Quarterfinal: Germany v Russia Germany has scored the most goals in the tournament and has one of the stingiest defenses. Thank you for playing, Russia. Have a nice trip home.
Goliath versus David - Take Three - Dominant German squad meets next challenger, Russia by Inge Bond http://www.cybersoccernews.com/Women's World Cup/secondrounds/031001rus-geradv.shtml
Maybe Russia will play a successful bunker and win on a late counter! Then the USA will destroy them in the Semis.. Okay.. Not likely..
"Maybe Russia will play a successful bunker and win on a late counter!" That's the only way I can seem them playing. Their goalkeeper has been doing well but she is a veteran but she has a few caps. Do they put in the vetaran international in goal though? I think she's healthy. But maybe not.
Steffi Jones is such a big loss, won't really be missed against Russia, but I think she would have helped see them past the US in the semis. Germany have a lot of firepower, Russia won't be able to hold out and they're not really an attacking team.
Lineups: Germany: Rottenberg Stegmann Lingor Prinz Wiegmann Mueller Minnert Meinert Hingst Garefrekes Gottschlich Russia: Volkova Zaytseva Burakova Saenko Stroukova Komarova Egorova Svetlitskaya Barbachina Letyushova Skotnikova
Say that 10 times without your tongue retaliating and leaving your mouth! Germany is a powerhouse that we will probably meet in the semis. We'll have to play our best game of the tournament to get past them. It would be nice if Russia pulled a big upset here, but I wouldn't count on it.
Has anybody seen the Fantasy All-Star list for the World Cup? There were supposed to come out with a list when the group stage was over and then we could vote on it but I haven't seen it yet.
I believe you are refering to this. Voting still isn't open as of tonight. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en/t/allstars/index.html
80th min and it's 5-1 Germany. Russia has Germany overconfident now and is preparing their big comeback! Sunday's match (should Germany somehow stop Russia's comeback) between the USA and Germany is going to be a war! I'm a little nervous..
7-1 Germany. This shows just exactly how HORRIBLE Russia is and gives a good indication how bad Ghana and Australia have to be to have lost to the Russian rec team. THis REALLY calls into question the Chineese as they were unable to dominate Russia, Austrlia or Ghana. Maybe my initial call for a Canada win is not so far fetched. YES, Germany is good but they are NOT 6 goals better than most teams that went home out of the other groups. (Argentinia excepted) This game in no way shows the true strength of Germany and I hope that the US does not over rate them and make many, if any, adjustments. The speed of play in this game was SLOW, Germany was, for most of the game, playing at a trot but Russia was playing at a walk or at a dead stop. If the US plays at their usual pace they should beat Germany by 2 or 3.
Looked like it might be 9-1 there for a bit.. Perhaps Germany used up all their goals now and will have none left for Sunday! I think the USA may Wombat them!! I wonder if we'll go 4-3-3 or play Mia as an attacking midfielder?
I tend to disagree. I think Germany are a really good team. Maybe that wasn't shown tonight because Russia didn't play too well. I think they will give the US a battle. Great goal by Danilova. Let's hope to see her again in 4 years. I do believe that makes her the youngest ever goal scorer unless you count Susanne Augustesen in which case you need to get more interests. "I believe you are refering to this. Voting still isn't open as of tonight. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en...tars/index.html" Yes, I had looked before I asked the question!
Germany is a strong team for sure, but their last three goals were scored after the Russians had already called it a night. Unfortunately, there was still 20 minutes left to play.
I missed great chunks of the game, but did get to watch the last ten minutes of the game and I thought Germany proved themselves pretty classless by not taking their foot off the gas pedal. You've won already; no need to rub it in. I wonder if this knows how to play possesion ball or do they just go straight to the goal every chance. I'm not good at predictions, but, US women should do well against that strategy.
1941 But in 1941 the USA entered the tournament and beat the Germans at home. Wasn't it them that had a bunker defense. Sorry moderators, I couldn't resist.
its the World Cup Hey! Its the World Cup!!!! not a youth rec game. You don't take your foot off the gas pedal at this level. ie England 5 Germany 1 WC Qualifier.
I've watched Australia play quite a few games now and they're not a horrible team. They seem to lack a goal scoring punch but are otherwise pretty good. Russia played Germany to a 1-1 first half score and showed some good playmaking in the second half. It made a huge difference when Germany moved Prinz up front. She was too big and fast for the smaller Russian defenders to handle. I was impressed with the 16 year old Russian. Germany, China, Sweden, Norway, the USA and Canada all played in the 4NT or Algarve or both. In my opinion those tournaments were a much better indicator of current strength than WWC'99 results. China, Sweden, Norway and Canada have all played pretty much true to form. USA and Germany seem to have taken their games up a notch. Germany maybe 2 notches. I expect a very good match between USA and Germany. Not one sided either way.