Playing one player down for the last 22 minutes and stoppage, Sweden managed to pull out a 2-1 victory over France to give them third place in the 2011 World Cup. Marie Hammarstrom became the hero with a stunning strike in the 82nd minute.
Both teams entered this third place match minus one of their star players. Marie-Laure Delie for France and Caroline Seger for Sweden were both out of this match because of injuries. Sweden started Nilla Fischer in the midfield for Seger. France went with Eugenie LeSommer for Delie. And in yet another shuffling of the French back line, Bruno Bini started Corine Franco at right back and put Wendie Renard in at center back.
Sweden appeared to break through in just the fifth minute. Linda Forsberg hit a forceful header through with Lotta Schelin getting behind the defense and scoring, but offsides was the ruling in what was a very close call. Sweden again came close in the 14th minute, with Charlotte Rohlin heading a corner kick, but right at Berangere Sapowicz.
France's first real chance was in the 23rd minute, with LeSommer getting through with some room on the right side of the box, but her low shot was lacking pace and directly at Hedvig Lindahl.
Sweden did take the lead in the 29th minute. Sara Larsson sent a brilliant long ball out of the back, splitting the central defenders with Schelin running onto it. Schelin used the outside of her right foot to touch it past a charging Sapowicz and into the goal.
Sapowicz was injured on the play as her foot got tangled with Schelin's after the shot and she landed very awkwardly on her ankle. Celine Deville had to replace Sapowicz and Louisa Necib, who had received a knock in the knee earlier came off in favor of Elodie Thomis. France were down a goal and had lost two more players to injury.
France came back with a couple of chances. Gaetane Thiney shot high and wide to the right from 14 yards in the 33rd minute. France came very close in the 36th minute with Thiney touching the ball to Elise Bussaglia, whose drive from 22 yards hit the right post squarely and bounced away.
Sweden had a couple of chances of their own in the closing minutes of the half. Rohlin once again came close on a header off of a corner kick, with this one going just inches over the crossbar. As the final seconds ticked off, Therese Sjogran found Schelin open on the right side. She dribbled into the penalty area to within eight yards, but her shot was right at Deville's head and the French keeper pushed it away.
France did get the tying goal early in the 2nd half. In the 56th minute, Thiney turned on a defender and pushed the ball ahead to Thomis. Her right-footed shot from 20 yards was well placed inside the left post and it beat Lindahl to tie the score at one.
Sweden made their first substitution in the 62nd minute, sending in Marie Hammarstrom for Linda Forsberg. It would prove to be a fortuitous decision for Thomas Dennerby.
The action went end-to-end in the next few minutes. Lisa Dahlqvist sent Josefine Oqvist in alone on the left side. But with Deville coming out to cut off the angle, Oqvist's shot hooked just a bit and the ball bounced off the right post and away. At the other end, Thomis was able to get within six yards to take a shot from a bad angle, but Lindahl made the save on that shot. The ensuing corner kick saw Thomis putting the ball just wide of the post.
Things got very chippy in the 68th minute. With Oqvist approaching the penalty area from the right side, she and Sonia Bompastor collided. It appeared that Bompastor tried to kick Oqvist as both were falling to the ground. Oqvist retaliated by kicking Bompastor and as often happens, only the second offense was caught by the referee and Oqvist was sent off.
Sweden made another substitution as Nilla Fischer went down with an injury and Linda Sembrandt was sent in.
In the 82nd minute, Schelin and Laura Georges were chasing the ball on the side of the penalty area, with the ball appearing to go of Schelin last. However, Sweden was awarded a corner on the play and that decision proved important.
Sjogran took the corner and it was headed away by France, but Hammarstrom recovered the ball about 25 yards from the goal. She first volleyed the ball over LeSommer's head, then touched the ball back to the left to get by Bompastor. She then released a bullet of a strike that found the upper left corner of the goal, beating Deville and putting Sweden back ahead by a 2-1 margin. It was certainly one of the best goals of the tournament.
Now down a goal, France subbed in Caroline Pizzala for Franco in the 84th minute. France's best chance came as the game entered the fourth minute of stoppage time. LeSommer sent the ball behind the Swedish defense to Thomis, but Lindahl dove out and beat the French striker to the ball before she could get a shot off.
Sweden was able to finish the match with a 2-1 victory. Interestingly enough, it was the third time that a red card has been shown in this tournament, and in each case, the team playing a man down came back to score a goal. France's Laura Georges scored after Sapowicz had been redcarded against Germany to cut the lead to 3-2 in what proved to be a losing effort. Abby Wambach scored the game-tying goal against Brazil in the quarterfinals after Rachel Buehler had been sent off. Hammarstrom scored the winning goal in this match after Oqvist had been sent off.
For Sweden, it was second time they have finished third at the World Cup, the first being in 1991. Their highest finish was their second place effort in the 2003 World Cup. The fourth place finish was the highest ever by France.
Showing posts with label Berangere Sapowicz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Berangere Sapowicz. Show all posts
July 16, 2011
July 13, 2011
USA to the Finals
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Labels: 2011 World Cup, Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Berangere Sapowicz, France, Gaetane Thiney, Heather O'Reilly, Hope Solo, Lauren Cheney, Megan Rapinoe, Sonia Bompastor, USWNT
Labels: 2011 World Cup, Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Berangere Sapowicz, France, Gaetane Thiney, Heather O'Reilly, Hope Solo, Lauren Cheney, Megan Rapinoe, Sonia Bompastor, USWNT
It was a gloomy, misty day in Moenchengladbach, but the United States saw blue skies to final as they defeated France 3-1 in FIFA World Cup semifinal action on Wednesday. It was not nearly so dramatic as Sunday's quarterfinal, but it was surely in doubt most of the way. However, this team seems to find a way to win.
The only change for US coach Pia Sundhage was replacing the suspended Rachel Buehler with Becky Sauerbrunn. French coach Bruno Bini decided to use Ophelie Meilleroux in the left center back position, one that has been somewhat of a revolving door for France in this World Cup.
The first chance for France in this match came in eighth minute as Hope Solo was forced to tip a Louisa Necib drive over the net from 22 yards out. Solo, who was making her 100th appearance for the United States, would have quite a busy day in goal for the US as she faced 25 French shots, eight of which were on goal.
