It’s on to the final stretch of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, starting with a couple of big-time showdowns in the semifinals. International powerhouses USA and Germany face off in a gigantic match, while Japan attempts to use its championship experience to oust semifinal debutante, England. Which two teams find themselves one step closer to the World Cup? Read on as a panel of experts sound off with their picks below.
Experts Picks and Predictions for the Semifinals of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Bleacher Report
Match
Result
USA vs. Germany
USA 1-0
Japan vs. England
Japan 2-1
Christopher Simpson of Bleacher Report believes that the USA vs. Germany match has the makings of a World Cup final. Both of these clubs have won the World Cup on two different occasions, and boast some of the best players in the game. But the Americans should have the edge with Lauren Holiday and Megan Rapinoe back after missing the quarterfinals due to suspensions (accumulation of yellow cards).
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Holiday and Rapinoe should have some fresh legs underneath them, whereas the Germans may be fatigued after playing extra time in an intense match against the French.
But expect Germany to at least challenge the United States’ excellent keeper, Hope Solo. The Germans have Celia Sasic, who leads the race to the Golden Booth with six goals at the tournament thus far.
It’s going to be a closely-contested match, but Simpson believes that Jill Ellis’ squad still has plenty of upside. A big-time match against another world power should help the Americans reach their full potential.
Prior to the competition, England has not won a knockout match in a World Cup. Simpson notes that it already recorded two this year by beating Norway and Canada. Having beaten Canada on hostile territory should give the English plenty of confidence heading into this semifinal showdown against defending World Cup champion Japan.
But Japan is one well-oiled wheel in this matchup. Japan already has experience in the latter stages of a World Cup, showcasing its elite defense and excellent finishing. Simpson believes that this big game experience should help Japan make the World Cup final for the second consecutive time.
Sports Chat Place
Match
Result
USA vs. Germany
USA
Japan vs. England
Japan
Randy Chambers also sounded off on his World Cup semifinals picks through Sports Chat Place. He believes that the United States and Japan will meet in a rematch of their epic 2011 World Cup final.
The United States aren’t the ruthless scoring machines they were expected to be, but it’s not through a lack of attempts. The Americans have shot 46 attempts in their last three matches and have scored just four times. Chambers believes that the Americans have yet to show their full potential, while the Germans already has their best game behind them.
Japan has been the most consistent team in this year’s World Cup, winning all five of its matches. Nadeshiko hasn’t shown true dominance, winning all their matches by just one goal each. Still, Chambers believes that Japan’s discipline and consistency should lead the team over an England team that fields just an above-average defense.
USA Today
Match
Result
USA vs. France Germany
USA
Japan vs. England
Japan
USA Today’s Martin Rogers was almost perfect in his predictions for the remaining teams in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Semifinals. He correctly predicted Japan and England to meet in one of the semifinal matches, but had the United States facing off against France. Turns out that the French had to bow down to Germany in the quarterfinals. But considering how tight the contest was between France and Germany, the U.S. may be getting almost the same style of a match with the Germans as they would have with the French.
Rogers believes the United States makes its way to the final with some solid defense headed by goalkeeper Hope Solo and an offense that has yet to fully showcase its skills. Defending world champion Japan, in the meantime, should be too strong for World Cup semifinal debutantes in the English.
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