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Germany wins Group B in lackluster fashion

WINNIPEG, MB - JUNE 15: Lena Petermann of Germany celebrates with team mates as she heads the second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group B match between Thailand and Germany at Winnipeg Stadium on June 15, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - JUNE 15: Lena Petermann of Germany celebrates with team mates as she heads the second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group B match between Thailand and Germany at Winnipeg Stadium on June 15, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Germany won Group B.

That’s probably the most non-shocking statement of the FIFA Women’s World Cup considering the Germans are ranked No. 1 in the world and were the favorites coming into the tournament.

However, Germany, which defeated Thailand 4-0 on Monday to secure the top spot, was not nearly as proficient or dominant as many expected it to be with a weak group play slate.

In fact, if Germany hadn't blown out Ivory Coast in the opening game of the tournament — a game that provided the decisive goal differential that gave the Germans first place — it might not have finished atop the group at all.

Germany and Norway came into the day tied with four points, but the minus-5 goal differential to start the day seemed to deter Norway from giving its best effort against an Ivory Coast team Germany destroyed 10-0. Norway won 3-1 to secure second in the group, but both Norway and Germany had lackluster efforts against much weaker opponents.

Germany will play the third place team from Groups A, C, or D, and Norway will play the second-place team from Group F.

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Even though Group B finished exactly the way most people thought it would, Germany can’t be happy with its performance in the last two contests. Most teams would be pleased with a 4-0 win, but many believed that should have been the halftime score for the Germans. Germany had 34 shots and 18 of them were on goal. However, few of those 18 shots were actually dangerous. Many were sent right to Thailand goalkeeper Waraporn Boonsing. She made a few quality saves, but for the most part many of the shots she stopped were routine.

She also was helped by Germany’s lack of accuracy. Several point blank shots were sent over the frame. It was a lot like the game against Norway that ended in a 1-1 draw. Both games had a stunning amount of missed opportunities even though Germany was clearly the best side in both contests.

Germany is still the favorite in this tournament, but that could get dicey depending on the team it draws in the knockout round. It probably could handle a team from Group A, the lowest scoring group of the tournament or even the likes of Sweden should it get the bid. But if it has to cross over with one teams in Group C — Switzerland or Cameroon, which have combined for 17 goals for and just four against — things could get interesting for the Germans.

As for Norway, it might have lucked out with facing the second place from Group F. That group has been the most surprising with Colombia on top heading into the final group matches. France and England, two darkhorses heading into the tournament, have looked beatable in their two matches. And Norway, for as poor as it played Monday, had played well in its previous two matches.

Thailand will be in play as a potential third-place team, but its goal differential of minus-7 is the worst of any third-place team with three points. It would need some major collapses by other teams to move forward.

Overall, Germany is still the favorite to win the tournament, but it’s going to have to rekindle the play that made it so effective in the opener against Ivory Coast. That’s the German team many expected to cruise through the group stage and even the Round of 16. If it can’t find that team, it might be poised for an early exit.

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