As in their match with Brazil, the United States was able to get on the board early. In the 9th minute, the US worked the ball around to the left, with Carli Lloyd backheeling a pass forward to Heather O'Reilly. O'Reilly, who rarely finds herself on that side of the field, was able to get a step on French defender Laura Georges and crossed the ball toward the six. Lauren Cheney was making a near post run for the Americans and she was able to change the direction of the ball just enough to deflect it past Berangere Sapowicz and inside the right post to put the US up 1-0.
In the 24th minute, Carli Lloyd was able to get her head on a Cheney corner kick, but put it a couple of feet wide of the post. Overall, the first 25 minutes were pretty even play between the two sides, but France began to dominate as play approached the half hour mark.
In the 27th minute, Elise Bussaglia hit a hard, low shot from 30 yards, but Solo smothered it. Over the next few minutes, France put heavy pressure on the United States, taking control of the match.
France came very close in the 30th minute as Necib set up Gaetane Thiney on the left side of the penalty area, but Solo came out and deflected the ball wide with her right arm. Just three minutes later, Sandrine Soubeyrand played a short free kick to Sonia Bompastor who struck a beautiful shot from the edge of the penalty area. The ball hooked away from Solo, but unfortunately for France, it struck the corner of the goal post and bounced away.
In the 38th minute, Christie Rampone made a rare forward run on the right side and crossed to Abby Wambach, who rose for the header just outside the back post. Wambach's header went all the way across the goal mouth and wide of the right post. The half ended with the US clinging to a 1-0 lead.
Bini surprisingly sent Eugenie LeSommer in for Marie-Laure Delie at the half. Delie is probably the most dangerous attacking player for France.
Not a minute into the second half, France had a golden opportunity. Necib sent Thiney into the left side of the penalty area. Thiney appeared to have space, but with US defender Ali Krieger bearing down on her and Solo charging out, she took a bit too long and was never able to really get a shot off.
But it wasn't long before France did pull even. In 55th minute, Bussaglia switched the point of attack to the left side. Bompastor sent a cross into the penalty area from 30 yards out. With Thiney making a near post run, Solo was uncertain whether to go for the ball or play a potential Thiney header. She elected to stay with Thiney. As it turned out, Thiney rose for the header, but didn't make contact and the ball continued on inside the right post to tie the score at one. It was the first goal for Bompastor in this World Cup.
With the game now even and with the US being outplayed, it began to look like Sunday's game was taking its toll on the tired US squad. Camille Abily followed the goal with a shot over the crossbar in the 57th minute. In the 66th minute, Solo made a turnover on an attempted clearance, but LeSommer mishit her shot from 18 yards.
Sundhage made two substitutions early in the half, sending Alex Morgan in for Amy Rodriguez in the 57th minute and Megan Rapinoe in for Carli Lloyd in the 65th minute. It was a rare moment to see Lloyd subbed out since she nearly always plays the full match.
But just when you thought that this United States team might not have anything left, they came alive. A free kick in the 70th minute nearly gave them the go ahead goal. Rapinoe's low drive from 35 yards gave Sapowicz all kinds of trouble. The ball bounced a few feet away with Morgan charging toward the net. Sapowicz was able to block Morgan's shot and as it turned out, Morgan had been whistled offside, although that was very close as well.
Bini made his second substitution, sending in speedy Elodie Thomis for Soubeyrand in the 78th minute. It was clear that Bini was going for the win.
In the 79th minute, the US won a corner kick on the right side. Cheney's kick went to the back post, just a few feet off the goal line. Abby Wambach had gotten past Laure LePailleur and was uncontested for her header. With Sapowicz arriving late, Wambach headed the ball down and into the net from close in and the United States were back in the lead.
France tried to battle back. In the 81st minute, LePailleur sent a cross toward LeSommer on the left side of the box, but her diving attempt at the header went well wide.
The United States sealed the match in the 82nd minute. Rapinoe was able to touch the ball past the French defense to Morgan. She gained possession on the left side of the penalty area. With Sapowicz charging out and from a very tough angle, Morgan chipped the ball toward the goal. Sapowicz may have barely gotten her fingertips on the ball, but not enough to change the flight of the ball. Morgan's chip found the right side netting and it was 3-1 for the US.
France never really had a good scoring chance afterwards. Sapowicz later made a great save on Morgan that prevented the scoreline from getting any worse. For the French team, it had to be a disappointment, because they had played so well for the first 75 minutes of the match. But in the end, the United States had persevered yet again.
So now, it is on to the finals for the United States. The United States have never lost their final match in the World Cup, twice winning it and three times winning the third place match. It will be their first appearance in the finals since 1999, when they won as the host nation in penalties over China.
The only change for US coach Pia Sundhage was replacing the suspended Rachel Buehler with Becky Sauerbrunn. French coach Bruno Bini decided to use Ophelie Meilleroux in the left center back position, one that has been somewhat of a revolving door for France in this World Cup.
The first chance for France in this match came in eighth minute as Hope Solo was forced to tip a Louisa Necib drive over the net from 22 yards out. Solo, who was making her 100th appearance for the United States, would have quite a busy day in goal for the US as she faced 25 French shots, eight of which were on goal.
As in their match with Brazil, the United States was able to get on the board early. In the 9th minute, the US worked the ball around to the left, with Carli Lloyd backheeling a pass forward to Heather O'Reilly. O'Reilly, who rarely finds herself on that side of the field, was able to get a step on French defender Laura Georges and crossed the ball toward the six. Lauren Cheney was making a near post run for the Americans and she was able to change the direction of the ball just enough to deflect it past Berangere Sapowicz and inside the right post to put the US up 1-0.
In the 24th minute, Carli Lloyd was able to get her head on a Cheney corner kick, but put it a couple of feet wide of the post. Overall, the first 25 minutes were pretty even play between the two sides, but France began to dominate as play approached the half hour mark.
In the 27th minute, Elise Bussaglia hit a hard, low shot from 30 yards, but Solo smothered it. Over the next few minutes, France put heavy pressure on the United States, taking control of the match.
