Korea need a miracle to stay alive at the World Cup

Korea's Cho So-hyun, right, competes for the ball with Morocco's Ibtissam Jraidi during a 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group H match in Adelaide, Australia on Sunday. [AP/YONHAP]

Korea will take on Germany in what is likely to be their final game of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Thursday as they face a mathematically possible but excruciatingly unlikely uphill battle to stay in the competition.

To survive Thursday's game, Korea, who are yet to score a single goal against two lower-ranked teams so far, need to defeat world No. 2 Germany by at least a five-goal margin.

Even if they can pull off such a huge win against one of the tournament favorites, Korea's advancement is also dependent on Colombia defeating Morocco — ideally without the Moroccans scoring.

If those games both went Korea's way, that would put Korea on three points alongside Morocco — who beat Korea 1-0 on Sunday — and Germany, but pipping them both to the post on goal difference. Colombia — who beat Korea 2-0 and Germany 2-1 last week — would top the group on nine points, leaving Korea and Colombia to advance.

It's a long shot, but technically it is still possible.

But for that to happen, a lot would have to change. The entire Korean squad has been unimpressive so far in the competition, with the defenders constantly looking vulnerable and the forwards failing to create chances.

The players’ poor touches and passes were also notable, which led to ineffective transitions from the defense to attack.

Head coach Colin Bell will likely bench forward Park Eun-sun in Thursday’s game as she did not manage a single shot on target during the match against Morocco.

Casey Phair, the youngest-ever player to make a World Cup debut, has looked good in late appearances in both games so far, but has only had about 10 minutes in each game. Bell is still likely to start her on the bench on Sunday as the 16-year-old lacks experience.

Instead, more experienced forwards like Son Hwa-yeon and Jeon Eun-ha will likely start against Germany as Korea desperately looks for five or more goals.

The defenders will also have more work to do, as Germany have been prolific in the tournament, scoring seven goals in two games.

Forward Alexandra Popp has been the most notable player in the squad with three goals to her name so far. Four other players have also got on the scoresheet.

Germany will not bench any of their key players in Sunday’s match, as their spot in the knockout stage is still at risk. They are currently tied with Morocco on three points.

If Korea lose to Germany, they will end this year’s World Cup with the exact same result as the last tournament.

A loss to Germany will not only end the Taeguk Ladies’ run in the tournament, but may also mark the end of Korea’s so-called golden generation.

Korea's most-capped duo of Ji So-yun and Cho So-hyun alongside veterans like Kim Jung-mi and Park are all in their 30s and Ji previously said in April that this World Cup will be the last tournament for the golden generation.

Korea’s game against Germany will start at 8 p.m. on Thursday, or 7 p.m. in Korea, at Suncorp Stadium in Milton, Australia, the same time Morocco and Colombia face each other.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN AND JIM BULLEY [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]