FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015: The Semifinals

The FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is taking place at Canada has reached it’s semi-finals stage as England, the underdogs, play against the mighty Japan team, while USA, also a giant play Germany, who can see themselves upsetting Uncle Sam’s dream party.

Germany had a  nail-biting penalty shoot-out win against France, to qualify for the semi final stage. The game at the Montreal Stadium was electric as the game remained locked at 1-1 even after the 30 minutes extra added time. The French star, Louisa Necib, who is also called ‘The female Zidane’ had missed an opportunity just within a minute of the game, but she made sure to compensate for it later at the 64′. Celia Sasic equalized it at 84′ and the game pulled off into what was expected to be an underdog win for the French side. The German captain and keeper, Nadine Angerer, was the Queen of the night as she saved the final penalty to ensure the win for the Deutch team.

The second game, where Japan played against Australia was expected to be a clean slide, as the former World Cup winners on paper were too strong. But rather, to the surprise, the game went goalless for almost the entire game, and the winning goal for the Japanese team came late around the 87′ mark by the substitute Mana Iwabuchi. Australia, though, looked rather inexperienced as a whole, because they had put no pressure on the Japanese team. Rather, the team in Yellow were dependent on their quick movements to trouble the Asian side. They lost because of a lack of depth and a holding player who could keep the possession and pass clinically. Japan,on the other hand, whose team play is as smooth as oil on ice, a team which is so tactically strong can wreck the opposition. But it was not the case, for better or the worse.

The surprise entry in the semi-finals would undoubtedly be England, who defeated Canada to fix a spot for themselves. English women played the way they know best, something which is instilled into every Englishmen(or women), the physicality. To say the game was rough was an understatement, and even though the players weren’t spared as much kicking as the ball did, the game proved to be an entertaining one for the 54,000 odd spectators watching the game at BC Place. Although the game technically ran for 90′ plus the injury time, the game was mainly decided in a few minute spell of the  first half. 8′, Christine Sinclair, nutmegs two, passes to  Tancredi. She couldn’t slot the ball home, much to the disappointment for the home crowd. 12′, Lauren Sesselmann gives away a sloppy pass to English forward Jodie Taylor, who is left with only one woman to beat, and she does that well. 14′ Canada concedes a free kick 40 yards out. Lucy Bronze out-muscles Canada’s defender to head the ball in. The rest of the game, though stabilizing after the game didn’t add much. It will be as much of a guess of yours and mine to see what this English team can achieve, and can they do what the men’s team hasn’t been able to for so long?

The women’s team of USA, saw themselves easily clearing their hurdle by defeating the Chinese side 1-0, thanks to their captain, Carli Lloyd. She scored her winner at the 51′ by heading in a ball sent into the box by Julie Johnston.They had almost scored a second one, when Ali Krieger hit the crossbar and Lloyd followed up, but she put the rebound over an open net. The game was dominated by the North American side as the Chinese were continuously put under pressure. The Chinese did show certain spurs of energy and counter, but they were thwarted down by the defense. The Olympic Stadium in Montreal., where the game took place was a sellout crowd of 30,000.

It would be really interesting to see how the Semi-final is played down, as the Champions from last time, Japan face the underdogs, England. On the other half, the hard-shelled Germans play against the star studded USA’s lineup. It is expected for the Japanese team to show the kind of fluidity only certain teams in all of football can match, knocking England out of their dream run. Germany on the other hand, are the top seeded team and have a greater chance of defeating USA.  We can ensure you that these games are gonna be one cracker of a semi-final!