France came very close in the 30th minute as Necib set up Gaetane Thiney on the left side of the penalty area, but Solo came out and deflected the ball wide with her right arm. Just three minutes later, Sandrine Soubeyrand played a short free kick to Sonia Bompastor who struck a beautiful shot from the edge of the penalty area. The ball hooked away from Solo, but unfortunately for France, it struck the corner of the goal post and bounced away.
In the 38th minute, Christie Rampone made a rare forward run on the right side and crossed to Abby Wambach, who rose for the header just outside the back post. Wambach's header went all the way across the goal mouth and wide of the right post. The half ended with the US clinging to a 1-0 lead.
Bini surprisingly sent Eugenie LeSommer in for Marie-Laure Delie at the half. Delie is probably the most dangerous attacking player for France.
Not a minute into the second half, France had a golden opportunity. Necib sent Thiney into the left side of the penalty area. Thiney appeared to have space, but with US defender Ali Krieger bearing down on her and Solo charging out, she took a bit too long and was never able to really get a shot off.
But it wasn't long before France did pull even. In 55th minute, Bussaglia switched the point of attack to the left side. Bompastor sent a cross into the penalty area from 30 yards out. With Thiney making a near post run, Solo was uncertain whether to go for the ball or play a potential Thiney header. She elected to stay with Thiney. As it turned out, Thiney rose for the header, but didn't make contact and the ball continued on inside the right post to tie the score at one. It was the first goal for Bompastor in this World Cup.
With the game now even and with the US being outplayed, it began to look like Sunday's game was taking its toll on the tired US squad. Camille Abily followed the goal with a shot over the crossbar in the 57th minute. In the 66th minute, Solo made a turnover on an attempted clearance, but LeSommer mishit her shot from 18 yards.
Sundhage made two substitutions early in the half, sending Alex Morgan in for Amy Rodriguez in the 57th minute and Megan Rapinoe in for Carli Lloyd in the 65th minute. It was a rare moment to see Lloyd subbed out since she nearly always plays the full match.
But just when you thought that this United States team might not have anything left, they came alive. A free kick in the 70th minute nearly gave them the go ahead goal. Rapinoe's low drive from 35 yards gave Sapowicz all kinds of trouble. The ball bounced a few feet away with Morgan charging toward the net. Sapowicz was able to block Morgan's shot and as it turned out, Morgan had been whistled offside, although that was very close as well.
Bini made his second substitution, sending in speedy Elodie Thomis for Soubeyrand in the 78th minute. It was clear that Bini was going for the win.
In the 79th minute, the US won a corner kick on the right side. Cheney's kick went to the back post, just a few feet off the goal line. Abby Wambach had gotten past Laure LePailleur and was uncontested for her header. With Sapowicz arriving late, Wambach headed the ball down and into the net from close in and the United States were back in the lead.
France tried to battle back. In the 81st minute, LePailleur sent a cross toward LeSommer on the left side of the box, but her diving attempt at the header went well wide.
The United States sealed the match in the 82nd minute. Rapinoe was able to touch the ball past the French defense to Morgan. She gained possession on the left side of the penalty area. With Sapowicz charging out and from a very tough angle, Morgan chipped the ball toward the goal. Sapowicz may have barely gotten her fingertips on the ball, but not enough to change the flight of the ball. Morgan's chip found the right side netting and it was 3-1 for the US.
France never really had a good scoring chance afterwards. Sapowicz later made a great save on Morgan that prevented the scoreline from getting any worse. For the French team, it had to be a disappointment, because they had played so well for the first 75 minutes of the match. But in the end, the United States had persevered yet again.
So now, it is on to the finals for the United States. The United States have never lost their final match in the World Cup, twice winning it and three times winning the third place match. It will be their first appearance in the finals since 1999, when they won as the host nation in penalties over China.
July 5, 2011
Germany 4, France 2
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Labels: 2011 World Cup, Berangere Sapowicz, Camille Abily, Celia Okoyino da Mbabi, France, Germany, Inka Grings, Kerstin Garefrekes, Laura Georges, Marie-Laure Delie, Nadine Angerer, Wendie Renard
Labels: 2011 World Cup, Berangere Sapowicz, Camille Abily, Celia Okoyino da Mbabi, France, Germany, Inka Grings, Kerstin Garefrekes, Laura Georges, Marie-Laure Delie, Nadine Angerer, Wendie Renard
Germany won the match, but not before a few anxious moments, defeating France 4-2 in their final group stage match. The Germans won Group A and will meet Japan in a quarterfinal match on Saturday. France finishes second in the group and will play England.
While Germany certainly had the better of play, the French kept coming back at every turn, making the Germans work the whole match to hold on.
Germany was in control for most of the match and they did so without Birgit Prinz, who sat through the match on the German bench. Silvia Neid made several other changes to her lineup, inserting Bianca Schmidt, Lena Goessling, Inka Grings, and Fatmire Bajramaj.
French coach Bruno Bini made changes as well. Wendie Renard was back in the lineup after missing the last match with an injury. Laure Boulleau and Elodie Thomis were also given starts, with Marie-Laure Delie and Camille Abily sitting on the sidelines at the start.
Most of the early part of the match was played from 18 to 18, with few chances. Bajramaj shot from 15 yards was blocked by the French defense in the 12th minute. Another Bajramaj effort was caught by Berangere Sapowicz in the 15th minute.
Germany started to take more control of the match and they finally broke through in the 25th minute. And it was Kerstin Garefrekes doing what she does best, using her head to score. Babett Peter took a free kick from 40 yards out and Garefrekes beat Renard, heading the ball cleanly into the upper left side of the net. Germany led 1-0.
France attempted to come back, but their chances were not particularly dangerous. A Sandrine Soubeyrand long-range effort from 35 yards went well over the net in the 28th minute. A free kick from Soubeyrand was punched safely wide by Nadine Angerer.
Germany made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute and once again it was a header. Simone Laudehr placed a beautiful cross from the left side to about 12 yards out, with Inka Grings cutting across the box. Grings headed it just past Sapowicz's outstretched hands and Germany appeared to be in control with a two goal halftime lead.
Marie-Laure Delie and Camille Abily came in for Thomas and Louisa Necib at the half, while Ariane Hingst was inserted for Simone Laudehr.
