The exits of Germany and Brazil – as well as below-par results from the USA – show that the favourites need to watch out for more upsets as we head towards the tournament’s knock-out stage
Brisbane’s Lang Park is so noisy and turbulent on matchdays that it is affectionately nicknamed âthe Cauldron’ by locals.
When the big moments happen here, whether they be tries or goals, the subsequent roar sweeps around every single seat of the 52,500 state-of-the-art stadium.
But when Germany crashed out of the Women’s World Cup following their 1-1 draw with South Korea on the final night of group stage action, a strange hush descended over the crowd. The Cauldron had lost its’ heat. No-one knew quite what to say or how to react, from up in the press box right down to the pitch.
Some German players looked tearful, others stared into space, barely believing what had just transpired. “Things didn’t quite click,” admitted midfielder Lena Oberdorf after the game. “That’s the right phrase for that I think. Because we didn’t really show the combination we can show and how we know we can play.