Sweden Gains Semifinals with 3-1 Win over Matildas

Sweden scored two early goals and cruised to a 3-1 victory over Australia on Sunday. And it's fair to say that they were very opportunistic, taking advantage of every opening that their opponent gave them.

Miscues in the back once again cost Australia, a recurring theme over the past two weeks. Lotta Schelin pounced on one such opportunity and finally got her first goal of this World Cup.

Thomas Dennerby went with nearly the same eleven as the last match, except for the returning Caroline Seger who was back in the lineup after her suspension for yellow card accumulation. Tom Sermanni elected to move Caitlin Foord into a midfield position and inserted Ellyse Perry at right back.

Australia nearly handed Sweden a goal in the opening minutes. They played the ball back from the midfield to the back line with Kim Carroll getting there first. Carroll meekly hit the ball back toward Melissa Barbieri in goal, but didn't get anything on the pass and Lotta Schelin intercepted, but her first touch was a bit heavy and Barbieri came sliding out to cover it up.

Australia had their first chance with a Perry cross from the right side being sent into the box, with Charlotte Rohlin redirecting the ball wide with a header in the 7th minute.

Sweden opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Lotta Schelin beat Perry around the left side and dribbled toward the box along the endline. She sent a cross back toward the center, where veteran Therese Sjogran was waiting unmarked. Sjogran hit her 12 yard shot low inside the left post. Barbieri dived and might have gotten a hand on it, but it got through and Sweden were on top 1-0.

Just six minutes later, it was Sjogran in possession on the left wing. She cut back on Perry and hit a right-footed cross to a totally unmarked Lisa Dahlqvist at the six yard box, centered perfectly in front of the goal. Dahlkvist put her uncontested header into the right side of the net and Australia was down 2-0 just 16 minutes into the match.

Schelin almost had her first goal in the 26th minute, but her drive from a steep angle on the left side went high and wide to the right.

Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl made an adventure of a few plays today. In the 38th minute, Collette McCallum sent in a free kick from 35 yards that Lindahl appeared to misjudge, running up as the ball sailed over her head...and luckily for her, just wide of the right post.

But Perry, who had been somewhat victimized earlier in the match, gave the Matildas life in the 40th minute. McCallum played a short corner from the right side to Perry, who touched the ball toward the corner of the penalty area. Her left-footed shot from 22 yards couldn't have been more perfectly placed into the upper left corner of the goal, beating Lindahl and bringing Australia to within one. The halftime score was Sweden 2, Australia 1.

The Aussies looked dangerous to start the second half, as they tried to target the Swedish right side defense. However, a couple of half chances didn't quite come to fruitition and they were unable to tie the match.

Australia gift-wrapped a goal for the Swedes in the 52nd minute and once again, it was a defensive miscue that led to it. Carroll had possession near the center line and under some pressure, elected to play the ball back, apparently to Barbieri, although that is somewhat unclear. As it turned out, Carroll's pass hit Schelin perfectly in stride and she walked in alone on Barbieri. Schelin touched the ball to the right of Barbieri, while she went to the left. The two met behind the Australian keeper and it was just a matter of touching it into the goal. Schelin finally had her goal and Sweden had a safe two goal lead once again.

Tom Sermanni used his first two subs in the 58th minute, sending in Tameka Butt and Clare Polkinghorne for Perry and Emily Van Egmond.

Australia certainly did not give up and probably created more chances than Sweden in the last 45 minutes, but they just couldn't get back in the match. Butt, made her presence known in the 63rd minute, crossing the ball to the back post to Kyah Simon, but the striker put her header wide of the left post.

Lindahl once again made things interesting in the 66th minute as Lisa De Vanna broke into the left side of the penalty area. She tried to slide out, but the ball eluded her and De Vanna was able to get off an unmolested cross from the left side. Unfortunately for her, nobody was making a run to the goal and the ball harmlessly flew through to the other side and was cleared.

Sweden made their first change in the 67th minute sending in Nilla Fischer, who had had such a strong game against the US a few days ago, to replace Linda Forsberg.

