AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Marina Hegering is fit to play for Germany against South Korea in a Group H finale that the Germans are treating as a must-win Women's World Cup game.
The defender missed Germany's opening 6-0 victory over Morocco, as well as the shocking 2-1 loss to Colombia with an ankle injury.
Germany is ranked second in the world and has never failed to advance out of group play at the World Cup. A ninth trip to the knockout round would be guaranteed Thursday with a win over South Korea in Brisbane, Australia. A draw would also be sufficient for the Germans unless Morocco upsets Colombia in Perth, Western Australia.
The Germans need Hegering because defender Sara Doorsoun, who started the first two matches, injured her thigh in the loss to Colombia and has been ruled out for the group finale.
"It means a lot to us because as soon as Marina is in training and able to perform properly, that's fantastic value for our team," coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg said. "And for that reason, we're happy that she's ready to play again."
The two-time World Cup champions aren't overlooking the winless South Koreans, who lost to Colombia and Morocco in their first two group games.
"Korea is an exciting opponent because it can play three different systems. So, the question is how will they start the match?" Voss-Tecklenburg said. "Maybe they will surprise us with the high press."
She noted that South Korea coach Colin Bell "is a good tactician who can surprise us."
"South Korea obviously didn't play as well as it could have in its last match, but they are capable of more," she added.
South Korea has yet to pick up a point but hasn't been officially eliminated from the tournament. To have any chance of advancing, the Taegeuk Ladies must beat Germany by a margin of at least 5-0, rely on Colombia to beat Morocco, and then hope tiebreakers fall in their favour.
"It's a slim chance to get to the knockout stages, but we still have an outside chance, and we will push as hard as we can as a team," midfielder Lee Young-ju said.
South Korea was unsure on the status of defender Lim Seon-joo, who started against Colombia but was injured in warm-ups ahead of the match against Morocco.
South Korea has lost its last six Women's World Cup games since scoring a 2-1 victory over Spain in the 2015 tournament, and Bell acknowledged his team will likely be eliminated against Germany.
"When you play football at the international level, you pay for every error you make," Bell said. "I'm really looking forward to seeing my players show what they are capable of, (but) the chances of us beating Germany 5-0 are very slim. I still believe we can do something sensational."
MOROCCO-COLOMBIA
Morocco made history when it beat South Korea in Group H play — a win that made Morocco the first Arab Nation ever to win a game at a Women's World Cup — and the Atlas Lionesses remain eligible to advance.
Morocco is playing in the World Cup for the first time and faces Colombia in Perth, on Australia's west coast, in one of the last two group games of the tournament. A win over the South Americans isn't exactly enough to push Morocco through, as the Atlas Lionesses would still have to overcome the goal differential Colombia has on the team.
Colombia sits atop Group H and has been extremely impressive. Ranked 25th in the world, the Las Chicas beat South Korea 2-0 and then upset second-ranked Germany 2-1.
A draw with Morocco would be enough to push Colombia into the round of 16 as the group winner.
Colombia has been led by Linda Caicedo, who at 18 years old has already survived a battle with ovarian cancer. Although the Real Madrid star has been plagued with health issues throughout the tournament — she's been repeatedly treated for fatigue — Caicedo has scored in both of Colombia's matches.
Colombia coach Nelson Abadia said Caicedo will be at 100 per cent against Morocco.
"She was going through a check-up so as to be sure that she is at 100 per cent," he said. "You can be sure she it at a 100 per cent. What happens with Linda is that we want to make sure that she is at 100 per cent and that she herself feels and knows that she is OK. And she is."
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