German coach pleads for time after 'historically poor' World Cup
Germany coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg asked for time to analyse the reasons behind her team's shock departure from the Women's World Cup after Thursday's 1-1 draw with South Korea saw the twice champions make a group stage exit for the first time. The draw meant the Germans, who needed to win at Brisbane's Lang Park to be sure of progressing, finished third in Group H behind winners Colombia and surprise qualifiers Morocco after the African side picked up a 1-0 win in Perth. Germany, winners of the title in 2003 and 2007, had never gone out earlier than the quarter-finals in their eight previous appearances at the tournament, but now join Brazil and Canada among the fancied nations to be going home early.