The teams traded chances over the next 15 minutes. A Heather Garriock shot was partially blocked going right into the hands of Lindahl in the 71st minute. Later, Tameka Butt hit a blast from distance, with Lindahl tipping the ball wide just to be safe.

Meanwhile, Sweden had opportunities as well. Josefine Oqvist had back-to-back chances in the 78th minute, with her first shot being blocked by Barbieri and then her rebound shot was blocked by Servet Uzunlar. A minute later, Caroline Seger hit a shot from the right corner, which forced Barbieri to make a leaping save at the near post. She nearly lost her balance and reached backwards, holding the ball even with the goal line before bracing herself against the post and not allowing the ball to cross.

Sweden was able to play through the last few minutes without much pressure and they held on for the 3-1 victory, which by quarterfinal standards in this World Cup, was relatively easy. They have done a very good job of taking advantage of their opponents' mistakes in the last couple of games. Sweden appears to be on a roll right now and will now face Japan on Wednesday in the semifinals in what should be a very good matchup.

As for the Matildas, they must be given a lot of credit for a good run in this tournament. They are one of the younger squads at this World Cup and as they gain more experience and if they can address their defensive problems, should be a force to contend with in the future.

Quarterfinals - Game Three

Sweden (#5) vs. Australia (#11)
Augsburg (7 am eastern)

Last Meeting: Sweden 2, Australia 1 (August 20, 2004)

Sweden
Coach: Thomas Dennerby
Matches: Defeated Colombia 1-0, Defeated Korea DPR 1-0, Defeated United States 2-1.
Roster:
Goalkeepers: Hedvig Lindahl (3 gms, 0.33 gaa, 2 shutouts), Kristin Hammarstrom, Sofia Lundgren.
Defenders: Annica Svensson (3 gms), Sara Larsson (3 gms), Charlotte Rohlin (3 gms), Sara Thunebro (3 gms), Linda Sembrandt (1 gm), Lina Nilsson.
Midfielders: Lisa Dahlkvist (3 gms, 2 goals), Caroline Seger (2 gms), Therese Sjogran (3 gms, 1 ast), Linda Forsberg (3 gms), Nilla Fischer (3 gms, 1 goal), Sofia Jakobsson (1 gm), Antonia Goransson (1 gm), Marie Hammarstrom (1 gm).
Forwards: Lotta Schelin (3 gms, 1 ast), Josefine Oqvist (2 gms), Jessica Landstrom (2 gms, 1 goal), Madelaine Edlund (1 gm).

Australia
Coach: Tom Sermanni
Matches: Lost to Brazil 0-1, Defeated Equatorial Guinea 3-2, Defeated Norway 2-1.
Roster:
Goalkeepers: Melissa Barbieri (2 gms, 1.00 gaa), Lydia Williams (1 gm, 2.00 gaa), Casey Dumont.
Defenders: Elise Kellond-Knight (3 gms), Kim Carroll (3 gms, 1 ast), Servet Uzunlar (3 gms), Caitlin Foord (2 gms), Teigen Allen (1 gm), Laura Alleway (1 gm), Ellyse Perry (1 gm).
Midfielders: Collette McCallum (3 gms, 1 ast), Heather Garriock (3 gms), Emily Van Egmond (2 gms, 1 goal), Clare Polkinghorne (3 gms), Lauren Colthorpe (1 gm), Tameka Butt (1 gm), Sally Shipard (1 gm).
Forwards: Kyah Simon (2 gms, 2 goals), Lisa De Vanna (3 gms, 1 goal, 1 ast), Samantha Kerr (3 gms), Leena Khamis (1 goal, 1 ast).

Goalkeepers
Both teams have veteran keepers, Hedvig Lindahl for Sweden and Melissa Barbieri for Australia. Lindahl is having a very good World Cup so far, giving up just one goal to the United States. She is experienced, agile, and has a very good defense in front of her. Australia is a very dangerous attacking team and could pose Sweden and Lindahl problems that they haven't faced yet. She will have to be aware and alert for Australia's varying set piece array throughout the match.

