We’re down to the final eight teams in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Powerhouses Germany and USA have been quite dominant in the tournament thus far, but face stiff challenges in the quarterfinal. Host Canada has its hands full with the highly-potent offense of England, while Japan faces a Asia-Oceania rival Australia to make the quarterfinal round one to remember.
Which four teams take one step closer toward raising the World Cup? Read on as we touch down on each of the quarterfinal matches in the tournament.
Check out the complete previews for a couple of the most intriguing matches in the quarterfinal round with Canada vs. England and USA vs. China.
Germany is flexing its muscle as the No. 1 team in the world. The Germans have scored a whopping 19 goals in the World Cup thus far, the most in the tournament. This highly-potent attack was on full display in the Round of 16, as the Germans defeated Sweden 4-1. Anja Mittag and Celia Sasic were incredible in the match, combining to score three of the Germans’ four goals.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]France also fields a highly-potent offense. They were clinical in the Round of 16, dominating South Korea 3-0. Marie Laure Delie and Eugenie Le Sommer each have three goals in the tournament, the second-highest scoring duo behind Germany’s Mittag and Sasic. The French also have a stringent defense which has kept a clean sheet in three of four matches at the World Cup.
Writer’s prediction: Germany (-105) squeaks by with a 1-0 win.
The United States will be missing a couple of stars in this crucial quarterfinal matchup against China. Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday both picked up their second yellow cards in the Round of 16, which will see them suspended for this match. Not only will the Americans miss two dynamic and creative midfielders, they’ll also lose their best goal-scorer in the tournament in Rapinoe (two goals).
But the United States should be able to stifle China’s offense with goalkeeper Hope Solo, who has conceded just once throughout the tournament and has three clean sheets. China doesn’t have the best of frontlines to net one past the stellar goalie. The Chinese forwards have combined for just 13 goals in 165 caps.
Writer’s prediction: USA (-272) cruise to a comfortable 3-0 win.
Japan has been clinical in its bid to win back-to-back World Cup titles. Nadeshiko remains a perfect 4-0-0 in four matches at the tournament thus far after defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in the Round of 16. Saori Ariyoshi opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the match. Mizhuo Sakaguchi scored the deciding goal in the 78th minute. The two join Aya Miyama, Aya Sameshima, Yuki Ogimi and Yuika Sugasawa with one goal each in the World Cup.
Japan’s possession-based style of play should prove beneficial against quarterfinal opponent, Australia. The Matildas struggled against the United States’ rich midfield in their World Cup opener, losing 3-1. Japan also does most of its work in a talented midfield led by six-time World Cup participant Homare Sawa. But Australia has scored four goals in its last three matches.
Led by the talented youngster Kyah Simon (three goals), the Matildas should be able to find the back of the net against a Japanese side, which has been in tight one-goal games in all of its matches thus far.
Writer’s prediction: Australia (+214) ends Japans World Cup run with a 2-1 victory.
Canada vs. England (Saturday, June 27, 7:30 PM ET)
Defense has sparked Canada’s run in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The hosts have conceded just once in four matches thus far, tied with the U.S. for the least number of goals allowed in the tournament. But the Canadians will need much more than a solid defense to get them past England. They’ll have to keep possession of the ball to disguise their lack of offense. Canada has scored just three goals in the tournament thus far, tied for the third-least among the 24 World Cup teams.
Despite going against the host nation, England will be pretty confident in this match. The Three Lionesses have beaten Canada in four of the last five meetings. England also has the high-powered offense that can give Canada fits, scoring the seventh-most number of goals in the World Cup (six).
Writer’s prediction: England (+225) upsets the hosts 1-0.