If Germany thought they were going to have an easy time of it in the second half, France had other ideas. The French seemed to come out with renewed determination in the 2nd half and they were the ones to strike first. Soubeyrand took a French corner kick in the 56th minute and Delie headed the ball in from the near post about eight yards out. All of a sudden, France had life.
Germany was awarded a questionable free kick just outside the box in the 59th minute, while Renard was given a yellow card for what appeared to be a clean tackle. Grings low shot was headed just inside the left post, but Sapowicz made a beautiful diving save.
In the 65th minute, Inka Grings controlled the ball on the right side of the box and pushed a nice, soft pass across to Bajramaj. As the German midfielder attempted to move in for the shot, Sapowicz took her legs out. A red card was given to Sapowicz and a penalty kick awarded to Germany. On this call, there was no question. Inka Grings hit a solid shot into the right side, with replacement keeper Celine Deville guessing the other way. It was 3-1 Germany and the game appeared to be over. Well, maybe not yet.
Just when German fans thought they could breathe easy, France struck again. Camille Abily's corner kick went just over the head of Wendie Renard, but Laura Georges was right behind her and unmarked. Georges perfect header once again cut the lead to one. The French were not giving up easily. Four goals on headers had been scored at that point as both sides were having trouble defending in the air.
Delie nearly tied the match a minute later, getting in on the left side of the box, but her shot went wide of the right post. France was playing a player down, but were still making things interesting.
Grings' free kick in the 76th minute slipped just wide of the right post and hit the side of the net. Hingst hit a cross from the right side a minute later, with Deville missing the ball. Bajramaj's bouncer was saved off the line by a sliding Abily to keep the margin at one.
Germany finally finished it off in the 89th minute. A cross came from Alexandra Popp to the head of Inka Grings who flicked a header to the right side of the box where a wide open Okoyino da Mbabi was waiting. She drilled a hard shot passed the feet of Deville and into the left side netting to finally clinch it for the Germans.
Germany wins Group A with an undefeated record. France comes in second, with this match being their only blemish. In addition to Sapowicz's red card, which will keep her out of France's match with England, several yellow cards were handed out which could affect both teams further into the tournament. Renard, Georges, and Elise Bussaglia all received yellow cards for France. Bajmaraj and Lena Goessling each received one for Germany.
While Germany certainly had the better of play, the French kept coming back at every turn, making the Germans work the whole match to hold on.
Germany was in control for most of the match and they did so without Birgit Prinz, who sat through the match on the German bench. Silvia Neid made several other changes to her lineup, inserting Bianca Schmidt, Lena Goessling, Inka Grings, and Fatmire Bajramaj.
French coach Bruno Bini made changes as well. Wendie Renard was back in the lineup after missing the last match with an injury. Laure Boulleau and Elodie Thomis were also given starts, with Marie-Laure Delie and Camille Abily sitting on the sidelines at the start.
Most of the early part of the match was played from 18 to 18, with few chances. Bajramaj shot from 15 yards was blocked by the French defense in the 12th minute. Another Bajramaj effort was caught by Berangere Sapowicz in the 15th minute.
Germany started to take more control of the match and they finally broke through in the 25th minute. And it was Kerstin Garefrekes doing what she does best, using her head to score. Babett Peter took a free kick from 40 yards out and Garefrekes beat Renard, heading the ball cleanly into the upper left side of the net. Germany led 1-0.
France attempted to come back, but their chances were not particularly dangerous. A Sandrine Soubeyrand long-range effort from 35 yards went well over the net in the 28th minute. A free kick from Soubeyrand was punched safely wide by Nadine Angerer.
Germany made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute and once again it was a header. Simone Laudehr placed a beautiful cross from the left side to about 12 yards out, with Inka Grings cutting across the box. Grings headed it just past Sapowicz's outstretched hands and Germany appeared to be in control with a two goal halftime lead.
Marie-Laure Delie and Camille Abily came in for Thomas and Louisa Necib at the half, while Ariane Hingst was inserted for Simone Laudehr.
If Germany thought they were going to have an easy time of it in the second half, France had other ideas. The French seemed to come out with renewed determination in the 2nd half and they were the ones to strike first. Soubeyrand took a French corner kick in the 56th minute and Delie headed the ball in from the near post about eight yards out. All of a sudden, France had life.
Germany was awarded a questionable free kick just outside the box in the 59th minute, while Renard was given a yellow card for what appeared to be a clean tackle. Grings low shot was headed just inside the left post, but Sapowicz made a beautiful diving save.
In the 65th minute, Inka Grings controlled the ball on the right side of the box and pushed a nice, soft pass across to Bajramaj. As the German midfielder attempted to move in for the shot, Sapowicz took her legs out. A red card was given to Sapowicz and a penalty kick awarded to Germany. On this call, there was no question. Inka Grings hit a solid shot into the right side, with replacement keeper Celine Deville guessing the other way. It was 3-1 Germany and the game appeared to be over. Well, maybe not yet.
Just when German fans thought they could breathe easy, France struck again. Camille Abily's corner kick went just over the head of Wendie Renard, but Laura Georges was right behind her and unmarked. Georges perfect header once again cut the lead to one. The French were not giving up easily. Four goals on headers had been scored at that point as both sides were having trouble defending in the air.
Delie nearly tied the match a minute later, getting in on the left side of the box, but her shot went wide of the right post. France was playing a player down, but were still making things interesting.
Grings' free kick in the 76th minute slipped just wide of the right post and hit the side of the net. Hingst hit a cross from the right side a minute later, with Deville missing the ball. Bajramaj's bouncer was saved off the line by a sliding Abily to keep the margin at one.
Germany finally finished it off in the 89th minute. A cross came from Alexandra Popp to the head of Inka Grings who flicked a header to the right side of the box where a wide open Okoyino da Mbabi was waiting. She drilled a hard shot passed the feet of Deville and into the left side netting to finally clinch it for the Germans.
Germany wins Group A with an undefeated record. France comes in second, with this match being their only blemish. In addition to Sapowicz's red card, which will keep her out of France's match with England, several yellow cards were handed out which could affect both teams further into the tournament. Renard, Georges, and Elise Bussaglia all received yellow cards for France. Bajmaraj and Lena Goessling each received one for Germany.
