Germany, US continue quest for third world title
Print Edition
SOCCER giants Germany and the United States continue their quest for a record third title today when they meet France and China, respectively, in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals.
Top-ranked Germany, winner in 2003 and 2007, faces an ambitious France in the largely French-speaking city of Montreal. The French seek their first major title after finishing fourth in Germany 2011 and the 2012 Olympics.
Over in Ottawa, the US will be up against a resilient Chinese side which is rekindling memories of its glory days, when it reached the 1999 final but lost to the Americans in a penalty shoot-out. The US also won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1991.
The Chinese failed to qualify for the 2011 tournament and the London Olympics, with their 1-0 last-16 win over Cameroon earning them a bonus of around 1 million yuan (US$160,000) from the national football association.
Champion Japan, the only team to have won all its matches in the tournament, moves to Edmonton where it next plays 10th-ranked Australia tomorrow, the same day that England tackles hosts Canada in Vancouver.
Germany coach Silvia Neid dismissed talks of her side being the favorite after demolishing Sweden 4-1 in the last 16.
“I’m not convinced of it yet,” she said. “France are ranked third and it won’t be easy. We know where we stand but we’re not yet a world champion.”
Germany has won two titles, finished runner-up in 1995, and has won every Women’s Euro title since 1995.
But it was shocked in the 2011 World Cup at home, when it tied its worst-ever showing — losing 0-1 in the quarterfinals to eventual winner Japan.
French midfielder Jessica Houara D’Hommeaux said ‘Les Bleus’ were out to stop the “steamroller”.
“Germany are a sports machine, a steamroller,” she said. “There’s the US and Germany and then everyone else.
“But we’re closing the gap and I really want people to talk more about France and the other teams. It’s good for women’s football.
“We’re third in FIFA’s rankings. It’s good, but we’ve won no trophies so far,” added the 27-year-old.
Costly game
The US plays China after beating Colombia 2-0 in the last 16 — a costly game for the Olympic champion with key midfielders Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday suspended after collecting yellow cards.
“We’ve dealt with injuries so I feel very confident in the players we have to be able to step up and help us advance,” said US coach Jill Ellis.
China’s ‘Steel Roses’ have been gaining momentum since their opening 0-1 defeat to Canada.
“We are improving match by match,” defender Wang Shanshan said, adding that the 1999 final had inspired her to play football. “I was in primary school, but I remember watching it very well. That was when my dream started, when China played so well to reach the World Cup final. Sun Wen was my favorite player and my hero at that time.”
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