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.

Ghana’s real stars

HANGZHOU, 20 September 2007

The party began in Hangzhou at 16:00, one hour before Norway vs Ghana kicked off. First there was the noise of drums, then singing, then clapping, and then the multi-coloured wigs, flags, t-shirts and scarves, and the smiling, smiling faces of the Ghanaian National Supporters Union came through the gates at the Hangzhou Dragon Stadium. Handing out flags, pulling other fans into their conga-line, they did not stop from that moment until I watched them bounding off into the distance just after seven o’clock while I waited behind for the next match to start.

Most had come here specially for the tournament, though others had made their way from studies in Beijing. “Y’know, we are Africans.” explained Jon, “This is our culture and we want to, we need to share it.”

The poor performance of the team so far hadn’t dampened their spirits at all – in fact, it had made them more determined. “The team has been so bad, so disappointing. But we’ll keep on singing and dancing.” And that they did. As they went to collect their match tickets. As they went to the gate. As they descended the stairs to their seats. And throughout every single one of the 90 minutes and beyond.

The locals were certainly impressed, too. Every one who passed wanted to take the generously offered paper flags. Half a dozen or so joined the dancing and singing with gusto. Others were content simply to have their pictures taken with the energetic visitors.

“They’re great!” said a volunteer from Hangzhou. “Every team should have fans like this.”

Sadly, the Ghanaian team once more failed to live up to its fans’ performance. Despite creating chances with some fast, clever play, their finishing was poor. In his post-match comments, head coach Isaac Paha emphasized his side’s youth and inexperience. He must hope they can learn from the ruthless Norwegians, who went 3-0 up at half time barely breaking a sweat.

The pattern continued after the restart, with Ragnhild Gulbrandsen completing a hat-trick that not only included the 500th goal in the history of the Women’s World Cup, but took her to the top of the tournament’s scoring chart.

Consolation came to Ghana and their long-suffering fans with a delightfully chipped free kick from Adjoa Bayor and a late penalty from Florence Okoe.

There was never any doubt as to who would win, but the goals certainly gave the Ghanaian fans something to cheer about. They probably would have kept on cheering regardless…

Norway 7 (Storlokken 4, Gulbrandsen 39, 59, 62, Stangeland Horpestead 45pen, Herlovsen 56, Klaveness 69)

Ghana 2 (Bayor 73, Okoe 80pen)

Brazil stun China; Canada crush Ghana

15 September, 2007 – ROUNDUP

Brazil thrashed hosts China 4-0 in the Wuhan Sports Center on Saturday evening in a result that leaves them all but assured of a place in the quarter finals. China will have to win in their last game against New Zealand and hope for the right result in the Brazil vs Denmark match. After beating New Zealand 2-0, Denmark themselves will almost certainly qualify if they get a draw in the final group match.

China started the game brightly with Song Xiaoli coming close to replicating her stunning strike against Denmark. It was Brazil who took the lead, however. Just before the break, Marta was able to lift the ball over the weak challenge of Chinese goalkeeper, Han Wenxia, and tap the ball into an empty net.

Whatever was said at half-time, it seemed to have little effect on the Chinese team, who were 3-0 down within three minutes. Marta set up Christiane for an easy finish, then just a minute later the combination bore fruit again after a disastrously poor throw out from China’s Han.

Brazil relaxed and the show-boating began. Their confidence is soaring, and rightly so. Marta and Christiane have gone through two defences like hot knives through butter. China’s fans gave their team a standing ovation regardless, but the hosts will be hoping Brazil keep their standards as high when they face Denmark.

Back in Group C, Canada crushed Ghana 4-0 to give themselves hope of possibly qualifying for the next round. After Australia and Norway drew 1-1, only Ghana have nothing left to play for in the final round of games.

Canada’s strength in the air was the deciding factor as Chrstine Sinclair opened the scoring with a looping header after a quarter of an hour. Ghana again appeared unable of raising their game to the necessary standard, but with more composure, Anita Amankwa could have levelled rather than smashing the ball against the woodwork.

Throughout the second half, Canada continued to press their dominance, two more headers with no serious challening jumps from the Ghanaian defence and a second for Sinclair wrapped up the points and gave Canada what could be a useful goal difference boost.

NB – I can’t pretend to have seen any of the Australia-Norway game, so any comments on that will have to wait.

China ride their luck, Brazil and Australia are cruising, Norway edge out Canada

12 September 2007 Roundup

China and Denmark were involved in the latest “match of the tournament so far” as the hosts finally edged out their rivals in a topsy-turvy encounter that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Song Xiaoli rescued the hosts with an unstoppable strike from the edge of the area that crashed in off the bar. The home crowd at the Wuhan Sports Center went wild at the 88th minute winner, having thought they had seen their team throw it away through second half slackness.

It had all seemed to be going so well as goals either side of half time put the Chinese in a comfortable position. They were too comfortable. Just a minute after Yan Bi had put China ahead, Denmark’s Anne Nielsen struck back from a corner. Tireless striker Catherine Paaske grabbed a dramatic equaliser on 87 minutes but, just as China were caught off guard after their second, Denmark were stunned by Song’s winner.

In Group D’s other match, Brazil 5 New Zealand 0 was as one-sided as the score suggests. The Brazilians seemed to have the magic touch as a string of long range efforts crashed into the NZ goal without reply. It will take a lot for them to recover, though China and Denmark certainly showed enough weaknesses to suggest they need not give up all hope. Denmark may not be out of the Group just yet, but they will need to take a little less time to warm into the game than they did against China. If they can get out of the blocks early get past Ghana and start well against Brazil, then the climax to Group D could be very exciting indeed

Norway and Canada kicked off Group C in Hangzhou with an evenly balanced match that the Norwegians managed to edge in the second half. This game was less frenetic than others so far, but the quality of football on display was possibly higher. Both teams were composed and smart in their passing and movement. Canada went into the break ahead, but Norway’s superiority became more and more evident as the second half went on. Captain Ane Stangeland-Horpestad was able to stab home the winning goal after a goalmouth scramble. Canada will still be favourites to qualify along with Norway, but will have to get over this quickly to make sure of it.

Australia strolled past Ghana 4-1. The Aussies had not won a Women’s World Cup game in their two previous appearances and they seemed keen right from the outset to exorcise those ghosts. They made the best chances, they had more of them, and they finished them. Simple as that. Despite their possessional advantage (which disproves the notion that statistics can tell you all about a football match) Ghana’s goal was never going to be any other than a consolation. Given the way Norway and Canada played, it will take a lot for Ghana to qualify from the group, but they could have a major say in the progress or otherwise of the three stronger teams in Group C.