Morocco have endured a difficult debut at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Germany in their opening Group H clash in Melbourne on Monday.
It is the biggest victory of the tournament so far and adds to world No 2 Germany’s pre-tournament billing as one of the favourites for the title.
A brace from Alexandra Popp, further strikes by Klara Buhl and Lea Schuller, and two own goals from Hanane Ait El Haj and Yasmin Mrabet for the luckless Moroccans sealed the emphatic win for Germany as they flexed their muscles.
Morocco, who finished runners-up at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations they hosted in 2022, were the last of the Africans teams to take to the field Down Under and complete a chastening opening round of fixtures for the continent.
Only Nigeria secured a point with their goalless draw against Canada, but for Zambia, South Africa and Morocco it was a disappointing opening stage.
It shows the work that needs to be done in the second round of games if any of the African teams are to advance to the round of 16.
Morocco fell behind when they gifted possession to Germany in their own half and as Kathrin Hendrich crossed the ball, Popp headed home after 11 minutes.
Germany were relentless and they grabbed a second before halftime as Popp stooped low to head in Buhl's corner for her second.
Any thoughts that Morocco might regroup and come out firing in the second were buried when Germany netted their third within a minute of the start of the second half.
A shot came off the post and when the hesitant Moroccan defence failed to clear, Buhl had the simple task of finishing from close range.
Morocco did think they had scored when Anissa Lahmari’s beautiful shot curled into the net, but she was ruled offside and her historic moment of a first goal for the country at the World Cup was chalked off.
Just a minute later Germany had a fourth as the unlucky Ait El Haj put the ball into her own net off her shin as she tried to clear.
Germany continued to press and came close several time further, including hitting the post as Morocco battled with balls into their box.
The European side added another when M'Rabet was the unlucky scorer of another own goal as her goalkeeper Khadija Errmichi punched the ball onto her and it deflected into the net.
The Germans were not done though as they added a sixth through Schuller as she turned home the rebound from a Errmichi save.
Schuller had a seventh goal ruled out for offside very late on.
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