2011 Women's World Cup Match 29 13-July-2011 20:45 Frankfurt Commerzbank-Arena Japan vs. Sweden History: 2 Japanese wins 2 Draws 4 Swedish wins 7:20 goals
Out of gratitude for Japan eliminating Germany, I'm hoping the Japanese pull through to the final (where, of course, I'm hoping the USWNT will be there to defeat them).
I agree with the margin but not the score. I'd go with 1-0 because both of these teams have a heck of a time putting the ball in the net. Every one of Sweden's last five goals was a gift-wrapped present from the opposing defense, and Japan is almost incapable of scoring from the run of play.
i've only watched sweden vs the usa. are they good at dispossession, since they'll need it in this game?
Go Nadeshiko! Before year 2000, Sweden had been bitchslapping our girls so hard but that trend has died since then. their unbeaten streak shall continue, hopefully
Hmmmm most of what you write, i agree with. Not everything, but most of it. So I choose Japan, but out of bias rather than rationale. They are my team.
Hard to choose. Japan made believers w/ their unbelievable victory over Germany. But this Sweden team has to be the favorites to win it all right now. They look to be playing rather well to my eyes. And it feels to me like they've got "It" right now. They seem to have gotten their finishing issues out of the way during the early group games. And I don't see them forgetting what got them here and abandoning their normal attack for service after service into the box hoping to out jump the Japanese.
who said that? 1-0 over colombia 1-0 over prk 2-1 over usa (goals given to them by the usa more or less) 1-0 usa on an abby shoulder 3-1 who has been telling this tail of aus being a good team? in a rematch, usa will be a heavy favorite if someone goes back and look at that game and sees sweden's two goals are frauds. they look like norway with a four leaf clover and rabbit's foot. now, they will probably beat japan, because japan probably can't replicate the germany game back - back against two big euro type teams. never have in the past.
We did get a free goal vs. your team Brazil, is not like we are playing bad ass. I do agree that the USA should be the favority to win it all, we do have the best players of the 4 teams left, Japan plays the best as a team, France and Sweden are playing very well. 2 good semis IMO.
I think thats after the win over Germany Japan is gonna win this one. Sweden is gonna have a really hard night chasing the ball. Japan - Sweden 2-0 So there is no chance of Usa having a go at Sweden again in this WC. Final gonna be Japan vs. Usa/France
If Sweden can get an early goal, they can win. Germany just wasn't right in the head the other night, for a lack of better term. This is not to take away from Japan's performance--they stuck to their strategy and played beautiful football and made a believer out of this skeptic . I just believe that Sweden is playing with a significant amount of confidence and drive that will see them through to the final. Oh and Schelin just seems possessed at times.
actually, you got 3 goals with 2 on the back of that fool lima. 1. DAIANE own goal 2. Abby beat's DAIANE, given she is too short to mark her in the box for headers. why in the world isn't aline marking abby at the end of the game, esp since you are 1 up to have someone mark? isn't that why lima sung bird songs about having DFs over 67ins to protect from Abby? 3. DAIANE gets beaten by Solo. what kind of clown let's her raise her hand to take a penalty kick after going through 1-2? i hope you see how the usa actually won the game. it had nothing to do with erika playing dead, marta taking flops, DAIANE having a bad day, cheney hand balls, offsides, etc. Pi$$ poor game recognition by Lima. put that on sports center. "hand me down" job, worst than halliburton and chaney getting no bid govt contracts. i look forward to him joining dunga in the football hall of shame. unfortunate thing is DAIANE will probably need a sports psychologist to get through this. sorry wrong thread but just wanted to make some points.
It's so difficult to pick a winner between the two. Both are such good teams, but I think Sweden has a more potent attack, so I would give them the edge. I would not be surprised (and not at all disappointed) if Japan wins. If both goalkeepers continue on past form, then I think the swedish goalkeeper will have a nightmare, and maybe let in an easy goal (or two). But officially, I would have to tip Sweden to win this one.
from a personal french standpoint... reason for rooting for sweden : lotta in the final against her club teammates reason for rooting for japan : only chance to see the überfetching marinière jerseys. all hypothetical of course since first we need to beat the USA (excusez du peu!)
Japan (Norio Sasaki): Two midfielders up top? - #9 Nahomi Kawasumi (MF) for #17 Yuki Nagasato (FW). [LINEUP-4-4-2] 9 Nahomi Kawasumi:M, 7 Kozue Ando:M , 8 Aya Miyama, 10c Homare Sawa, 6 M.Sakaguchi, 11 Shinobu Ohno:F , 15 Aya Sameshima, 4 Saki Kumagai, 3 Azusa Iwashimizu, 2 Yukari Kinga , 21 Ayumi Kaihori [/LINEUP-4-4-2] Sweden (Thomas Dennerby): - #14 Josefine Öqvist (LF) keeps her starting spot. - Late change: #20 Marie Hammarström (DM) for #18 Nilla Fischer. #6(c) Thunebro takes the armband. #5 Caroline Seger starts on the bench! [LINEUP-4-3-3] 14 Josefine Öqvist, 8 Lotta Schelin, 16 Linda Forsberg , 15 Therese Sjögran, 20 Marie Hammarström, 17 Lisa Dahlkvist , 2 Charlotte Rohlin, 4 Annica Svensson, 6(c) Sara Thunebro, 7 Sara Larsson , 1 Hedvig Lindahl [/LINEUP-4-3-3]
Cheering for a good game in this one. I love Japan's style and wouldn't mind the US having a shot at redemption in the final against Sweden. Either way it will be a very good opponent so I'm excited for this one. Best of luck to both sides and their supporters.
Wouldn't that be mutually exclusive? One way or another, one of the sides will not have the best of luck.
Just an interesting stat to share of the 5 forwards starting today's game only 1 has scored a goal this world cup. Neither of these teams seem to rely on their forwards to score as much but the leading goal scorers on both teams are Midfielders with Sawa for Japan (#10 with 3 goals) and Dahlkvist for Sweden (#17 with 2 goals). I know it doesn't really matter but just fun to look at sometimes.
I wish them the best to play well and to stay healthy so that the game is decided just on who has the best goal rather than on poor play.