For the first time, the German women’s soccer team has failed in the preliminary round of a World Cup.

Disgrace in Brisbane, the historic exit is perfect: The German women’s soccer team has failed in the preliminary round for the first time at a World Cup and has caused the next DFB disaster only one year after the European Championship high-flying. The team of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, with its weak nerves, had to settle for a 1-1 draw against outsiders South Korea in the final group match and is heading home deeply disappointed after the premature end of the hunt for the third star.

“This is still beyond my grasp. I can’t understand what’s going on here right now,” said a stunned Alexandra Popp on ZDF: “It’s impossible to analyze it right away. It was bumpy over the three games. That was not our ambition.”

After the quick shock by Sohyun Cho (6th), Popp’s equalizing goal (42nd) at Brisbane Stadium was too little for the European runners-up, as Colombia’s shooting assistance against Morocco (0:1) failed to materialize in the parallel match. The women thus suffered the same fate as the men’s team at the 2018 and 2022 finals.

Voss-Tecklenburg relied on concentrated offensive power in front of 38,945 spectators and provided Popp with Lea Schüller in attack. After her poor performance against Colombia, Lina Magull had to take a seat on the bench. In addition, defender Marina Hegering came back into the team for Sara Doorsoun, who had injured her thigh after recovering from a bruised heel.

And Hegering was immediately challenged in the newly formed and rarely practiced three-man backline. After a ball loss by Lena Oberdorf, Casey Phair appeared completely free in front of Merle Frohms, but the VfL Wolfsburg goalkeeper deflected the 16-year-old’s shot to the far post with a brilliant save (3rd).

But the DFB team did not shake off its nervousness and disorganization even after this early wake-up call. After a precise pass from Young-Ju Lee into the three-man backline, Kathrin Hendrich picked up the offside call and Frohms had no chance against the through Cho. It was the first goal of the vice Asian champion at this World Cup.

Afterwards, captain Popp rowed her arms wildly and tried to wake up her teammates – it helped for a short time. Klara Bühl missed two good opportunities to equalize (11th, 15th). But overall, the game of the two-time world champions was haphazard for long stretches of the first half. The idea to exploit the size advantage with many crosses did not work out at first. For this reason, Voss-Tecklenburg had moved right-back Svenja Huth forward from her usual back four.

South Korea were well prepared by former Frankfurt Bundesliga coach Colin Bell and caused the German team a lot of problems with some of their pressing. As in the defeat against Colombia (1:2), the game structure of the favorites was too slow and faulty. Popp therefore dropped back further at times and tried to boost the game alongside Oberdorf.

After half an hour, the South Koreans pulled back more and more, but the German game continued to lack solutions at first. A break for Frohms’ treatment was therefore used for a short meeting – with success. Popp headed in a cross from Huth for her fourth goal of the tournament. The Wolfsburg offensive player roared out her joy and relief.

“We were very unfocused and didn’t get into the game well. After that it got a little better, but it’s still too little at the moment,” Joti Chatzialexiou, sporting director of national teams at the DFB, told ZDF during the break.

But even after the change, the uncertainty was palpable, with only an offside goal (57th) and a crossbar header (60th) from Popp initially enough. Voss-Tecklenburg reacted and brought on fresh players in Sydney Lohmann and Lena Lattwein. Bühl and Sara Däbritz, who played her 100th international match, had to come off.

However, the favorites continued to struggle to find gaps and the clock was ticking. Only Popp (74th) and Lohmann in injury time provided any danger. That was far too little.