Barbieri played a solid match against Brazil. But in the match against Norway, she appeared to wait for the ball to come to her rather than clearing with a kick, allowing Elise Thorsnes to cut in front of her, which led to a goal. Whether the mistake was on the defense or on herself, she will need to take charge against Sweden and not allow that to happen again.

Advantage: Sweden

Defenders
Sweden has one of the most veteran back lines at the World Cup. The left side of their defense is almost impenetrable with Sara Thunebro and Charlotte Rohlin. Sara Larssen starts as a central defender on the right side and is a solid veteran, but can have problems with pace against fast forwards. Annica Svensson is the least experienced of the group internationally and probably the most vulnerable. Lauren Cheney had some success attacking that side of the Swedish defense, although nothing came of it.

Sweden did give some chances in that match and were a little lucky that they weren't taken advantage of by the United States. Australia showed that they are willing to attack on the flanks and Sweden must be wary of this. They must also be aware of Lisa De Vanna's position at all times and must be careful that balls struck back to Lindahl have enough pace to get there in front of the speedy attacking Australians.

The Australians generally start steady veteran Kim Carroll and Servet Uzunlar in the middle, with Elise Kellond-Knight at the left back position. Tom Sermanni has inserted 16-year old forward Caitlin Foord at the right back position for two of their three matches. It will be interesting to see if he uses the inexperienced Foord in that position against Sweden.

Strangely enough, Australia's best defensive match so far was against probably the most dangerous attacking team they will face, Brazil. Uzunlar had a nightmare game against Equatorial Guinea, getting her pocket picked twice by Anonman. She was better in the last match against Norway, but Australia cannot afford to give away goals now. They will have Lotta Schelin to deal with in this match and she showed just how opportunistic she could be against the US. Look for Sweden to test the right side of the Aussie defense often.

Advantage: Sweden

Midfielders
With Caroline Seger back from her suspension for yellow card accumulation, Sweden will field a formidable midfield for this match. Lisa Dahlqvist had a great match against the United States. She is a strong defensive player. Therese Sjogran is the one of the most experienced midfielders in the world. Linda Forsberg can provide problems with her service into the penalty area. Nilla Fischer also had an outstanding match against the US and is also a possible starter.

Sweden played very well against the United States, passing accurately, working the ball up the field methodically, and waiting for their forwards to make runs in behind the defense. They are also a very physical group, which could make for quite a battle with Australia. Seger is one of the best all-around midfielders in the world and she is Sweden's quarterback.

Australia will counter with veterans Collette McCallum and Heather Garriock, along with Emily Van Egmond. Tom Sermanni used his third forward, Samantha Kerr, as an attacking midfielder in the match against Norway and it worked out rather well. Garriock is a very physical player and she will not back down from anyone. McCallum is the field general, setting up her speedy forwards, controlling the tempo, and taking most of Australia's set pieces. Van Egmond is also a tall, physical player and she has a goal to show for efforts in this tournament.

Australia will want to bottle up Seger as much as possible and keep the space between their midfield and their back line as small as possible. The fact that both team's midfields are experienced and physical means we might see quite a battle and every ball will be contested by both teams.

Advantage: Sweden

Forwards
Lotta Schelin is considered one of the most dangerous strikers in the world, but she has yet to score a goal in this World Cup. She did set one up in forcing Amy LePeilbet to take her down, which led to a penalty. She can be a handful for any defender, because she has both size and speed.

It will be interesting to see if Thomas Dennerby elects to go with tall Jessica Landstrom or pace with Josefine Oqvist at the other forward position. Landstrom has the only goal of Sweden's forwards, but Oqvist did cause the US back line some problems with her speed. Sweden did a good job at targeting the US weaknesses. But one problem they have had is putting shots on frame. They have been very inaccurate with their shots to this point in the tournament.

