Germany crowned champions again

SHANGHAI, 30 September 2007

Germany created history by becoming the first team ever to retain the FIFA Women’s World Cup as they defeated Brazil 2-0 in Shanghai on Sunday evening. Birgit Prinz and Simone Luadehr were the goalscoring heroes, while goalkeeper Nadine Angerer maintained her incredible 100% clean sheet record with a brilliant penalty save from top scorer Marta.

Brazil gave the defending champions a tough time and had by far the better share of possession, but in the end could not find a way through a strong German defence expertly marshaled by Ariane Hingst.

The contrasting styles of play made for an exciting encounter. Brazil used their pace and close control to try and get behind the backline, while Germany’s build up was often more patient and deliberate, looking to carve a path their way through. Both sides had their chances in a fiercely contested first half.

For Brazil, Formiga could only manage to stab the ball wide after a Daniela free kick caused a scramble in the box, while Daniela herself saw a spectacular volley hit the post with the goalkeeper well beaten. As the half wore on, Brazil were left to try their luck from distance as Germany continued to deny them that final yard of space they needed to get a clear chance on goal.

Despite this Brazilian pressure, Germany had the better clear-cut chances, with Garefrekes and Smisek failing to find the target when given time and space in the penalty area.

They came out in the second half with renewed pace and decisiveness. This pressure took only seven minutes to pay off when Sandra Smisek got through the right channel and laid the ball back for Prinz, whose first-time shot had enough pace to go under Brazilian keeper Andreia.

The Germans were in front and everything about their body language said they had the strength and drive to remain so.

It was not without scares, however. Despite having timed countless tackles to perfection, on 64 minutes Linda Bresonik tripped Cristiane, giving the referee no option but to point to the spot. Marta’s spot kick lacked the power to get past Angerer, who was able to save to her right.

Obviously disappointed, Brazil refused to give up. Cristiane and Marta in particular ran themselves into the ground for the cause, but there was always a German body in the way.

As a final throw of the dice, Pretinha, scorer of the late, late winner against Denmark came on in place of Tania. But it was German substitute Fatmire Baramaj who won the corner from which Laudehr headed in their second and etched Germany’s on the trophy once more.

Favourites march on

No shocks in the quarter finals. Tears for the hosts, bloodied disappointment for England, late despair for Australia and no luck for the hard-working North Koreans.

With all defeated teams promising to learn from their experiences and looking now to their Olympic challenge (and England left battling for the right to represent Great Britain), the victors have a short rest before the semi-finals.

Norway’s quiet competence continues – their 1-0 win over China was achieved despite their opponents recording more than 20 attempts on goal. Their ability to soak up pressure and to make the most of their opportunities becomes a great strength in the knock-out stages. They will face a German side that has progressed comfortably through the competition without hitting the fluid highs of their extraordinary first game. The scoreline against Korea may have flattered the Germans, but their ability to defend in strength while always looking dangerous in attack makes them favourites once more.

Brazil conceded their first goals of the tournament in the quarter final against Australia, but again showed their outstading attacking flair to rescue the game with 15 minutes to go. Of all the teams in the tournament they best typify the “Beautiful Games. Beautiful Goals” slogan (or, in direct translation of the Chinese: “Beautiful Women’s Football. Beautiful World Cup”). The USA, on the other hand, have been direct and almost brutal in their progress. Physically strong, imposing and hard-hitting, they have been a different side to the one that lit up the previous tournament, on home soil. No less effective, they have not been one of the more exciting teams to see. The margin of their quarter final win was harsh on England, but was characteristic of the USA’s tendency to take their chances and snuff out danger. This clash of styles has all the makings of a classic semi-final.

That ought to jinx it…

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.

The best or worst advert for women’s football?

Germany 11 Argentina 0

SHANGHAI, 10 Sep 2007. Group A.

It could be said that 11-0 is a flattering scoreline. Germany should have had more.

Aided and abeted by the ridiculous and the risible, Germany destroyed Argentina with as clear a statement of intent as possible about their desire and ability to retain their world title.

Two almost identical own goals from Argentinian goalkeeper, Vanina Correa, punching the ball into her own net from corners, bookended this opening match, while a Birget Prinz hat-trick showed that she has not lost any of the desire that propelled the German side to glory in the USA four years ago.

This was so one-sided nearly a third of the spectators left at half time and didn’t return. By the 85th minute less than half the announced attendance remained. They missed some goals, but the result was never in doubt.

Argentina huffed and puffed, but whenever they threatened a speedy break, Germany easily overwhelmed them with strength of numbers or sheer strength.

The Argentinian plan to woman-mark Prinz out of the game backfired spectacularly when the striker led her marker, Sabrina Barbitta, a merry dance around the field. Her tireless workrate created the space necessary for the German midfield to spray passes, make runs in and out of the channels and generally cause havock for the Argentinian defence. With winger Behringer and Garefrekes playing so far upfield, all Prinz had to do was drag her marker deep and leave Argentina three on three at the back.

Aside from the own goals (generously described on the PA as “a goal in the favour of the team of Germany”), there were some excellent moves: a 40-yard, Beckham-esque “Hollywood ball” for Garefrekes to volley in the second goal, a neat finish after a mazy run and cut-in from the left by Behringer, two trademark headers and a tap in from Prinz, a long ranger from Lingor, and a hat-trick from Prinz’s equally hard working strike partner, Sandra Smisek.

The goals looked impressive, the Germans strong and commanding, but in many ways this was like a computer game match on the “absolute beginners” setting. Not even a training session.

In the press conference afterwards, Prinz was asked what this said about the women’s game: “I think you should ask Argentina that question,” she replied, a little tartly, “This result was not our fault.” True. ‘You can only beat what’s in front of you’ as they say. But when the opening game of a World Cup ends 11-0, questions about true depth of quality will continue to hang around the women’s game. Sorry, Birgit…

Woman of the match: Birgit Prinz. It could really have been any of the Germans. Smisek ran the Argentians even more ragged than Prinz, Garefrekes and Behringer were constant menaces on the wings. But Prinz gave an exemplary performance in all the arts of forward play – holding the ball up, working a defence, creating space, clinical finishing – that few of her male equivalents could have carried off with such applomb. She responded to the Argentinian marking-plan by dragging poor Barbitta all over the pitch. Wide, deep, left, right. Her movement directly contributed to more than half of Germany’s total.

[pics and more detail to follow]