The knock-out stage begins

Only FIFA’s confused handling of typhoon Wipha threatened to overshadow the smooth progress of the Women’s World Cup.So many positives for the women’s game have followed the gruesome 11-goal thrashing of Argentina by Germany in the opening match. Brazil have turned on the style in a way beyond their men last year, North Korea embarrassed the US, England progressed beyond their group for the first time and all in front of near-capacity crowds and high viewing figures worldwide.

Germany’s demolition of Argentina was a false start for the tournament, which has witnessed a level of fitness, professionalism and sophistication beyond expectations. The list of truly excellent matches – including China v Denmark, England v Germany, USA v North Korea, Brazil v Denmark – has far outweighed the walk-overs. In fact, only three teams out of the sixteen could be labelled as significantly weaker.

Each of the teams in the quarter finals will fancy their chances. Top coaches Silvia Neid (Germany) and the USA’s Greg Ryan, have both confirmed the gaps between the top 10-15 teams in international women’s football are getting smaller and smaller. With increasing tactical sophistication and physical strength and stamina, even the teams lower down that ranking are able to effectively challenge the big names.

A passionate round of games on the re-scheduled final day – where Australia knocked Canada out in the last minutes and Brazil and Denmark played an epic – went a long way to divert attention from the confused response to typhoon Wipha. In the event, both Hangzhou and Shanghai were largely spared the typhoon’s wrath, so all games could have safely been played when are where they were supposed to be. That doesn’t matter now, but it was most unfortunate that at a time when on the pitch the women’s game was proving itself a serious, professional, entertaining and enthralling sport to match almost any worldwide, the organisation was drifting close to amateurism.

As the quarter finals get underway, the USA and Germany remain favourites, but Brazil have won the hearts and minds of many with their lightning fast, exuberant attacking flair. They will be tough for anyone to stop. Norway have been quietly efficient – dominating their group without attracting a large amount of attention. If they can hold their nerve with tens of thousands of home fans jeering their every move whilst creating a deafening noise for their own team, China, they should progress.

North Korea have now shown at the top international level what Asia and the under-20s tournament have known for some time – they are a very effective combination of power and pace and passing. As to where a “shock” may be likely to come, they may be one of the leading contenders. Germany have yet to be severely tested and they cannot afford to miss chances as they did against Japan. The suspicion remains, however, that Germany will be able to move up a gear as and when the situation demands.

For all their promise and progress, it would take something very special for England to get past the USA. The Americans have not been on top of their game, and England may see a chance to use a similar gameplan to the one that worked so effectively against Germany. But they will need others to share the burden of expectation placed on Kelly Smith. A first tournament goal from Aluko (if she starts) could be priceless.

Australia will do well to contain Marta, Christiane and Daniela of Brazil. In the South Americans’ last two games they have faced very different sides – China played higher up the pitch, Brazil destroyed them; Denmark played deep and defended excellently and Brazil still won.

The most interesting game could be China vs Norway. The hosts have not had an easy time. The drubbing their received at the hands of Brazil seemed to shake their confidence and they made harder work of defeating New Zealand than they might have hoped. The Norwegians are better organised and more clinical in attack. If they can hold their nerve and shape with tens of thousands of raucous Chinese fans shouting, screaming and singing against them, they should get through.

Quarter-final line up starts to take shape

SHANGHAI, 18 September 2007

The USA finished top of their group after narrowly defeating Nigeria in a rain-soaked encounter in Shanghai. They now face Group A runners-up England in Tianjin on Saturday. Despite losing their last game to Sweden, North Korea qualified for the last eight for the first time in their history. They will face the formidable Germany, who, despite again failing to reach the highs of their first match, defeated Japan comfortably in their final group game.

Instant Predictions (aka “preparing for egg on face”):

USA – England: If they defend like they did against Germany, then England could hold the USA’s three-pronged frontline for some time. However, impressive though Kelly Smith has been so far, England probably don’t have enough speed and guile going forward to break through the fierce US defensive-line. It could come down to how well each side uses their wing-play and who wins the aerial battles. The USA will probably prove too strong.

Germany – North Korea: I haven’t seen as much of Korea as I would have liked, but they are building a reputation as being not only fast, but tough as well. Germany are as tough as they get, but have shown a few surprising weaknesses in the first round. Against Argentina some slack passing went unpunished, while their forwards seemed subdued against both England and Japan. Most money will be on Germany to prevail, but an outside bet on North Korea might not be totally unreasonable.

Match Report:

    

USA 1 Nigeria 0

Greg Ryan, USA team coach, was in diplomatic but confident form after a hard-fought victory in the pouring rain in Shanghai confirmed his side’s to placing in Group B. Praising Nigeria for their strong performances throughout the Group stage, he said of next opponents England “I expected them to make it. In the game against Germany they showed how strong they are.” But Ryan has no doubts about the abilities of his young squad: “Our team defending makes it very difficult to beat us. We’ll be able to take that into the next round and the one after. This team has what it takes to win this World Cup.”

A lucky deflection from a long-throw set-piece allowed them to take the lead on 54 seconds. For most of the game they looked sure of holding this, but Nigeria gave them some scares in the second half and in the end the Americans were glad of the final whistle.

The playing surface, which was of decidedly patchy quality before a single drop of rain had fallen, did no favours for either side. The weighting of passes was very difficult to judge as sometimes the puddles held the ball up, sometimes the slickness of the grass carried the ball faster than expected ahead of the onrushing players.

