Tomorrow, Sunday June 26th, is the kickoff for the 6th FIFA Women's World Cup. I looked at the US Women's National Team in a previous post; in this one we'll look at the rest of the field. There are 16 nations represented in the Cup divided into four groups. Five nations come from Europe, three each from North/Central America and Asia, 2 each from Africa and South America, and one from Oceania. Here are some observations.
First though, a caveat. I haven't seen most of these teams in action. Coverage of women's football is improving a lot but still abysmal (actually, coverage of the men's game -- the most popular sport in the world -- is improving a lot but still mediocre here) so I'll be giving too many short shrift. Looking forward to seeing them in the Cup, however.
Group A
There were no real "Groups of Death" in the draw, but this is a tough group. Hosts and defending champion Germany are joined by Canada, Nigeria, and France.
Somebody once said "Football is a game where 22 players run after a ball for 90 minutes, then the Germans win" and this year Germany are favored to win three on the trot. Rather like the US, this is a big, strong, physical team with a lot of experience and good young players. In back Nadine Angerer minds the net -- she might be the world's best keeper, having given up zero goals in the entire 2007 World Cup. She's protected by a highly organized and experienced defensive back four. Veterans Ariane Hingst and Kerstin Garefrekes anchor a midfield led by 23 yr old playmaker Fatmire Bajramaj. At the sharp end they've got one of the great players in the game in 33 yr old Birgit Prinz, with 14 goals the leading goalscorer in the Women's World Cup, and Inka Grings, with a ridiculous 70% strike rate (61 goals, 87 caps). Keep an eye out for young players Alexandra Popp, Kim Kulig, and Celia Okoyino da Mbabi (who has a French mother, Cameroonian father, and was born in Germany). They should get through the group stage easily.
Canada are fielding probably their best team ever. Star striker Christine Sinclair is in peak form and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc had a brilliant qualifying campaign with 5 clean sheets as Canada powered to the top of CONCACAF (the North, Central American, and Caribbean division). Their recent success is thanks to coach Carolina Morace, who threatened to leave the team after qualifying Canada for the Cup. She's still the coach, so apparently they agreed to her demands, which is rumored to involve better training facilities and the scheduling of more matches. If true they have a bright future ahead of them (and maybe the men's team -- which is terrible -- will benefit as well). They've only made it once past the group stage; this year doesn't get any easier because there are three good teams fighting for that second spot.
This will be France's second World Cup appearance. I haven't seen this squad play but they're putting up some gaudy numbers, like winning 11 and drawing one of the 12 qualifying matches, like scoring 53 goals and giving up 2. Ten players come from Olympique Lyon, who defeated powerhouse and defending champions Turbine Potsdam in the Women's Champions League this year (nor was that a fluke -- Lyon lost to Potsdam last year on penalty kicks in the championship match) so they should play well as a unit. France are ranked eighth in the world, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing them play. The key match in this group I think will be Canada-France, with the winner to join Germany in the second round.
Nigeria's Super Falcons have long dominated African women's football, and have made it to every WWC. But they've made it past the group stage just once and are not likely to repeat this year. Individually they're talented and fast, as a team they're quite disorganized. The problem here is that the national organization provides little support, there's no club support like there is in Europe or the US, and they don't play enough together and against elite competition to hone their skills. Ugly rumors that at least one member was left off by the coach for being a lesbian don't help (in contrast, Germany 2nd keeper Ursula Holl was congratulated by both the press and her teammates when she came out). A shame, as the players themselves are as good as any in the game.
Group B
Perennial Asian power Japan are joined by England, a surprising Mexico, and New Zealand in Group B.
Japan are ranked 5th in the world and have made it to all five previous editions of the Cup and should make it through to the second round. They're led by veterans Homare Sawa and Kozue Ando and have promising young talent in 18 yr old Mana Iwabuchi. They're a technical side, well organized, not terribly tall (but, in the men's game, neither are Barcelona). But they struggle to make it to the next level and lost both recent friendlies to the US -- both, however, were played in the US. At home they're difficult to beat; in Germany somehow they'll have to find some road form. But I like their chances to make it through to the second round.
England were long a hapless side but manager Hope Powell (who the Guardian suggests should replace Fabio Capello as manager of the underperforming men's team) and the rise of the Super League (club football) have changed all that. Unlike the men's team the England women are a bit underrated and have a great chance to go deep in the tournament. They're led by center forward Kelly Smith with Rachel Yankey and young gun Jess Clarke on the wings; Fara White leads the midfield, while fullback Alex Scott bombs up the wing supporting the attack. Their weakness I think is Karen Bardsley, who in fine England keeper tradition looks shaky minding the net. They completely disassembled the US in a March friendly, and if we meet them in the WWC there may be a bit of a grudge match as last time out Abby Wambach broke captain Faye White's nose in a 3-0 US win. Japan-England will likely be the key match as the winner will probably top of the group, which means avoiding Germany in the second round.
If you last saw Mexico in the '99 World Cup (their last appearance) you're in for a shock -- they're now really really good. Back then their only good player was a streak of lightning named Maribel Dominguez, now she's back as one of the elite strikers in the game. Mexico beat the US in a qualifier last November, forcing us down to an unprecedented third place in CONCACAF. They are technically skilled and fast, and have an outstanding young keeper in Cecilia Santiago, who got her first international start at 16 yrs old in a friendly against the US last month. They lost that match, on a stoppage time strike from Lauren Cheney, but Santiago made some excellent stops and did not hesitate to order her defense around. IMO their weakness is lack of confidence: as a team they play tentatively on the road, and on the big stage in Germany that will kill them. Dominguez has to get her side to believe in themselves, because they really do have talent. If this were in Mexico I think they go through; in Germany that's not so likely (though I've a soft spot for this team and would love to see them in the second round).
