THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015 SPORTS Preview Tried and Switzerland set trusted for for strong debut Japan title CANADA: Switzerland qualified in style for defence and a superb level of fitness. their first women’s World Cup appearance, Ramona Bachmann and Lara defence winning their European group in with nine Dickenmann are prolific scorers. victories and one draw. Bachmann, a professional since the age of CANADA: Japan coach Norio Sasaki is banking They blitzed their group, banging in 53 16, has averaged nearly a goal every other on experience to lead the Nadeshiko to another goals and conceding just one, not a bad game in a long and impressive international Women’s World Cup triumph but the trusted haul for World Cup neophytes. Whether that career, while Dickenmann notched 10 goals troops have shown weakness in the lead-up to sizzling form carries over into the June 6- in the qualifying phase. their title defence. A ninth-placed finish at the July 5 World Cup proper in Canada is the Nonetheless, the bookmakers do not 12-team Algarve Cup in March was not ideal big question. They are still a relatively lowly fancy the chances of the Swiss, listing them preparation and Sasaki reacted by recalling 36- 19th in the FIFA rankings. at 80/1 to win the competition. The Swiss year-old Homare Sawa for the June 6-July 5 tour- But while their players are new to the have been drawn in a relatively easy Group nament in Canada. World Cup, coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg C. Their chief adversary will be Japan, but Sawa scored the dramatic equaliser in the is not. She played in three World Cups for Cameroon and Ecuador should be easier closing stages of extra time in the 2011 final her native Germany, and since taking pickings. against the United States but her chances of charge of the Swiss team three years ago Switzerland should advance out of its making a record sixth finals looked over after has molded an excellent unit that combines group, perhaps not as the winner, but more being left on the sidelines for a year by Sasaki. a potent attacking threat, with a well drilled likely the runner-up. — Reuters Injuries and a loss of form following a brief retirement in 2012 looked to have taken their toll before some domestic goals for her club side led to a recall. Sasaki said their was no sentiment in bringing back Japan’s most capped international Cameroon hope early and record goal scorer. “Let me stress that experi- ence is not all she brings. I’m selecting her on her arrival catches success present form and fitness,” he said upon naming the squad last month. VANCOUVER: Cameroon were the first Games, conceding 11 goals and scoring Sawa, player of the tournament and top scor- team to arrive in Canada for the just once. Cameroon are likely to find it er in 2011, is one of 17 players in the 23-woman Women’s World Cup and will struggle tough to get any points in Canada as well, squad that were victorious in Germany. not to be among the first to depart as with their two other group opponents Sasaki said the Algarve Cup performances, they make a maiden appearance at the being Switzerland and defending world where they lost to Denmark and France, led to tournament. champions Japan. him opting against bringing too many new The African team received special FIFA “Our main objective will be to do bet- names to Canada. permission to go to Vancouver some three ter than we did in 2012 during the “Ideally, we would’ve liked more fresh, young weeks before they begin their Group C Olympic Games, where we learnt a lot,” faces in the squad but when you look at what campaign against Ecuador on June 8. said long-standing coach Carl Enow we’re trying to achieve - to win another title - we The opportunity to play warm-up Ngachu. need players with consistency and experience.” games against club and university oppo- “We know it’s going to be very tough Despite Sawa’s return, twice Asian Player of nents in Canada represented a better for us, but Ecuador and Switzerland are the Year Aya Miyama will continue to skipper the preparatory option for the central African also here for the first time, so there can be side who will again employ a short sharp pass- country, who have played just three surprises. ing style to navigate their taller opponents. warm-up internationals this year against “We’ll have to be well prepared. If we They open their Group C campaign on June 8 other African opposition. prepare well by the time of our first game, against Switzerland before taking on Cameroon Cameroon qualified for the June6-July we can get by. But I said that this is a very and Ecuador. Topping the pool would ensure a 5 World Cup after finishing as runners-up difficult group and Switzerland and Japan last 16 clash against a third ranked side and then at last year’s African Women’s are the group favourites.” a probable quarter-final against Brazil. If results Championship, defying the rankings to Cameroon’s squad includes eight for- go to rankings, they would avoid the United take one of the three berths reserved for eign-based players, now earning a liveli- States and top-ranked Germany until the final. Africa. It kept up the progress they had hood as professionals, headlined by 30- The ingredients are all there for another shown by qualifying for the London year-old goalkeeper Annette Ngo Ndom, Japanese triumph and the favourable draw also Olympics, where women’s soccer is played who competes for a club in Slovenia, and helps. “Because of the experience, we will be at senior level and where Cameroon’s the 31-year-old captain Christine Manie, a able to gel quickly and it shouldn’t take time to Indomitable Lionesses competed for the defender at Olympia Cluj Napoca of get everyone on the same wavelength,” said first time in a major tournament. Romania. Top striker Gaelle Deborah Sasaki. “And every player on the squad is a fight- PORTLAND: In this photo taken May 5, 2015, goalkeeper Nadine Angerer works out in the rain with It was a baptism of fire as they lost all Enganamouit was signed by a Swedish er.”— Reuters Portland Thorns goalkeeper coach Scott Vallow. Angerer was in preparation for the German Women’s three of their group games at the 2012 club two years ago. — Reuters World Cup in Canada.—AP Norway aim to reclaim NZ have lofty ambitions WELLINGTON: For a team that have never made the United States in the quarter-finals, which any noise in three previous Women’s World Cup sowed the seeds for a plan to improve ahead of place among top nations appearances, New Zealand have a lofty goal in the World Cup. mind after a long-term strategy to improve their With little opposition in the Oceania region, CANADA: They may have undergone a nine successive victories and secure quali- “I am a warrior who likes to lead, not to playing depth and standard of play. they wrapped up World Cup qualification last year Coach Tony Readings feels they have the side with three victories when they scored 30 goals steady slide in the world rankings in the fication for Canada, their only defeat mention making those around me good,” and playing style to win the June 6-July 5 tour- and did not concede, New Zealand Football last 15 years, but Norway have what it coming in their final qualifier when they she told the Norwegian FA website. nament in Canada. “We’ve had a goal ever since embarked on improving the number and quality takes to reclaim their place as one of the fell to Netherlands with their berth Together with midfielders Ingvild we started this programme about being a team of internationals the team played. top nations at the Women’s World Cup in already secured. Stensland and Solveig Guldbrandsen, capable of winning the World Cup,” said Readings’ squad has 15 players who appeared Canada. As a former champion (1995) and Despite reaching the Euro final and an Ronning will provide the experience, but Readings. at the 2011 World Cup, while a dozen have in runner-up (1991) the pedigree is there, excellent qualifying record, Norway are if Norway are to make a lasting impres- “Everything we’ve done; changing our style, excess of 50 international caps and their interna- and had they not missed two penalties in only ranked 11th in the world coming sion on the tournament it will be up to getting the right number of games against the tional results have improved. the Euro 2013 final loss to Germany the into the June 6-July 5 tournament, the youthful striker Ada Hegerberg to con- right opposition, the full time programme we’re In 2014, they held powerhouses Brazil and Norwegians could well have been com- fourth time in five years they have been tribute with goals. putting the players through in New Zealand, Norway to draws while they lost narrowly to fel- ing into this tournament as Europe’s ranked outside the top 10. Since making her breakthrough three that’s all around building so we are playing and low World Cup finalists France, Switzerland and brightest hope. Regardless of ranking, the future looks years ago, the 19-year-old forward aver- winning seven games at a World Cup.” Mexico. Instead, Norway will be looking to bright.