Nigeria in particular seemed to struggle at first to find a way to play their preferred fast, short passing game and somehow break down a strong, organised US defense. For the US, Abby Wambach and captain Kristine Lilly both came close, but could not extend their lead.

The last ten minutes saw sustained Nigerian pressure, with the tireless Pepetua Nkwocha setting up an excellent chance for Stella Mbachu that Hope Powell had to do well to get down and save at her near post.

Nigeria coach, Ntiero Effiom, praised his players’ performance, heralding them as proof that Africa deserves more qualifying places for the Women’s World Cup. With a little more luck or a stronger final product, they may have had the scoreline tonight to back that up.

England step up

England 0 Germany 0

SHANGHAI, 14 September 2007

After steamrollering Argentina 11-0 in the first leg, Germany coach, Silvia Neid, said they expected a much tougher match against England. They got it. Hope Powell’s young England side can now genuinely be regarded as a serious proposition in the women’s game.

This tournament has already shown that women’s football can be as exciting and spectacular as the men’s game, but this game showed that it can be as methodical and tactical too.

Both sides began with a clear game plan and both sides can claim it worked. Germany shaded the game and certainly had the better chances, but then England can easily retort that those better chances were blocked or saved in spectacular fashion. Picks of the bunch were a flying block by Katie Chapman to deny Kerstin Garerfrekes on 74 minutes, and the stretched-leg save by Rachel Brown, again from a Garerfrekes shot, seven minutes later.

An evenly matched first half created few clear cut chances, though German hearts were in mouths when goalkeeper Nadi Angerer inexplicably tried and failed to head the ball clear even though she was in her area. Fortunately, it drifted wide of the goal, but England rattled Germany in a way Argentina never did.

England switched to a deeper 4-5-1 in the second half and this invited more German pressure, but the defense held firm. This deeper line made it slightly harder for England to replicate the movement that had caused problems for the Japanese defense earlier in the week. Karen Carney had a great first half, including a sensational backheel-to-backheel one-two with Kelly Smith – but seemed to tire in the second. Quick as she and Alex Scott on the other wing were, Germany’s full-backs were quicker.

A goal for either side early in the second half could have really opened the game up, and Germany always looked the more likely, despite never hitting the fluid highs of their first match (but how could they?). There were occasions when both sides launched weak long range efforts when they might have sought other avenues of attack and neither made the best use of the many free kicks awarded around the penalty areas.

This result leaves both sides looking to get something out of their final game (England must win to stand a chance of going through). Both will be confident after this determined display, befitting the noisy, partisan atmosphere created by large sets of fans from each nation.

Woman of the match: Faye White. Captain Fantastic marshaling England’s solid back line.

Miyama strikes late to deny England a dream start

**written at 01:00, Septembr 12 – please forgive any typos/errors until editing can be done after I’ve got some sleep!**

Japan 2 England 2

SHANGHAI, 11 September 2007

Japan grabbed a dramatic equaliser with the last kick of the game, but England will be kicking themselves for failing to kill the game off earlier.

After missing gilt-edged chances either side of half-time, England clawed their way back from 1-0 down thanks to two Kelly Smith goals in as many minutes. As they sought to wind down the clock rather than push for a third, they paid the ultimate price as a clumsy challenge 25 yards out allowed Aya Miyama to step up with her second free kick goal of the night.

The first half started poorly and hardly got better. If last night’s game teetered between the sublime and the ridiculous, this was decidedly dull. Stray short passes and aimless long ones became a depressing recurring pattern.

England set out their stall to flood the Japanese midfield and flummox their defence by employing Eniola Aluko as a lone striker with three forwards in a line behind her. After early unease, Japan responded by dropping deep when they were in possession and maintaining a frighteningly efficient off-side trap of which George Graham’s Arsenal would have been proud.

Few clear cut chances were created by either side, but neither England’s fans nor their bench could believe it when Aluko missed an open goal. Miho Fukumoto in the Japanese goal had raced out and missed the ball, pushing Aluko wide and closing down the angle, but the miss could prove costly in the race for second place in the Group behind Germany.

Kozue Ando came on for Japan in the second half and was given much more of a license to go forward down the right wing. She caused no end of problems and her surging runs led the attacks that forced both free kicks for the goals.

Having gone 1-0 down on 55 minutes, England rallied strongly and could have had a hat full of goals before Smith equalised – Japan defended in numbers and needed to as Aluko and Smith had efforts cleared off the line.

Eventually the pressure paid and Smith was able to stab home on 81 minutes. Just two minutes later, she found herself with room to run down the left and to take the ball around two Japanese defenders before smashing it into the back of the net at the second attempt. In celebrating her first, she kissed her own boot. Her team-mates were on hand to oblige this time around.

But the celebrations were premature. From a promising counter-attack position, England tried to play down the clock at the corner flag, but, as so often with both teams on the night, just could not hold onto the ball. A late knock for Sarah Brown was not excuse enough to be beaten again as much because of poor positioning as by the placement of the free kick. England applauded the crowd, but left the field looking and probably feeling as if they had lost, while Japan were able to bask in the delight of their many, many fans in the Hongkou Stadium.

Woman of the Match: Kelly Smith. She played an important role in a well-intentioned tactical ploy of switching forwards around all game. She was the spark in any England attack and, crucially, the only one with the clinical finishing necessary at a World Cup Finals.