Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015 45 - ’s World Cup ‘rock’

Germany, USA continue their quest for 3rd title

VANCOUVER: Footballing giants Germany and the United States continue their quest for a record third title today when they meet France and China respectively in the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals. Top-ranked Germany, winners in 2003 and 2007, face an ambitious France in the largely French-speaking city of Montreal. The French seek their first major title after finishing fourth in Germany 2011 and the 2012 Olympics. Over in Ottawa, the United States will be up against a resilient Chinese side who are rekindling memories of their glory days, when they reached the 1999 final but lost to the Americans in a penalty shootout. The USA also won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1991. The Chinese failed to qualify for the 2011 tournament and the London Olympics, with their 1-0 last-16 win over Cameroon earning them a bonus of around one million yuan ($160,000) from the national football association. Champions Japan, the only team to have won all their matches in the tournament, move to Edmonton where they next play 10th-ranked Australia on Saturday, the same day that England tackle hosts Canada in Vancouver. Germany coach Silvia Neid dismissed talks of her side being favorites after demolishing Sweden 4-1 in the last 16. “I’m not convinced of it yet,” she said. “France QUEBEC: (Left to right) France’s midfielder , defender , midfielder , are ranked third and it won’t be easy. We know where we defender Laura Georges and midfielder train in Laval, Canada ahead the quarterfinal football stand but we’re not yet a world champion.” match between Germany and France during the FIFA Women’s World Cup. —AFP MONTREAL: From the 2003 Women’s World Saint-Germain and returned to the club two with the ‘wow’ factor. “It was a beautiful German ‘steamroller’ Cup to the 2015 edition underway in years ago after ten seasons with Lyon. World Cup, very well organized, magnifi- Germany have won two titles, finished runner-up in Canada, Laura Georges has been in the thick cent stadiums, capacity crowds and won- 1995, and have won every Women’s Euro title since 1995. of all the battles and tears of France’s nation- In tune derful pitches. “And for the French team as But they were shocked in the 2011 World Cup at home, al football team. And today the many talents France coach - the well, even if we finished just off the podium when they equaled their worst-ever showing-losing 1-0 of the 30-year-old centre back, whose family third she has played under after Elisabeth (in fourth), it was really a beautiful adven- in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Japan. French hail from the French Island of Guadeloupe, Loisel and -has praised the unre- ture.” Between her first tournament and midfielder D’Hommeaux said ‘Les Bleues’ will be pushed to their limits in Montreal’s lenting work ethic of Georges who won her today the margin between the top teams were out to stop the “steamroller.” “Germany are a sports Olympic Stadium. Third-ranked France take first cap in September 2011. “Laura, it’s and Les Bleues has progressively narrowed, machine, a steamroller,” she said. “There’s the United on world number one Germany, winners in experience and power. But it’s above all a she said. “It’s no longer the same. The States and Germany and then everyone else. “But we’re 2003 and 2007 and with a third title in their state of mind always in tune with the team France team have gained in experience and closing the gap and I really want people to talk more about France and the other teams. It’s good for women’s sights, in a much-anticipated quarter-final and the group.”In this World Cup, she is confidence. “There are results at club level football. “We’re third in FIFA’s rankings. It’s good, but clash. Georges, the most experienced mem- very, very focused. She comes to look for with Lyon who won the Champions League we’ve won no trophies so far,” added the 27-year-old. ber of the France team with 163 caps, is the individual videos, those of her direct (2011 and 2012), which has seen this inferi- The United States play China after beating Colombia 2-0 competing in her third World Cup, the same rivals, those of the rival teams. She’s a super ority complex regarding the top teams start in the last 16 - a costly game for the Olympic champions number as France have qualified for. In professional.” to disappear. with key midfielders Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday September 2003 in the United States, she When she looks back at her introduction “We showed that we could beat suspended after collecting yellow cards. discovered the World Cup for the first time to the World Cup in 2003, the player whose German teams and that we have players in “We’ve dealt with injuries so I feel very confident in as a 19-year-old against Norway. career was always ‘sponsored’ by former France who can win big matches.”Georges the players we have to be able to step up and help us In June 2015, further north in Montreal men’s World Cup winner Lilian Thuram-his admits that over the years she has advance,” said US coach Jill Ellis. China’s ‘Steel Roses’ she marked her 163rd cap with qualification roots are also in Guadeloupe-recalls an “matured in age and experience” as a play- have been gaining momentum since their opening 1-0 for the last eight, following an impeccable “unusual” tournament “transferred from er. “In my game that has been transformed defeat to Canada. “We are improving match by match,” performance in a 3-0 win over South Korea. China to the United States at the last into a lot more skill and serenity. That’s defender said, adding that the 1999 From one match to another, one World Cup minute”. “So I don’t think that they could important above all in my position final had inspired her to play football. “I was in primary disappointment to another, the player from organize it as they would have liked with all (defender). More reflective, you play less school, but I remember watching it very well. That was Le Chesnay, in the western suburbs of , the prestige that you expect surrounding a with your physique and a little more with when my dream started, when China played so well to has played in all of France’s World Cup World Cup. “But nevertheless, at 19 being the head.” Against the Germans, Les Bleues reach the World Cup final. Sun Wen was my favourite games - 13 in total. “It’s good for the statisti- called up to a World Cup and playing all the will need all that-the physical and mental player and my hero at that time.” cians and journalists, but I’ve never won any- matches is an honor many don’t have,” she strength of Georges and an experience thing and it would be good to leave with told AFP. accumulated in three World Cups and Canada ‘see the summit’ something,” said the player who started her The 2011 edition in Germany by con- almost 15 years service to France, who Canada will be hoping to get the crowd behind them footballing career as a 12-year-old with Paris trast “was a big event, really something host the tournament in 2019. —AFP again in BC Place Stadium against England, who beat them 1-0 in this year’s Cyprus Cup final, but who lost to the hosts in a pre-tournament friendly. “It’s almost like No time for fun as Canada focused on WCup ‘summit’ we can see the summit,” said Canada’s English coach, VANCOUVER: Canadian soccer fans may be enjoying the ride achievement what we have done for our country.’” John Herdman. “It’s within out grasp. We just have to but for the players, the grind of the Women’s World Cup is no Herdman and the players have not avoided the bigger pic- reach up there.” Olympic bronze medalist Canada’s best fun and the team is still approaching the “death zone,” head ture of what hosting a World Cup means for the sport’s devel- finish was fourth in 2003 while England had never coach John Herdman said on Wednesday. Another 50,000- opment in Canada but the team has maintained a laser focus advanced out of the knockout rounds before. Australia plus crowd will pack into BC Place on Saturday ready to party on the more immediate goal of winning the tournament. coach Alen Stajcic believes his young Matildas can match when Canada play England for a spot in the semi-finals but it Standing in Canada’s way are a sixth-ranked England team fourth-ranked Japan, who impressed in a 2-1 last-16 will be all business for Herdman’s crew. “You’re not meant to that have been building momentum with consecutive wins defeat of the Netherlands. “Japan are the defending have fun,” a stern-faced Herdman said after putting his team over Mexico, Colombia and Norway after an opening loss to world champions. We know how good they are. We through a training session on Wednesday. “You climb Everest, France. The two teams are very familiar with each other, played them in the Asian Cup final,” he added, noting a it hurts, and it’s painful. “We’re now in the death zone where England having beaten Canada 1-0 in the Cyprus Cup final in tie Australia lost 1-0.—AFP the oxygen is thinner. “It is not meant to be fun. But when we March while the latter triumphed 1-0 in their final pre-World look back and reflect, that’s when we can go, ‘Wow what an Cup friendly.