Alexandra Popp netted a first-half double before Germany ran out 6-0 winners over Women’s World Cup debutants Morocco in their Group H opener.
Popp, who suffered injury heartbreak when she had to withdraw from the Euro 2022 final after the warmup, got on the end of Kathrin Hendrich’s pinpoint delivery to dispatch a 63rd international goal.
The Wolfsburg striker then doubled the lead from Klara Buhl’s 39th-minute corner, and the excellent Buhl made it 3-0 within half a minute of the restart.
Morocco are the first Arab nation to play in a Women’s World Cup and, at 72 in the FIFA rankings, the lowest-ranked team in the competition. Their cause was not helped by Hanane Ait El Haj putting through her own net in the 54th minute.
There was another unfortunate own goal for Yasmin Mrabet before substitute Lea Schuller completed the rout — an impressive statement from Germany in an opening round of games where other favourites for the competitions have struggled to play with such authority.
Germany vs Morocco final score
| Fulltime | Goal scorers | |
| Germany | 6 | Popp ’11, ’39, Buhl ’46, Ait El Haj (OG) ’54, Mrabet (OG) ’79, Schuller ’90 |
| Morocco | 0 |
Starting lineups:
Germany (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Merle Frohms (GK) — 9-Svenja Huth, 3-Kathrin Hendrich,…