For Australia, speed is the name of the game and Lisa De Vanna lives it to its fullest. De Vanna is having one heck of a World Cup. She must be accounted for by whatever back line she is facing and when they have the ball, she will harass them into mistakes, as she did against Norway. Kyah Simon had a bit of a coming out party against Norway, getting both goals in what has been the key match for the Matildas to this point. Samantha Kerr can play forward or attacking mid and she has good speed as well.

Australia is known for it's direct play with long balls over the top, however, they showed the ability to attack from the wings in the last match, beating outside defenders on occasion in that match. Before this World Cup started, I would have given the advantage to Sweden if these two teams had met. However, Australia has raised their play.

Advantage: Even

Summary
While Sweden held the advantage in play against the United States, they were also a bit fortunate, especially on the second goal, which in all honesty has to be considered a bit of a fluke. They are a strong enough side, though, not to rely on luck. They are one of the oldest and most experienced sides at this World Cup, while Australia is one of the youngest teams there.

Sweden exploited the United States' high line on defense, sending several balls through and may have been a bit unlucky on an offsides call or two. One would think that Sermanni might have learned a lesson or two from that match. Australia has already played Brazil and they withstood their speed rather well considering. But as already stated, they can't win this match making the mistakes they have made in the last two matches.

Australia will look to take advantage of their speed and play balls into space allowing their forwards to run on to them. De Vanna could be key and she will run at defenders to force them into mistakes. It would be advantage for Australia to attack up the left side (the Swedish defensive right side) and try to find opportunities there.

The battle in the midfield could be epic. I think Sweden has the advantage there, but the Matildas will not give in easily.

My Prediction: Sweden 2, Australia 1

Australia 2, Norway 1

In a winner take all battle for a quarterfinal berth, Australia defeated Norway 2-1 in a tense Group D match in Leverkusen. And it was the scoring touch of Kyah Simon that produced both goals for the Matildas.

Both teams made changes in their lineup for this match. Australia elected to get as much speed and offense into their lineup as possible, starting Caitlin Foord at right back, and the forward duo of Lisa De Vanna and Kyah Simon, with another forward, Samantha Kerr on the wing.

Norway moved Trine Ronning to the back line, starting Gry Tofte Ims and Lene Mykjaland in the midfield and Cecilie Pedersen at forward with Madeleine Giske, Nora Berge, and Isabell Herlovsen on the bench.

Norway held the early advantage in pressure and scoring chances, in fact for much of the first half. At the quarter hour mark, Norway were buzzing around the Australian penalty area, with Pedersen eventually blasting a shot from 12 yards. It appeared that Kim Carroll's cleat was the only thing that kept the ball from going into the net, as the Australian defender may just have gotten a piece of it.

Australia's first real effort was a long distance shot by Samantha Kerr which went harmlessly over the crossbar.

In the 26th minute, Norwegian keeper Ingrid Hjelmseth jumped to catch a high cross and landed awkwardly, apparently hurting her ankle. While she soldiered on for the remainder of the first half, she was replaced by Erika Skarbo at the intermission.

One of Norway's problems in the first two matches was putting shots on frame. Elise Thorsnes attempted to rectify that with three hard shots on goal within just a few minutes of the first half. But Matilda goalie Melissa Barbieri was able to stop and smother every shot. Thorsnes was certainly the most dangerous player on the pitch in the first half.

Australia took one other shot from distance by De Vanna at the end of the half, but Hjelmseth caught the ball easily. The game went to halftime scoreless. Norway made two changes at the half, the aforementioned Skarbo for Hjelmseth switch and Kristine Hegland came in for Emilie Haavi who had played well, but had been nursing an injury.

Norway pressured to start the second half in an attempt to get the lead. But their goal came on a very innocuous looking play. A long ball was played by Ingvild Stensland with the ball rolling toward the Australian penalty area. Barbieri, got to the edge of the box and decided to wait for the ball rather than going forward and kicking it clear. Thorsnes stepped around a defender, intercepted the ball directly in front of Barbieri and safely deposited it into the net. Norway had the lead they needed to advance in the 56th minute.

