event.

The first semi-final will be held in Auckland on August 15, followed by the second semi-final at the Accor Stadium in Sydney on August 16. The final match will also take place at the Accor Stadium on August 20. Additionally, a third-place play-off is scheduled for August 19 in Brisbane, a day before the final.