June 30, 2011
France 4, Canada 0
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Labels: 2011 World Cup, Berangere Sapowicz, Camille Abily, Christine Sinclair, Elodie Thomas, Erin McLeod, Gaetane Thiney, Jonelle Filigno, Laura Georges, Louisa Necib, Marie-Laure Delie
Labels: 2011 World Cup, Berangere Sapowicz, Camille Abily, Christine Sinclair, Elodie Thomas, Erin McLeod, Gaetane Thiney, Jonelle Filigno, Laura Georges, Louisa Necib, Marie-Laure Delie
In one of the most surprising results so far, France easily defeated Canada 4-0 in Group A action on Thursday. This result coupled with Germany's victory over Nigeria clinches a quarterfinal berth for France and eliminates Canada.
The surprise in this match was not who won, but by how much. This game would have been rated a fairly even matchup coming in, maybe a slight advantage to the French. But no one could have foreseen a four goal thrashing that France dished out.
The two teams traded chances in the opening minutes of the match. Jonelle Filigno sent the ball through on the right side for Christine Sinclair, but Berangere Sapowicz came out beating Sinclair and getting just enough of the ball to keep Sinclair from putting any kind of effort on goal. Sinclair was wearing a specially made mask to protect the broken nose she suffered in the match against Germany.
A minute later, Marie-Laure Delie had the Canadian defense beaten, but Erin McLeod cut down the angle and made the save as Delie tried to move around her.
In the 15th minute, Sophie Schmidt put a soft pass through to Diana Matheson, but her first touch was heavy and the chance got away from her.
A Canadian turnover led to the first goal of the match. Elise Bussaglia released a shot from the 18 yard mark that was deflected into the air. Gaetane Thiney headed home the rebound for the goal and France led 1-0. Quite frankly, Thiney and Delie both appeared to be offsides on the play, but it was close.
France nearly made it 2-0 on Louisa Necib's blast from 25 yards in the 31st minute. It was heading into the upper left corner before McLeod reached up and deflected it over the net. A minute later, Necib crossed the ball to just outside the six, but Delie's header attempt went harmlessly wide.
Matheson tried to even the match in the 39th minute as she weaved through the French defense, but her shot from 18 yards went wide left.
At the very end of the half, an inswinging Necib corner was very dangerous, but McLeod reached up and slapped it away. While Canada had a few opportunities, France was controlling the match more and more as the half wore on.
In the 53rd minute, Delie was through the defense, but her shot from 16 yards was grabbed by McLeod. The French continued to assert themselves and Delie's speed was clearly causing the Canadian back line some problems.
Canada once again looked to tie in the 59th minute. Christina Julien stole a pass and quickly got the ball to Sinclair, who charged into the box from the right side. However, Laura Georges defended the play well and Canada came up empty again, not even getting a shot off.
Delie's hustle indirectly led to the second French goal as her pressure led to a Canadian turnover. Gaetane used her first touch to settle and then blasted a brilliant shot that hit the inside of the right post and in, past a diving McLeod who really had no chance on the play. Now 2-0, things were looking very dim for Canada.
Even when the Canadians created chances, something always seem to go amiss. Filigno made a very nice play gaining possession at the 18 yard mark and getting around the defender Sabrina Viguier. But just as it appeared Filigno would have a golden clear-cut shot at the goal, she stepped on top of the ball falling down in the process and failed to get a shot off.
And as happened just minutes earlier, a missed Canadian opportunity was followed by a French goal. Sandrine Soubeyrand's corner was placed perfectly in the center of the goal about nine yards out and a wide open Camille Abily put a beautiful header into the upper left corner of the goal, with the unfortunate McLeod again having no chance whatsoever.
More frustration followed for Canada as a Filigno cross found Sinclair, but the great Canadian striker put it over the bar from 10 yards out.
To add insult to injury, Sinclair was pressing the defense in the 80th minute when Sonia Bompastor clearance caught her square in the face. There was clearly no ill-intent on Bompastor's part and she quickly rushed over to see if she was alright. Some blood trickled down Sinclair's nose, which had been broken just four days earlier. However, it later appeared that the blood came from a newly opened cut at the corner of Sinclair's eye.
While Sinclair was being attended to on the sidelines, Necib played the ball over the top of the Canadian defense and second half substitute Elodie Thomis was easily clear by the time she touched the ball around McLeod and rolled the ball safely into the net.
Perhaps the most startling statistic of the match was that Canada had no shots on frame. France had played one of the most dominant matches so far in Germany.
For France, it was a very convincing win and a quarterfinal berth. Louisa Necib continued to impress and seemed to be involved in nearly every play. The speed of the French forwards gave the Canadian defense problems throughout. And while the French defense seem to have moments of vulnerability, they always seemed to recover in time before any trouble was to come of it.
As for Canada, in a year that looked so promising for them, this has to be a bitter disappointment. Even after the loss to Germany, they weren't in bad position. It must be said that the Canadians' task was always going to be hard given the group they were in, but a 4-0 loss in an important match like this one is almost inexplicable. Canada will clearly need to re-evaluate at this point. They have one more rather meaningless match against Nigeria before heading home.
France and Germany will now meet to decide who wins the group next Tuesday. A tie would give the number one seed out of Group A to France, as they have the advantage in goal differential.
The surprise in this match was not who won, but by how much. This game would have been rated a fairly even matchup coming in, maybe a slight advantage to the French. But no one could have foreseen a four goal thrashing that France dished out.
The two teams traded chances in the opening minutes of the match. Jonelle Filigno sent the ball through on the right side for Christine Sinclair, but Berangere Sapowicz came out beating Sinclair and getting just enough of the ball to keep Sinclair from putting any kind of effort on goal. Sinclair was wearing a specially made mask to protect the broken nose she suffered in the match against Germany.
A minute later, Marie-Laure Delie had the Canadian defense beaten, but Erin McLeod cut down the angle and made the save as Delie tried to move around her.
In the 15th minute, Sophie Schmidt put a soft pass through to Diana Matheson, but her first touch was heavy and the chance got away from her.
A Canadian turnover led to the first goal of the match. Elise Bussaglia released a shot from the 18 yard mark that was deflected into the air. Gaetane Thiney headed home the rebound for the goal and France led 1-0. Quite frankly, Thiney and Delie both appeared to be offsides on the play, but it was close.
