Two-time champions Germany and debutants Morocco kick their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaigns off in Group H as they meet at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, the same ground where Nigeria’s Super Falcons gamely held the Olympic champions, Canada last Friday

Here are striking points to note:

• Winners in 2003 and 2007, Germany’s qualification for the finals in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand has seen them, like Nigeria’s Super Falcons,maintain their record of appearing at every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament was first staged in 1991.
• Morocco have rewritten the history books after qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time. In doing so, they also become the first Arab nation to reach the finals. The Atlas Lionessessecured their spot at the tournament after finishing runners-up at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations – their best-ever performance in the continental showpiece.
• Head-to-Head: Both teams have never met at the Women’s World Cup.
• Germany have never failed to qualify for the knockout phase in their previous eight tournament campaigns. They became the first nation to win back-to-back editions of the Women’s World Cup when they triumphed in 2003 and 2007.
• The Germans, tagged Die Nationalelf, have lost only one of their 24 group-stage matches in the tournament. They have won 15 and drawn four of their 19 group outings since a 3-2 defeat to Sweden in 1995.
• Die Nationalelfhave won their opening fixture in seven of their eight appearances at the finals, with the only exception being a 1-1 draw against Italy in 1999.
• Germany have won and kept a clean sheet in each of their previous five FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against African nations.
• Morocco earned their place at the finals courtesy of their exploits at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they finished runners-up to South Africa. Ghizlane Chebbak captained the team at the continental competition, playing a pivotal role in their run to the final en route to claiming the Player of the Tournament crown.

GERMANY TEAM FACTS

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS

• Overall record: Play44, Win 30,  Draw 5,  Lost 9, Goals For 121. Goals Against 39 Goal Difference: 82
• Biggest win: 11-0 Germany v. Argentina (10/09/2007)
• Biggest defeat: 0-4 Germany v. Sweden (29/11/1991)
• Highest scoring match: 11 goals – Germany 11-0 Argentina (10/09/2007)
• Most goals scored in a match: 11 – Germany 11-0 Argentina (10/09/2007)
• Most goals conceded in a match: 5 – Germany 2-5 United States (27/11/1991)
• Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 25 – 2003 (6 matches)
• Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 7 – 2011 (4 matches)
• Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 10 – 1991 (6 matches)
• Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0 – 1991 (6 matches)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS

• Successive wins: 7 (2003-2007 and 2007-2011)
• Successive defeats: 2 (1991 and 2015) Successive draws: 1 (five times)
• Successive matches without a defeat: 15 (2003-2011)
• Successive matches without a win: 3 (2015)
• Successive matches with a goal scored: 11 (1999-2007)
• Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2015)
• Successive clean sheets: 6 (2007)

 

MOROCCO TEAM FACTS

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS

• Overall record: Play0. Win 0,  Draw 0, Lost 0, Goals For 0, Goals Against 0, Goal Difference 0.
• Biggest win: nil
• Biggest defeat: nil
• Highest scoring match: nil
• Most goals scored in a match: nil
• Most goals conceded in a match: nil
• Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: nil
• Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: nil
• Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: nil
• Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: nil

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS

• Successive wins: nil
• Successive defeats: nil
• Successive draws: nil
• Successive matches without a defeat: nil
• Successive matches without a win: nil
• Successive matches with a goal scored: nil
• Successive matches without scoring: nil
• Successive clean sheets: nil