Germany book knockout place at U17 Women's World Cup with win over hosts Morocco

Germany seal Round of 16 place as Group A winners

Germany have qualified for the knockout stages of the U17 Women's World Cup as winners of Group A, guaranteeing their place in the Round of 16 before their final group stage fixture against bottom-placed New Zealand on Friday.

Coach Sabine Loderer's side confirmed qualification on Tuesday via the head-to-head tiebreaker after a dominant 4-2 win over hosts Morocco. The reigning European champions had already started their campaign with a 2-1 win over Argentina, despite conceding the opening goal inside the first ten minutes.

A strong start to the tournament

Germany's best result in the competition remains the third-placed finish at the inaugural tournament back in 2008. This year's side have put themselves in a strong position to improve on that record, with the group stage now complete for the Germans as they look ahead to the knockout rounds.

More action on Wednesday

The second matchday of the tenth edition of the U17 Women's World Cup continues on Wednesday with four games, including a clash between former champions Japan and France.