But the lead lasted less than a minute. Australia worked the ball up the left side where Ronning appeared to gain possession for Norway in the corner. But De Vanna deftly dispossessed the Norwegian defender, dribbled inside the box on the left side, and centered the ball to Kyah Simon who was just left of the penalty mark. Simon couldn't have been more accurate as she placed her shot in the lower right corner of the net with Skarbo having no chance. The game was now even again.

In the 67th minute, Australia threatened as Heather Garriock crossed from the left side. With both Kerr for Australia and Maren Mjelde for Norway charging toward the net, Skarbo was somehow able to make a sliding save to clear the ball out and preserve the tie.

Australia had another chance just three minutes later as De Vanna dispossessed another Norwegian defender, this time Guro Mienna. She passed the ball to the left of the box, but this time Simon's shot went wide of the right post.

Norway desperately tried to regain the lead. Ronning headed a Stensland corner kick over the bar in the 76th minute, followed by Pedersen's 16 yard shot going wide of the net just a minute later. But they came closest in the 84th minute, when it looked like they had retaken the lead.

Norway was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area and Trine Ronning took the kick. Her shot from 22 yards hit the bottom of the crossbar almost in the upper left corner, but it did not go in and Australia was able to clear.

Australia put the game away in the 87th minute. Second half substitute Laura Alleway chased the ball down in the right corner and passed it to Kim Carroll who was about 28 yards out on the right wing. Carroll one-timed it into to the six-yard box dead center and Simon headed the ball home for her second goal of the match.

The match ended 2-1 for Australia and the Matildas were through to the quarterfinals, finishing in 2nd place in Group D. They will now face Sweden, who defeated the United States in Group C action today.

World Cup: Day 11

The two teams advancing from Group C have already been decided, with placement being the only thing left. The United States will meet Sweden to determine who wins Group C, with a tie going to the United States. Colombia and Korea DPR have been eliminated.

Group D is a bit more interesting. Brazil has qualified for the quarterfinals and will win the group unless they have a disaster against Equatorial Guinea. Australia and Norway will meet to decide the second team out of Group D. The winner advances to the quarterfinal, while the loser goes home. Australia would advance in case of a tie, based on goal differential.

Brazil vs. Equatorial Guinea (12 pm eastern)

Brazil has the luxury of only needing a tie to clinch the group and since they have a hefty edge in scoring differential, they would likely win the group even in the event of a loss. Equatorial Guinea is playing for pride at this point and they have made a good account of themselves in this tournament so far.

It will be interesting to see how many players Brazilian coach Kleiton Lima elects to rest, if any. They have clinched a quarterfinal berth and the chances of them not winning the group are very slim indeed.

There is no doubt that Marta was the dominant factor in Brazil's last match. She scored two goals and added an assist in leading Brazil to an easy 3-0 win over Norway. Rosana has two goals so far in the tournament and has looked very good to this point. Cristiane is the only one of the three forwards who hasn't scored yet and one would think she would be pushing to do so in this match.

Brazil has not surrendered a goal in two matches and Andreia has done a solid job in goal on the whole, posting both shutouts. The Brazilian three defender formation looked vulnerable at times, but as of yet, no team has been able to score against them. Brazil has dominated midfield play with Formiga, Fabiana, and Maurine.

For Equatorial Guinea, it has been Anonman, Anonman, Anonman. She single-handedly kept her team in the match against Australia, twice stripping a defender of the ball and scoring. She will take every opportunity to shoot and is always dangerous. Diala is another player that has shown flashes of strong play in the attack.

We are hoping that there are no more embarrassing moments from the back line, as when Bruna picked up the ball in the last match. Carolina has generally been the Guineans strongest defender. Miriam will start in goal for the African squad.

The Brazilians do not have a lot of pressure in this match and they should be able to handle Equatorial Guinea, if they do not let their guard down and take Anonman too lightly. She is world class. In spite of their two losses, Equatorial Guinea has had a respectable World Cup, but it is hard to see them winning this one.

