More FIFA Women’s World Cup action is headed your way, as the two best teams from Group B are set to square off.
Top-seeded Germany was utterly impressive in its inaugural match of the tournament with a 10-0 beat-down of Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, Norway provided a shutout of its own with the 4-0 victory over Thailand.
Both Group B heavyweights will look to improve their standings in the group stages this coming Thursday in what should be a shootout between two powerful offenses. And for other Women’s World Cup action, head on over here for our preview of the Group A matchup between Canada and New Zealand.
Germany greeted Ivory Coast with a 10-0 drubbing in the African team’s FIFA Women’s World Cup debut match. The two-time World Cup champions put on a clinical offensive display by having two Germans record hat tricks in the match.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Germany’s striker Celia Sasic became the fastest woman in Women’s World Cup history to tally a hat trick in a match. Her third goal came in just the 31st minute of the game.
Sasic has been a scoring juggernaut in FIFA events. The 26-year old star already had nine goals in five FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying matches prior to the match against Ivory Coast.
The other hat trick in the match for Germany came from Sasic’s fellow striker Anji Mittag. Mittag’s third goal came in the 64th minute of the match against Ivory Coast. She is tied with Sasic for the most goals scored in the tournament, and currently leads all players in the tournament with six shots on goal.
Even the Germans’ defense was on par on Sunday. They only allowed World No. 67 Ivory Coast four shots on goal the entire game, and their goalie and former FIFA World Player of the Year Nadine Angerer had two saves in the match.
The top-ranked team in the tournament has proven yet again why it is one of the favorites to win it all this year. The Germans are now looking for their third Women’s World Cup title in seven Women’s World Cup events. They have advanced no worse than the quarterfinal round in all seven tournaments, and have an all-time record of 23-3-6 at the prestigious event.
Norway’s quest for a second FIFA Women’s World Cup title is off to a good start with its 4-0 victory over World No. 127 Thailand on Sunday. The Scandinavians are looking to avenge their early group stage exit from the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament, and their first match in 2015 is a good sign that they can make a good run in this year’s event.
Team captain Trine Ronning had the first goal for Norway with a free kick attempt in the 15th minute. Fellow forward Isabell Herlovsen soon followed with a pair of goals in the 29th and 34th minutes of the match for a commanding 3-0 lead.
“The first game of the tournament is always nerve-wracking,” said Norway’s head coach Even Pellerud after Sunday’s match. “We are happy to have three points, but we have to improve aspects of our play against other teams. We’re ready for the game against Germany on Thursday.”
The timing couldn’t be better for the 11th-ranked team to find their offensive and defensive groove, especially since they’ll meet the world’s top-ranked team in a few days. Norway scored 15 goals in its last four World Cup qualifying matches (two games apiece against Greece and Portugal). The shutout victory against Thailand on Sunday also marked the fifth straight match in FIFA competition that they have held their opponents scoreless.
Norway has a 1-1-0 record against Germany in Women’s World Cup events, but it was Germany who won the last meeting 3-0 during the semifinal round of the 2007 World Cup. The Germans also have the latest victory in international play against Norway with a narrow 1-0 win at the 2013 UEFA Women’s Euro final match.
The lone win by Norway over Germany at the FIFA Women’s World Cup was back in 1995 where Norway came away with the title by shutting out the Germans 2-0 in the finals. That win from two decades ago brought Norway its first and only Women’s World Cup title.
Writer’s Prediction
Germany (-485) outlasts Norway with a 3-1 victory.
