Just Women’s Sports is here with your daily World Cup Digest, breaking down all of the biggest storylines from each day of action in Australia and New Zealand.

Today’s top World Cup news: Knockout bracket set after Germany’s shock elimination

Another powerhouse is out of the World Cup as Germany was eliminated in the group stage for the first time. A 1-1 draw with South Korea, coupled with Morocco’s 1-0 win against Colombia, sealed Germany’s fate.

Cho So-hyun got South Korea on the board early with a goal in the sixth minute. Germany responded with a goal from Alexandra Popp in the 42nd minute but failed to add to that total despite managing 14 shots, including four on target.

Germany held possession for 71% of the match, more than doubling South Korea on passes and completing 77% of their attempts. Despite the Germans’ dominance in the attacking territory, they failed to convert, including on a would-be goal from Popp in the 56th minute disallowed due to an offside call.

With the surprise exit, Germany joins Brazil as pre-tournament favorites who will not advance to the knockout rounds. The bracket for the Round of 16 is set, with either Colombia or Jamaica sure to reach the quarterfinals for the first time ever. And while the USWNT faces a tough test in Sweden, Germany’s exit proves that this World Cup is impossible to predict.

Today’s top highlight: Morocco reacts to knockout round berth

After a 1-0 win against Colombia, Morocco still needed the other Group H match between Germany and South Korea game to go its way in order to advance.

Huddled on the field after their match had ended, Moroccan players watched as the time ticked down on Germany’s World Cup run, sending them to the Round of 16. And their reaction is something you’ll want to watch on repeat.

Today’s results:

  • Morocco 1, Colombia 0
  • South Korea 1, Germany 1

More World Cup news to know:

  • USWNT captain Lindsey Horan pushed back on the negative commentary from Carli Lloyd. “It’s noise and, again, it’s an opinion and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. … For anyone to question our mentality hurts a little bit but at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. I don’t really care. It’s what’s going inside of the team and getting ready for that next game.”
  • South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana revealed that she has lost three family members in the span of the World Cup run. After scoring the game winner to send the Banyana Banyana into the knockout stages, she said that while she “could have gone home” she “chose to stay with my girls because I know how much it means.”
  • Pia Sundhage’s future with Brazil is up in the air, ESPN Brasil reported. While her contract runs through next year, she may not be with the team through the Paris Olympics in 2024. This tournament marks the first time since 1995 that Brazil did not reach the knockout rounds.
  • Spain forward Jenni Hermoso called on her country for support while also calling out the criticism the team has faced. “I think there are people waiting for Spain to slip up, I do think that. … We know people are waiting for us to fail. For all we have tried to fight to be here and to go as far as possible, there are people that are happy when we don’t get good results.”

Just Women’s Sports is here with your daily World Cup Digest, breaking down all of the biggest storylines from each day of action in Australia and New Zealand.

Today’s top World Cup news: Philippines shock New Zealand after controversial VAR call

The Philippines got their first World Cup goal – and subsequently their first World Cup win – against New Zealand on Tuesday.

The stunning 1-0 defeat came after New Zealand seemed to equalize in the 68th minute but had the goal disallowed on a VAR call. The video review showed the head of New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson crossed the offside line by the slimmest of margins before her shot.

“It’s so heartbreaking for everyone in this team,” New Zealand coach Jitka Klimkova said. “We played to win and it didn’t go our way. We were fighting until the end, but it wasn’t enough.”

On the other side, the Philippines celebrated a historic triumph. Sarina Bolden scored the game-winner, which made her the all-time leading international goal scorer for the Philippines. The goal meant everything, she said after the win.

“It feels overwhelming, crazy — it feels like I’m in a dream,” Bolden said. “It doesn’t feel real.

“I literally can’t put it into words. This has been a dream of mine as a little kid to just be here at the World Cup, let alone even score.”

Today’s top highlight: 18-year-old Linda Caicedo scores first World Cup goal

Linda Caicedo broke onto the senior international stage in thrilling fashion as she scored in Colombia’s 2-0 win over South Korea. The goal came in her senior World Cup debut, and marked the third time she’s scored at a World Cup in a year – the only player to ever start and score in three World Cups in the span of a year.

Yes, you read that right.

Last August, Caicedo featured on Colombia’s U-20 team at the Under-20 World Cup in Costa Rica. She scored twice against New Zealand in the group stage. Two months later, Caicedo played at the U-17 World Cup in India, where she helped Colombia to a runner-up finish and was tied for the tournament’s top goal-scorer with four goals.

And last night, she made her senior World Cup debut, becoming the second-youngest South American player to score a debut goal since Marta in 2007. At just 18 years old, Caicedo already has beaten cancer (she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 15), signed with Real Madrid and made her name known on multiple international stages. Get ready, world. Linda Caicedo has arrived.

Today’s results:

  • Philippines 1, New Zealand 0
  • Norway 0, Switzerland 0
  • Colombia 2, South Korea 0

More World Cup news to know:

  • At 16 years old, Casey Phair became the youngest player in World Cup history to appear in a match after subbing on for South Korea last night.
  • Zambia cut its match preview press conference short Tuesday due to persistent questions about an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against head coach Bruce Mwape. Last September, Zambia’s FA announced that it had referred an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse to FIFA. In July, the Guardian revealed that Mwape was among those being investigated. When asked Tuesday if it would be good for the team for him to step aside, Mwape asked: “What environment affecting the team in particular? What are you talking about? I would like to know because there is no way I can retire without reason. Maybe your reason is because what you are reading from the media or from the press, but the truth of the matter should actually come out, not just on rumors.”
  • Norway winger Caroline Graham Hansen was unhappy about starting her team’s game against Switzerland from the bench. The game, which was missing Ada Hegerberg due to a groin injury, resulted in a 0-0 tie. “It’s tough, I don’t know what I can say. There’s not much I can say, I feel like I’m standing here with my hands tied,” she said in an interview after the match. “I feel I have been stepped on for a whole year — everyone says all the time that we have to stand together as a team and as a nation, but I feel I’ve been on the receiving end [of a raw deal]. … Nothing comes for free in life, but I thought I had earned a certain amount of respect, but maybe that wasn’t the case.”