My Prediction: Brazil 3, Equatorial Guinea 0

Australia vs. Norway (12 pm eastern)

This match has become a winner-take-all proposition for a quarterfinal berth. Norway dug themselves a deep hole on goal differential because of their three goal loss to Brazil. Now they must win to advance, while a tie would be good enough for the Matildas.

For Norway's offense, it has been a frustrating World Cup so far. Only Emilie Haavi has scored and she has probably also played the best of any of the forwards or attacking players from the midfield. Elise Thorsnes and Isabell Herlovsen have not been able to find the net.

Australia has been a bit more successful, owing mostly to Lisa De Vanna's speed and determination. Leena Khamis also played well in her start against Equatorial Guinea and she has a goal to her credit.

The midfield battle should be interesting. Certainly, Australia's midfield, particularly Collette McCallum, has been very active in the first two matches. Ingvild Stensland is the driving force behind Norway's midfield.

Both defenses struggled in their last match. Servet Uzunlar had a nightmare with Anonman of Equatorial Guinea. Will Tom Sermanni make changes on his back line for this all important match? They were respectable against Brazil holding them to one goal.

Norway simply had no answer for Marta. They are not the fastest defense in any sense of the word and Marta's was able to run around and by them. De Vanna will pose a problem for Norway as well, although she is more direct and less crafty than the great Brazilian.

It is hard to give a goalkeeper's edge one way or the other. Both Melissa Barbieri for Australia and Ingrid Hjelmseth are solid keepers, with experience.

Australia is known for playing balls over the top of the defense and may try to do that here, leaving De Vanna and her speed to chase them down. I'm not sure if the middle is the best place to attack Norway, however, and the flanks might be a better option for Australia, using McCallum and Heather Garriock to serve balls into scoring position. De Vanna will need support from her fellow Matildas as well. Australia can simply not afford the mistakes that they made against Equatorial Guinea.

Norway needs to keep Australia's best weapons in front of them or to the outside. De Vanna can be prone to offsides, so they might be able to catch her a few times, but they must be careful. Set pieces are likely to be physical affairs in this match, with neither team backing down. Herlovsen, Thorsnes, and Pedersen need to put more shots on frame.

This is probably the most compelling match out of all of the final group stage games, with so much at stake.

My Prediction: Norway 2, Australia 1

United States vs. Sweden (2:45 pm eastern)

This match will decide first and second place in Group C, as both have already qualified for the quarterfinals. The United States has the edge in goal differential and will therefore win the group with a tie.

Key players for both teams are likely to miss this match. Sweden will definitely be without their star midfielder Caroline Seger, who will miss this match because of yellow card accumulation. She is the motor in the middle that makes Sweden run.

The United States will almost certainly be without wing midfielder Heather O'Reilly, who suffered a groin injury in the last match against Colombia. Abby Wambach continues to have nagging problems with her Achilles tendon and heel. Neither practiced on Monday.

The injuries will certainly hurt the American attack if neither can play. Lauren Cheney might ordinarily replace Wambach, since both are target forwards, but Cheney has been starting as an outside midfielder for the two previous games. Megan Rapinoe, who Cheney replaced in the starting lineup, will now have to take O'Reilly's place, leaving two forwards, Alex Morgan and Amy Rodriguez. One other possible option is Kelley O'Hara, a late addition to the team after Lindsay Tarpley went down with an injury.

The United States, after a slow start in the first half against Korea DPR, has played very well for the last game and a half. They have scored five goals in those two matches and their defense has shut out two opponents. Truth be told, Hope Solo hasn't had to make all that many saves to this point. But the back line is still the most suspect part of the United States' team and Sweden will likely be a tougher foe than either Colombia or Korea.

Meanwhile, Sweden has struggled through their first two games, deservedly winning both matches, but being less than impressive in doing so. One would guess that Lotta Schelin would give the American back line problems with her combination of speed and strength. It should be an interesting battle in the penalty area between Solo and the tall attacking players on Sweden, including Schelin and Jessica Landstrom. There should be some fierce battles on set pieces.