Poor New Zealand. Biggest fish in the tiny pond that is the Oceania conference, a minnow in world football. I know next to nothing about the Ferns except that defender Ali Riley was last year's Women's Professional Soccer Rookie of the Year -- I just hope they don't get totally hammered. If goal differential becomes important the other teams might see New Zealand as Target Practice.
Group C
Another tough group: our women are joined by North Korea, Sweden, and World Cup rookies Colombia. I don't know how to call this group: USA, North Korea, Sweden, pick any two. But win the group and you'll probably avoid Brazil in the next round.
My take on the US women is here.
I don't know much about North Korea. They are traditionally one of the better sides in women's football, however, and are known for organization, discipline, and a fair amount of skill. They also will not be pushed around. This is a very young side, average age 20.5 yrs, and in a final tune-up beat England 3-0 on Wednesday, so they're coming in with good form. We open against them in a crucial game, and we'll have to be in top form from the kickoff to get the win.
Sweden is another traditional power, having been runner up in 2003 and third in 1991. They're big, strong, physical, and experienced (this is the oldest side in the Cup, and Sweden have been in every edition of the Women's World Cup). They beat us 2-1 in the 4 Nations Cup in January, which was no fluke. They're led by Lotta Schelin (the sharp end of the Olympique Lyon attack) up top and Caroline Seger in midfield: there are no brilliant names on this squad, just a high quality side, the kind that can go deep in the tournament. They have the team to make the second round, although the US and North Korea have good chances as well.
This is the first time at the Cup for Colombia. Realistically they have to take this as a learning experience, because with the other three all with a good chance to go through, goal differential will surely be important, and Colombia are in for a shelling. Everyone is talking up 17 yr old Yoreli Rincon as the next Marta, so perhaps this will be her coming out party. This is the second youngest squad in the tournament, mean age 21.5 yrs, so hopefully they will return in 2015 knowing what they have to do to make it through to the next round. And maybe, just maybe, they'll get a little support from the national organization. For all the talent South America put out in the men's game, for all the talent they could put out in the women's game, they do practically nothing for the women. That needs to change.
Group D
Traditional powers Brazil and Norway are joined by Australia and newcomers Equatorial Guinea.
Norway aren't quite the force they were a decade ago (sounds like the US), but they're still a big, strong, well organized team (sounds like the US), and they're riding a rich streak of form coming in (doesn't sound like the US). And they have the distinction of having the best names in the tournament, like Lene Mykjaland, Guro Knutsen Mienna, and everyone's favorite, Gry Tofte Ims. They've never done worse than the quarterfinals, and won it all in 1995. They cruised through their qualifiers to get here without dropping a single match and giving up only 2 goals, they bossed the US 3-1 in a warm-up on Monday, and should have no trouble getting through the group stage. Look out for 20 yr old striker Cecilie Pedersen. They can't really be called favorites, but it would be no great surprise to see them in the championship match.
Australia are the wild card here. I haven't seen the Matildas play, so know little about them, except that they're big and strong. They are the current Asian champions (they used to be in Oceania but left the conference to find better opposition), seeing off the likes of Japan and South Korea, so they're clearly quite good. If they were in Group B or C they might well go through, but in a group with Brazil and Norway that's a lot to ask.
I haven't seen Equatorial Guinea play, and I suspect few have so it's hard to know what to expect. They did finish second in the African Conference, although in rather a strange situation (two of their players had played for other nations before, though neither is on the WWC roster). It would be nice to see them do well, but if it's a tough job for Australia to get through, it will be impossible for Equatorial Guinea. Hopefully their presence will at least help build domestic support.
Brazil are the other co-favorites, with Germany and the US. They're an example of going against the odds: there is no domestic club scene to develop talent, there is very little help from the national federation which schedules few friendlies and smaller tournaments. Their best player, Marta, was amazed at how much time the German football federation gives the national team to prepare for the WWC -- that just isn't possible in Brazil. As a result the team lacks communication, coordination, and cohesion: all they have are the best players in the world. Marta is the best ever in the women's game, someone who gets the Ronaldinhos of the world as well as opposing defenders to stand slack-jawed in amazement. Her strike partner Cristiane has a stellar 75% strike rate (31 goals, 44 caps) and would be the superstar in any other team. They have fast, tall defenders who can score, experienced playmakers, and spectacular young talent in teenagers Beatriz and Thais. With better organization they'd have multiple titles already; as it is, they could well lift the Cup come July 17th.
*****
Many of the most memorable moments in international football are the goals, of course; and a handful are talked up for years and years. Diego Maradona's mazy run through the England defense (not to be confused with his other, "Hand of God", goal); Dennis Bergkamp taking a 70 yard pass on the volley, then firing home against Argentina; Roberto Carlos' wicked guided missile strike against France in a friendly. And Marta's second goal against the US in 2007. When ball and player go zooming by either shoulder you can feel Tina Ellertson's flat footed panic. A fake to the near post breaks Cat Whitehill's ankles and turns her inside out; Briana Scurry covers without overcommitting but in recovering for a possible far post strike is caught wrong-footed when Marta comes back near post. Brilliant!
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