France nearly made it 2-0 on Louisa Necib's blast from 25 yards in the 31st minute. It was heading into the upper left corner before McLeod reached up and deflected it over the net. A minute later, Necib crossed the ball to just outside the six, but Delie's header attempt went harmlessly wide.
Matheson tried to even the match in the 39th minute as she weaved through the French defense, but her shot from 18 yards went wide left.
At the very end of the half, an inswinging Necib corner was very dangerous, but McLeod reached up and slapped it away. While Canada had a few opportunities, France was controlling the match more and more as the half wore on.
In the 53rd minute, Delie was through the defense, but her shot from 16 yards was grabbed by McLeod. The French continued to assert themselves and Delie's speed was clearly causing the Canadian back line some problems.
Canada once again looked to tie in the 59th minute. Christina Julien stole a pass and quickly got the ball to Sinclair, who charged into the box from the right side. However, Laura Georges defended the play well and Canada came up empty again, not even getting a shot off.
Delie's hustle indirectly led to the second French goal as her pressure led to a Canadian turnover. Gaetane used her first touch to settle and then blasted a brilliant shot that hit the inside of the right post and in, past a diving McLeod who really had no chance on the play. Now 2-0, things were looking very dim for Canada.
Even when the Canadians created chances, something always seem to go amiss. Filigno made a very nice play gaining possession at the 18 yard mark and getting around the defender Sabrina Viguier. But just as it appeared Filigno would have a golden clear-cut shot at the goal, she stepped on top of the ball falling down in the process and failed to get a shot off.
And as happened just minutes earlier, a missed Canadian opportunity was followed by a French goal. Sandrine Soubeyrand's corner was placed perfectly in the center of the goal about nine yards out and a wide open Camille Abily put a beautiful header into the upper left corner of the goal, with the unfortunate McLeod again having no chance whatsoever.
More frustration followed for Canada as a Filigno cross found Sinclair, but the great Canadian striker put it over the bar from 10 yards out.
To add insult to injury, Sinclair was pressing the defense in the 80th minute when Sonia Bompastor clearance caught her square in the face. There was clearly no ill-intent on Bompastor's part and she quickly rushed over to see if she was alright. Some blood trickled down Sinclair's nose, which had been broken just four days earlier. However, it later appeared that the blood came from a newly opened cut at the corner of Sinclair's eye.
While Sinclair was being attended to on the sidelines, Necib played the ball over the top of the Canadian defense and second half substitute Elodie Thomis was easily clear by the time she touched the ball around McLeod and rolled the ball safely into the net.
Perhaps the most startling statistic of the match was that Canada had no shots on frame. France had played one of the most dominant matches so far in Germany.
For France, it was a very convincing win and a quarterfinal berth. Louisa Necib continued to impress and seemed to be involved in nearly every play. The speed of the French forwards gave the Canadian defense problems throughout. And while the French defense seem to have moments of vulnerability, they always seemed to recover in time before any trouble was to come of it.
As for Canada, in a year that looked so promising for them, this has to be a bitter disappointment. Even after the loss to Germany, they weren't in bad position. It must be said that the Canadians' task was always going to be hard given the group they were in, but a 4-0 loss in an important match like this one is almost inexplicable. Canada will clearly need to re-evaluate at this point. They have one more rather meaningless match against Nigeria before heading home.
France and Germany will now meet to decide who wins the group next Tuesday. A tie would give the number one seed out of Group A to France, as they have the advantage in goal differential.
June 26, 2011
France 1, Nigeria 0
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Labels: 2011 World Cup, Berangere Sapowicz, Desire Oparanozie, Ebere Orji, Eugenie Le Sommer, France, Louisa Necib, Marie-Laure Delie, Nigeria, Precious Dede
Labels: 2011 World Cup, Berangere Sapowicz, Desire Oparanozie, Ebere Orji, Eugenie Le Sommer, France, Louisa Necib, Marie-Laure Delie, Nigeria, Precious Dede
France started their 2011 World Cup with a tough victory over Nigeria by a 1-0 score. Marie-Laure Delie's goal in the 56th minute gave three points to the French team, who will now face Canada in an all important Group A contest on Thursday.
France dominated the opening minutes of the game, controlling possession and forcing several corner kicks. Louisa Necib's inswinging corner in the 4th minute nearly snuck inside the near post, but it was headed away by a Nigerian defender.
In the 17th minute, Elise Bussaglia tested Nigerian keeper Precious Dede from distance, but she was up to the task pushing the shot wide with a diving save. Just a few minutes later, another Necib corner came loose in front of the net. Wendie Renard got to the ball first and shot, but the ball was deflected by Osinachi Ohale over the crossbar.
It almost seemed like the field was tilted toward Necib's side throughout the first half and she was very active for most of the match, creating chances and always menacing the Nigerian defense.
After they weathered the initial storm, the Nigerians slowly came into their own as the half progressed. And in the 25th minute, they had the best scoring opportunity of the first half. The Nigerians were able to gain control of the ball deep in their own end and start a counterattack.
Glory Iroka sent a long through ball forward with Desire Oparanozie timing her run perfectly for a clear cut breakaway. She approached from the right side of the box, with French goalkeeper Berangere Sapowicz coming out to cut off the angle. But Oparanozie got little on her shot and it rolled just wide of the far post. Oparanozie would be a thorn in the French defense for the first two thirds of the match as she was always threatening.
One of Nigeria's top players, Faith Ikidi, came off for Josephine Chukwunonye in the 39th minute and appeared to be laboring with some sort of injury. Nigerian players appeared to have trouble with the heat throughout the match, with several players cramping up.
Another attempt from distance was made by Necib just before intermission, but her shot from 30 yards was pushed wide by Dede.
Nigeria came close in the 51st minute as a long cross found Ebere Orji behind the French defense, but she was unable to make contact from inside the penalty area and the ball rolled harmlessly wide.
France finally broke through in 56th minute. After a good buildup, Eugenie Le Sommer had possession on the right wing and she sent a cross into the penalty area. A flick by Necib changed the direction of the cross slightly and the ball came to Delie, who was perfectly centered on the net and just 10 yards out. She made no mistake of her finish into the left side of the net past Dede to put the French on top.
Delie nearly made it 2-0 in the 64th minute, but her shot off of a Elodie Thomis cross went safely into the arms of Dede.