Sweden's defense has been solid to this point and they too have posted two shutous. Lindahl is very tested and experienced in goal for Sweden. One would suspect the United States might want to attack on their left, the right side of the Swedish defense. Charlotte Rohlin and Sara Thunebro generally don't make a lot of mistakes on Sweden's left side.

With Seger sidelined, one would think we would see more touches for Forsberg and Sjogran in the midfield. Lisa Dahlqvist has played well to this point in the tournament and has a goal to her credit.

I believe this game is about as even as it gets. It's probably going to come down to who can best compensate for their missing players. Wambach draws so many defenders to her and is so devastating on head balls, that her loss would hurt the American attack considerably. Without the active O'Reilly up the right flank, my guess is we will see more attacking up the middle from the US.

Sweden has a number of quality midfielders, so while the loss of Seger will hurt them, I believe they have experienced options at their disposal. Schelin has been largely frustrated to this point, but she seems to relish in facing the US.

My Prediction: Sweden 2, United States 1

Korea DPR vs. Colombia (2:45 pm eastern)

This match features the two youngest teams in this year's World Cup. Both of these teams have been eliminated as far as advancing to the quarterfinals. Both teams will look to this game to build toward the future.

Korea is known for their strong technical abilities and they will try to break down Colombia with a methodical attack using short passes to work their way up the field. Colombia is more likely to be impatient. They will look to target their young attacking players where they can go one-on-one against Korean defenders.

Colombia will likely start Yoreli Rincon in this match after starting her on the bench against the United States. Their young star will likely try to find space in the middle of the field and look for shooting opportunities whenever possible. Look also for Cataline Usme and Carmen Rodallega, a dangerous player on the left wing, to also cause Korea problems. Orianica Velasquez looked very good in limited minutes against the US and she might get more opportunity in this match.

Defensively, Natalia Gaitan has probably been Colombia's best player. Sandra Sepulveda started both of the first two matches in goal, but injured her hand against the United States and looked shaky on one of the goals scored after that.

Korea's Jo Yun Mi will be the focus of their attack. She is an extremely talented player and this may be a game that she will have a breakout performance. Ra Un Sim is also dangerous on the attack for Korea. Also beware of defender Song Jong Sun, one of Korea's most experienced player and one that likes to jump into the attack. Hong Myong Hui will probably be in goal for Korea.

Not only are these two teams the youngest, but they are also two of the shortest teams in the tournament. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see who wins the battles on set pieces in this match.

It is hard to judge what will happen when two very young teams meet each other in what is essentially a meaningless match. But while this match has little meaning as far as standings or advancement are concerned, I'm sure both teams will fight hard to win this one.

My Prediction: Korea DPR 1, Colombia 0

Australia 3, Equatorial Guinea 2

In what surely will go down as one of the stranger games of this year's World Cup, Australia was able to hold on for a 3-2 victory over Equatorial Guinea. The victory keeps Australia well alive going into their final Group D match against Norway on Wednesday. Equatorial Guinea, meanwhile, are on the brink of elimination pending the outcome of the Brazil-Norway match later today.

But what this game will probably be most remembered for is one of the most bizarre missed calls one will ever see. Australia was robbed of what should have been a penalty kick early in the match on what was a very strange play indeed.

Australia opened up the scoring in the 8th minute of the match, as Emily Van Egmond sent a ball into the box on the left side. Heather Garriock's original shot was hard and low, with Miriam making the save, but unable to secure the ball. Leena Khamis put the rebound into the net and the Matildas held a 1-0 advantage.

Then, in the 15th minute, absurdity came to the forefront. The play started with Heather Garriock's cross from the left side, which was perfectly placed for Leena Khamis' run at the near post. Khamis hit the left post from close in and then, for some strange reason, Equatorial Guinean defender Bruna grabbed the ball with both hands...and held it for two or three seconds while everyone looked on in disbelief.

