Germany have exited the World Cup at the Group Stage for the first time ever after a shock draw to South Korea, with Morocco defeating Colombia.

Korea took an early lead thanks to Cho So-hyun, and despite Popp levelling before the break and intense pressure in the second half, Germany struggled to break down the Korean back five and crash out of the tournament. 

There will be a huge inquest back home as to how this happened, but apart from Popp headers they had little to no creativity across their final two group games. 

On the balance of the game as a whole, it’s not against the wind to say Korea deserved a point from this game. 

Despite the expectation of Korea holding back and trying to defend the early German pressure, it was Korea who had the first chance of the game. 

16 year old Casey Phair was slid through on goal and her effort produced a great save from Frohms in net who parried onto the post to prevent a shock opening, however the shock would arrive moments later. 

Just after the 5th minute mark, Lee Young-ju played a wonderful defence splitting pass in behind a completely disorientated German defence and found Cho So-hyun who slid the ball to her left past Frohms to give Korea the lead and their first goal of the tournament. 

Germany looked lost as the half went on. Seemingly struggling to break down the Korean defence who were happy to sit off and allow their opposition to press on. 

Just before halftime, Korea looked to push forward but a huge challenge from Hegering knocked Casey Phair off the ball to turn over possession, and for the first time we saw some German quality. 

Some quick direct passing into space through the middle and out to the wing left Svenja Huth time and space to pick her cross, and this side knows if you pick out Alex Popp she will deliver, and once again Popp rose highest to head home and get her side back on level terms. 

Word came through at the break that Morocco took a late first half lead over Colombia so a draw would not be good enough for the team ranked 2nd in the world. Just before the half hour mark Germany thought they had the lead they desperately needed. Popp coveted a header off a delightful Schuller flick but VAR intervened to overturn the goal for offside. 

Moments later, Popp once again with a header from a Huth cross rattled the bar as the pressure metre started to ramp up. 

One of the aspects Germany were struggling with was creating chances from anything other than crossing to Popp, but that was still causing trouble. Substitute Lohmann took over cross duties and delivered quality as Popp got on the end of another inviting cross but this time her effort was straight at the South Korea keeper, as the stress continued to ramp up. 

Despite looking like they were heading home, Germany never really attacked with the intensity needed to get a goal to send them through. In the final ten minutes, Germany created very little with Korea using every opportunity to slow down the game and take a hard earned point back home as a consolation prize.

Into nine minutes time, the Koreans used every single trick in the book to run the clock out, with the majority of the nine minutes being used up on three separate injuries, including So-hyun the goalscorer getting stretchered off.

Lohmann did have two attempts go wide from range in the added time in added time but for all the Korean time wasting, the Germans know they blew a huge opportunity to win the World Cup.