Nigeria's best scoring chance of the second half came in the 66th minute. Oparanozie once again threatened up the right side and Nigeria was able to eventually work the ball into the penalty area. Orji's shot from 15 yards sailed high and wide to the right. Nigeria was never able to get another good opportunity after that. At that point, tired legs seem to take over and limited any serious attacking.
France was largely able to neutralize Nigeria's two veteran players, Perpetua Nkwocha and Stella Mbachu. Nigeria was most dangerous on the counterattack, but less effective when it came to a possession game.
The French outshot Nigeria by a 15-7 margin and had the better of possesion, mostly on the weight of the opening 20 minutes. Both teams will return to action on Thursday. France meets Canada in a match that could decide who team number two out of Group A will be. Nigeria's task gets no easier as they face the host Germans on Thursday.
France dominated the opening minutes of the game, controlling possession and forcing several corner kicks. Louisa Necib's inswinging corner in the 4th minute nearly snuck inside the near post, but it was headed away by a Nigerian defender.
In the 17th minute, Elise Bussaglia tested Nigerian keeper Precious Dede from distance, but she was up to the task pushing the shot wide with a diving save. Just a few minutes later, another Necib corner came loose in front of the net. Wendie Renard got to the ball first and shot, but the ball was deflected by Osinachi Ohale over the crossbar.
It almost seemed like the field was tilted toward Necib's side throughout the first half and she was very active for most of the match, creating chances and always menacing the Nigerian defense.
After they weathered the initial storm, the Nigerians slowly came into their own as the half progressed. And in the 25th minute, they had the best scoring opportunity of the first half. The Nigerians were able to gain control of the ball deep in their own end and start a counterattack.
Glory Iroka sent a long through ball forward with Desire Oparanozie timing her run perfectly for a clear cut breakaway. She approached from the right side of the box, with French goalkeeper Berangere Sapowicz coming out to cut off the angle. But Oparanozie got little on her shot and it rolled just wide of the far post. Oparanozie would be a thorn in the French defense for the first two thirds of the match as she was always threatening.
One of Nigeria's top players, Faith Ikidi, came off for Josephine Chukwunonye in the 39th minute and appeared to be laboring with some sort of injury. Nigerian players appeared to have trouble with the heat throughout the match, with several players cramping up.
Another attempt from distance was made by Necib just before intermission, but her shot from 30 yards was pushed wide by Dede.
Nigeria came close in the 51st minute as a long cross found Ebere Orji behind the French defense, but she was unable to make contact from inside the penalty area and the ball rolled harmlessly wide.
France finally broke through in 56th minute. After a good buildup, Eugenie Le Sommer had possession on the right wing and she sent a cross into the penalty area. A flick by Necib changed the direction of the cross slightly and the ball came to Delie, who was perfectly centered on the net and just 10 yards out. She made no mistake of her finish into the left side of the net past Dede to put the French on top.
Delie nearly made it 2-0 in the 64th minute, but her shot off of a Elodie Thomis cross went safely into the arms of Dede.
Nigeria's best scoring chance of the second half came in the 66th minute. Oparanozie once again threatened up the right side and Nigeria was able to eventually work the ball into the penalty area. Orji's shot from 15 yards sailed high and wide to the right. Nigeria was never able to get another good opportunity after that. At that point, tired legs seem to take over and limited any serious attacking.
France was largely able to neutralize Nigeria's two veteran players, Perpetua Nkwocha and Stella Mbachu. Nigeria was most dangerous on the counterattack, but less effective when it came to a possession game.
The French outshot Nigeria by a 15-7 margin and had the better of possesion, mostly on the weight of the opening 20 minutes. Both teams will return to action on Thursday. France meets Canada in a match that could decide who team number two out of Group A will be. Nigeria's task gets no easier as they face the host Germans on Thursday.
June 18, 2011
Group A Preview: France
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Labels: 2011 World Cup, Berangere Sapowicz, Camille Abily, Marie-Laure Delie, Sandrine Soubeyrand, Sonia Bompastor
Labels: 2011 World Cup, Berangere Sapowicz, Camille Abily, Marie-Laure Delie, Sandrine Soubeyrand, Sonia Bompastor
France (#7)
Region: UEFA
Coach: Bruno Bini
How They Qualified: Won UEFA Group Stage, then defeated Italy in playoff.
Prior Cups:
2007: DNQ
2003: Group Stage
1999: DNQ
1995: DNQ
1991: DNQ
Roster (Average Age: 26.41)
Recent Matches:
The French team is known for their technical skills. It will take every ounce of technical skill and then some to advance out of what might be the toughest group at the World Cup. Germany might be the best in the world right now, Canada is a very tough side, and Nigeria has the ability to upset any team that takes them too lightly.
The French have not been as busy as some of the other teams entering the World Cup. Outside of the Cyprus Cup, they have played only a handful of matches since they qualified last September. They’ve only faced one other team that will be at this World Cup in the last 20 months, that being New Zealand. One has to wonder if they have faced enough top competition to prepare them for what they will be facing in Germany.
Most of the French team is in their mid-20’s and in their prime. This includes players like Camille Abily, Gaetane Thiney, Louisa Necib, Laura Georges, Corine Franco, Ophelie Meilleroux, Elodie Thomis, and Elise Bussaglia. They are used to playing together, all coming from four teams in the French league. This team has the ability to make some noise in this tournament.
Sandrine Soubeyrand is the elder statewoman of French soccer. At age 37, she has 160 caps to her credit, making her debut in 1997. She is one of five players on this team that were on the French 2003 World Cup squad, the only other time France has made it this far.
Another one of those five is former WPS star Sonia Bompastor. Fans here in the states will remember her displaying her talent for the Washington Freedom. She was one of the best all-around players in the league in her two years here.
Berangere Sapowicz was also on that 2003 team when she was just 20 years old. At the time, she was the goalkeeper for the U-19 team, but made only one appearance on the senior team before being named to the French World Cup team. She did not appear in any matches in that World Cup, nor for the national team over the next six years. But as qualification began in late 2009, she took over as the number one keeper and hasn’t looked back. She will be facing world class strikers in Group A such as Inka Grings and Christine Sinclair.
