Group H of the imminent FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand promises to produce some of the most competitive match-ups of the tournament with some top-ranked teams going up against each other.
With the build-up to the much-anticipated tournament reaching its twilight, Afrosport previews teams in the group with prime focus on their previous achievements, FIFA ranking and recent results.
Colombia (ranked 25th by FIFA)
The Las Chicas Superpoderoasas (which translates to The Powerpuff Girls) will make a third appearance at the finals after missing out of the last edition in 2019. Nelson Abadia’s ladies showed outstanding dexterity, character and togetherness to finish as runners-up of last year’s Copa America Femenina and qualify for the global showpiece.
They will now look to their passionate fans for motivation to record another major national success as they have only been triumphant once in their history when they emerged champions of the Pan American Games in 2019.
Germany (ranked 3rd by FIFA)
It is quite easy to see why Die Nationale are one of the top favourites to be world champions halfway August. They are one of the most successful teams in women’s football having won eight of thirteen UEFA European Championships. They are also the joint-most winners (twice) of the Women’s World Cup, albeit winning in back-to-back editions in 2003 and 2007, a lofty feat they share with FIFA’s top-ranked team, The United States.
They have also as group winners in the qualifiers, ahead of Portugal with 27 points from ten matches, having scored 47 goals and conceded just five. Without a doubt, they will be desperate to reign as world champions again.
South Korea (ranked 17th by FIFA)
Twenty years since The Taeguek Ladies first qualified for the World Cup, they will enter the tournament with the aim of finishing higher than the knockout stages. It is indeed a season of making amends after they bowed out in the group stage after losing all three of their games.
They qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup by virtue of making it to the last four of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. They surpassed the qualification standard and made it to the final of the continental competition but lost 3-2 to China to finish as runners-up.
“Korean players are technically very sound, but their fitness levels leave a lot to be desired.” These were the words of Guus Hiddink following his appointment in the early 2000s and this assessment is a reality that current head coach, Colin Bell would aim to sustain to improve the team’s performance in the finals.
Morocco (ranked 72nd by FIFA)
The context from a supporting perspective transcends beyond a nation on the cusp of making history to a glorious milestone for entire. For the records, Morocco will become the first Arab team to play at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
They made giant strides towards this unforgettable achievement when they became the first Arab team ever to qualify after their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals victory over Botswana. This was followed by a victory over Nigeria in the semi-finals, before ultimately losing the decider to South Africa 2-1.
Without doubt, they can take inspiration from their male counterparts who became the first African side to advance into the semi-finals of a men’s world cup campaign last October .
