Germany beats Australia 3-0 in opening women’s football game of 2024 Olympics

Marina Hegering (Steffen Probdorf, Wikimedia Commons)

Australia has lost their opening game of the women’s football tournament of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. On Thursday, it was actually not remotely close, as Germany beat Australia 3-0 from Stade de Marseille in Marseille, France.

Three different German players scored one goal. Defender Marina Hegering of Bocholt, West Germany scored in the 24th minute, forward Lea Schuller of Tonisvorst scored in the 64th minute, and defender Julie Brand of Germersheim scored in the 68th minute.

Germany has a rich history when it comes to women’s football at the Olympic Games. They have won four medals along the way. Germany won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and bronze at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Germany was in fact one of two nations to win a Group B game by a score of 3-0. The other was the United States, who beat Zambia 3-0.

Australia next plays Zambia on July 29 at 3 AM AEST. Australia then plays the United States on August 1 at 3 AM AEST. Australia plays Zambia in Nice and the United States in Marseille.

The Australian women’s football team qualified for the Olympic Games by clobbering Uzbekistan 13-0 in the third round of the 2024 Asian Football Confederation Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. In a two-game total goal series, the Australian superstar was Michelle Heyman of Shellharbour, New South Wales. Heyman, who is a 36-year-old striker for Canberra United, scored a remarkable five goals in the two games of action.