Germany’s World Cup Opener in Doubt as Key Players Face Injury Setbacks

Defender Martina Hegering is injured in the heel and midfielder Lena Oberdorf is still suffering from a muscle problem in the thigh, which occurred during the last friendly match against Zambia. "It seems that we will have neither one nor the other for the first match," Voss-Tecklenburg said Thursday on German television channel ARD.

The coach insisted on the need to "minimize risks" to get out of this group stage. After Morocco on Monday, Germany will face Colombia on July 30 and South Korea on August 3. The double world champion aims to win this title for the third time. The women’s football World Cup is taking place in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.