Brazil stun the US to book place in final

HANGZHOU, 27 September 2007

A sparkling individual show from Marta and yet another strong team performance gave Brazil an emphatic victory over the 10 women of the USA. After a fortunate early own goal put them ahead, the Brazilians combined strength and finesse to storm into Sunday’s final against Germany.

Right from the outset Brazil were intent on showing they were not afraid of being aggressive against the strong, tough tackling Americans. The US gameplan was the same as in previous games: direct balls to the front and aggressive defending at the back. With the Brazilians quicker on the turn, if not in a straight sprint, the US defence was reduced to American football-style block tackling.

Brazil took the lead on 20 minutes when Leslie Osborne, under no pressure, stooped low to head into her own net. Similar gasps of surprise greeted replays of the sublime Marta walzing past two defenders to beat tournament debutant Briana Scurry at the near post just seven minutes later.

As US coach Greg Ryan noted after the match, at 2-0 Brazil had only had one shot on goal. But their superiority on the ball was clear and the likelihood of them emerging victorious was increased two minutes into injury time when Shannon Boxx was sent off for a second bookable offence. Caught out again by delightfully fast footwork as Daniella and Marta played a quick one-two, the referee had no option but to produce the second yellow for a deliberate body-check.

Brazil took complete control in the second half as Marta, Maycon, Daniella and Cristiane found more and more space in a stretched US defence. At times they seemed almost surprised to find themselves in such open positions and wasted some excellent chances.

On 56 minutes, Cristiane made no mistake, sliding the ball past a helpless Scurry from Marta’s cross. Marta continued to give Tina Ellertson a torrid time down the left wing, turning her inside out on numerous occasions. Her second and Brazil’s fourth goal was worthy of any game of football at any level. Flicking the ball with the back of her heel, she span around Ellertson, collected the ball, dashed past Cat Whitehill and drove the ball into the back of the net.

It is hard to say whether the US would have crumbled so definitively had they had 11 players on the field. However, their tactics against such a fluid Brazil side made it more likely that one of their players might get sent off. This devasting defeat – their biggest ever – brings to an end an astonishing 51-match unbeaten streak. There can be no complaints.

Brazilian coach Jorge Barcellos was naturally pleased with the win, but insisted 1-0 would have been just as good as 4-0. He cautioned against complacency, saying “We still haven’t won anything. This was the semi-final. We have a lot of work to do before the game against Germany.”

It will take something special to derail the Germans, who brushed aside a strong Norway team 3-0 in the earlier semi final. But, as they proved again tonight, this Brazilian team is very special.

Attendance: 47,818

USA 0

Brazil 4 (Osborne 20 og, Marta 27, 79, Cristiane 56)

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.

Of course, there are things happening outside Shanghai…

But don’t try telling the locals that.

Yesterday evening Group B kicked off in Chengdu, where North Korea (DPRK) and Nigeria managed a couple of mini-shocks by holding veteran front-runners of the women’s game, the USA and Sweden, to draws.

Germany having announced themselves so forcefully as tournament favourites in the opening game, the USA will be disappointed not to have got more against a spirited DPRK side. In fact, the match could have been even more explosively surprising when DPRK registered the first shot on goal within seconds of the kick off.

Both sides gave a good account of the women’s game, playing exciting, attacking football with little of the cageyness and niggling fouls of last night’s Group A match.

Abby Wambach put the USA ahead on 50 minutes but by the time she had returned to the pitch after treatment for a head wound, DPRK had turned the tables with two goals in less than five minutes. Neither Korean goal could qualify as one of the “beautiful goals” promised by the slogan. USA keeper, Hope Solo, will be disappointed to have let the first through her grasp, while the second followed a goalmouth scramble. But they all count, and for a short time the Koreans could dare to dream of a famous victory to add to their Under-20 trophy from last year.

If they were dreaming, they were woken up within minutes as the USA restored parity from Heather O’Reilly’s half-volley after DPRK had failed to clear their lines.

In the Group’s other game, Sweden always looked comfortable, if not exactly commanding, against Nigeria, but, like England, were undone by a late goal.

An uneventful first half was followed by Sweden predictably taking the lead. Having hit the woodwork in the first half, Victoria Svensson made no mistake on 50 minutes and the Swedes looked set to claim three points.

To their credit, Nigeria never gave up and despite their seeming superiority Sweden proved incapable of, let’s make the comparison again, German ruthlessness. Ironically, it was Cynthia Uwak, who plays her football for Sweden’s Falkopings, who struck the equaliser with just eight minutes to go.

So do we have a new “Super Eagles”? Not quite, but Nigeria’s resilience and the DPRK’s energy have blown Group B wide open. Friday’s game between Sweden and the USA becomes even more mouth-watering as both teams will be looking to make up for two points dropped, while a winner in DPRK vs Nigeria may be able to start thinking of a possible quaterfinals place.