But with all of the veteran talent on the French team, the player to watch could well be Marie-Laure Delie. At 23, Delie made her debut with the senior French team just two years ago. She is averaging a goal every 36 minutes played since then. After two recent matches against Belgium, she has scored 11 goals in her last five matches, including three hat tricks.
This team is solid enough to advance into the quarterfinals and maybe beyond. But getting out of the group stage will be quite a task to start with. They open against Nigeria on June 26, a match in which they must post a victory if they are to have a solid chance of advancing. If France can open with two strong matches against Nigeria and Canada, they would relieve a lot of pressure that the third match against Germany could bring.
Note: Some information for this article was obtained at www.fifa.com and www.statfootofeminin.fr.
Region: UEFA
Coach: Bruno Bini
How They Qualified: Won UEFA Group Stage, then defeated Italy in playoff.
Prior Cups:
2007: DNQ
2003: Group Stage
1999: DNQ
1995: DNQ
1991: DNQ
Roster (Average Age: 26.41)
| Name | Pos | Club | Age | Caps/Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celine Deville | GK | Montpellier | 29 | 41/0 |
| Laetitia Phillippe | GK | Montpellier | 20 | 1/0 |
| Berangere Sapowicz | GK | Paris St. Germain | 28 | 16/0 |
| Sonia Bompastor | DF | FCF Lyon | 31 | 126/15 |
| Laura Georges | DF | FCF Lyon | 26 | 96/2 |
| Laure LePailleur | DF | Paris St. Germain | 26 | 26/2 |
| Ophelie Meilleroux | DF | Montpellier | 27 | 42/0 |
| Corine Petit-Franco | DF | FCF Lyon | 27 | 45/8 |
| Wendie Renard | DF | FCF Lyon | 20 | 5/0 |
| Sabrina Viguier | DF | FCF Lyon | 30 | 84/1 |
| Camille Abily | MF | FCF Lyon | 26 | 73/18 |
| Laure Boulleau | MF | Paris St. Germain | 24 | 12/0 |
| Elise Bussaglia | MF | Paris St. Germain | 25 | 79/18 |
| Louisa Necib | MF | FCF Lyon | 24 | 56/9 |
| Caroline Pizzala | MF | Paris St. Germain | 23 | 13/0 |
| Sandrine Soubeyrand | MF | Juvisy | 37 | 159/18 |
| Sandrine Bretigny | FW | FCF Lyon | 26 | 17/8 |
| Marie-Laure Delie | FW | Montpellier | 23 | 18/16 |
| Eugenie Le Sommer | FW | FCF Lyon | 22 | 32/9 |
| Gaetane Thiney | FW | Juvisy | 25 | 46/19 |
| Elodie Thomis | FW | FCF Lyon | 24 | 50/14 |
Recent Matches:
| Date | Opponent | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/18/11 | Belgium | Friendly | W 7-0 |
| 6/15/11 | Belgium | Friendly | W 2-1 |
| 5/18/11 | Scotland | Friendly | T 1-1 |
| 3/9/11 | Scotland | Cyprus | W 3-0 |
| 3/7/11 | New Zealand | Cyprus | W 5-2 |
| 3/4/11 | Holland | Cyprus | L 1-2 |
| 3/2/11 | Switzerland | Cyprus | W 2-0 |
| 11/19/10 | Poland | Friendly | W 5-0 |
| 9/15/10 | Italy | UEFA Playoff | W 3-2 |
| 9/11/10 | Italy | UEFA Playoff | T 0-0 |
| 8/25/10 | Serbia | UEFA WC Qualifier | W 7-0 |
| 8/21/10 | Iceland | UEFA WC Qualifier | W 1-0 |
| 6/23/10 | Estonia | UEFA WC Qualifier | W 6-0 |
| 6/20/10 | Croatia | UEFA WC Qualifier | W 3-0 |
| 5/5/10 | Switzerland | Friendly | W 2-0 |
The French team is known for their technical skills. It will take every ounce of technical skill and then some to advance out of what might be the toughest group at the World Cup. Germany might be the best in the world right now, Canada is a very tough side, and Nigeria has the ability to upset any team that takes them too lightly.
The French have not been as busy as some of the other teams entering the World Cup. Outside of the Cyprus Cup, they have played only a handful of matches since they qualified last September. They’ve only faced one other team that will be at this World Cup in the last 20 months, that being New Zealand. One has to wonder if they have faced enough top competition to prepare them for what they will be facing in Germany.
Most of the French team is in their mid-20’s and in their prime. This includes players like Camille Abily, Gaetane Thiney, Louisa Necib, Laura Georges, Corine Franco, Ophelie Meilleroux, Elodie Thomis, and Elise Bussaglia. They are used to playing together, all coming from four teams in the French league. This team has the ability to make some noise in this tournament.
Sandrine Soubeyrand is the elder statewoman of French soccer. At age 37, she has 160 caps to her credit, making her debut in 1997. She is one of five players on this team that were on the French 2003 World Cup squad, the only other time France has made it this far.
Another one of those five is former WPS star Sonia Bompastor. Fans here in the states will remember her displaying her talent for the Washington Freedom. She was one of the best all-around players in the league in her two years here.
Berangere Sapowicz was also on that 2003 team when she was just 20 years old. At the time, she was the goalkeeper for the U-19 team, but made only one appearance on the senior team before being named to the French World Cup team. She did not appear in any matches in that World Cup, nor for the national team over the next six years. But as qualification began in late 2009, she took over as the number one keeper and hasn’t looked back. She will be facing world class strikers in Group A such as Inka Grings and Christine Sinclair.
But with all of the veteran talent on the French team, the player to watch could well be Marie-Laure Delie. At 23, Delie made her debut with the senior French team just two years ago. She is averaging a goal every 36 minutes played since then. After two recent matches against Belgium, she has scored 11 goals in her last five matches, including three hat tricks.
This team is solid enough to advance into the quarterfinals and maybe beyond. But getting out of the group stage will be quite a task to start with. They open against Nigeria on June 26, a match in which they must post a victory if they are to have a solid chance of advancing. If France can open with two strong matches against Nigeria and Canada, they would relieve a lot of pressure that the third match against Germany could bring.
Note: Some information for this article was obtained at www.fifa.com and www.statfootofeminin.fr.
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