The dream that the Germany U20s women’s team could retain the World Cup in Papua New Guinea has come to an unfortunate end at the quarter-final stage. Maren Meinert’s side, plagued by injury, were defeated 1-0 by France and bow out despite a flawless performance in the group stage.
In the clash of the two remaining European teams in the competition, Delphine Cascarino scored the deciding goal for France in the 16th minute. It was a closely-fought game, and it took Germany until the latter stages of the first half to fully get going, but they were unable to find the equaliser. The French team now progress to the semi-finals, where they will face Japan, while North Korea and the USA meet in the other match.
France get off to better start
“Games against France are always open,” said Meinert before the game. A well-attended affair in 30-degree heat the capital city of Port Moresby saw France start the better, forcing their opponents back to the edge of their own penalty area. It took ten minutes for Germany to gain a foothold, and their first chance fell to Anna Gerhardt, whose effort from a tight angle was well kept out by goalkeeper Mylene Chavas.
Just as Germany looked to be finding their flow, they fell behind for the first time in the tournament. They failed to fully clear from a corner, and Cascarino took full advantage when she hammered into the roof of the net from 14 metres out.
Few clear-cut chances despite spirited performance
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Germany were able to gain the upper hand as they pressed for an equaliser, although they were mainly reduced to efforts from long range. The closest they came was a 30-metre shot from Gerhardt, which Chavas managed to divert onto the crossbar. The French goalkeeper continued to frustrate in first-half stoppage time, saving from Saskia Matheis.
That pattern continued in the second period, with goalscoring chances a relatively rare spectacle. Germany seemed most threatening from set-pieces, and pushed higher up the pitch as they tried to force a solid French defence into making a mistake.
But the game opened up as they took more and more risks, and chances fell the way of both sides. Dina Orschmann and Clara Mateo could each have scored for their respective teams, and the margin of defeat could well have been even harsher on Germany had Marie-Charlotte Leger’s effort not rebounded back off the crossbar.
Meinert’s team certainly never gave up the fight, but ultimately they suffered a bitterly disappointing defeat at the end of a closely fought contest, having been unable to find the elusive equaliser.