But unfortunately for Australia, the only people in the stadium that didn't see it were the refereeing crew. While Khamis and several of the Aussie players pointed at Bruna and she continued to hold the ball, the referee and AR's apparently had a lapse, because no call was made. Bruna dropped the ball and eventually it was cleared, with Equatorial Guinea escaping what should have been a clear penalty opportunity for the Matildas.

The only reasonable explanation that one could see is that Miriam's orange goalkeeping jersey was somewhat similar to the red kits that the rest of her team were sporting and the referee mistakenly thought it was the goalkeeper who had handled the ball. The non-call seem to change the momentum of the game, as Australia had clearly dominated the match up until that point.

Anonman continued her shooting rampage, putting two shots wide right of the net in the 17th and 19th minute. But her persistence paid off in the 21st minute.

Australian defender Servet Uzunlar got a bit too casual as she was working to pass the ball back to keeper Lydia Williams and Anonman came up behind her, stole the ball, faked around Williams and deposited it into the net and just like that, it was 1-1. Anonman had struck like lightning and Australia was surely stunned by what had just happened.

However, the goal seemed to strengthen Australia's resolve and they went back to attacking over the remainder of the first half. Van Egmond hit a low bouncer from 16 yards that was handled by Miriam. A few minutes later, Khamis headed McCallum's free kick wide just wide of the near post and in the 40th minute, another McCallum free kick went loose in the box, but Miriam was able to cover up.

In the 41st minute, Anonman received a yellow card, apparently for wagging her finger in the referee's face one too many times. Play on both sides was becoming more contentious by the end of the half and tempers were beginning to flare.

Australia came close yet again just before intermission. McCallum's free kick from just outside the box rattled the crossbar and with Lauren Colthorpe waiting for the rebound, the ball took a high bounce over her head and Equatorial Guinea survived the first half with a tie score.

At the half, Tom Sermanni subbed in Lisa De Vanna for Sally Shipard and the move paid dividends. De Vanna was menacing for much of the second half and she injected new energy into the Australian side.

Play had been getting progressively chippier and the second half began with De Vanna being taken out on the left sideline on what bordered on a brutal tackle by Ana Christina. De Vanna came up limping and was clearly incensed, while her teammates tried to calm her. But she certainly used it as incentive to cause Equatorial Guinea problems throughout the second half.

It didn't take long for Australia to get the go ahead goal. Elise Kellond-Knight released a long pass up the left side, which Khamis used her great speed to track down just before it crossed the end line. Her one touch cross came back across the center of the box, but it was just a bit out of De Vanna's reach. However, Van Egmond was making a late run and was in perfect position to put the ball into the left side of the net from 10 yards out and Australian had regained the lead.

Australia increased their lead in the 51st minute. Just as EG's Diala was down on the pitch injured, McCallum recovered the ball at the center line and found De Vanna making a run to the top of the box. De Vanna used her left foot to touch the ball down and underneath Miriam into the net. At that point, it appeared that Aussies had the match in hand with a 3-1 lead.

In the 70th minute, Anonman hit a shot from the right side of the box from 15 yards which may have been headed for the upper left corner of the net. Lydia Williams leaped, barely getting a fingertip on the ball and force it wide. The referee incorrectly ruled a goal kick and Equatorial Guinea was denied a corner opportunity.

Not only was chippy play the order of the day, but apparently so was arguing with the referee. After being taken down by Sinforosa from behind, De Vanna was carded for pushing her complaint too far in the 72nd minute.

Australia came up with two more chances as they nearly widened their lead. McCallum, who was dangerous with free kicks all day long, tried to curl a left-footed shot inside the left post, but Vania was able to get a glancing header on it from the wall and the ball sailed just wide. A McCallum cross landed on top of the bar and bounced over in the 77th minute.

Anonman continued to pressure the Australian back line and she was able to bring Equatorial Guinea back into the match in the 83rd minute, with Uzunlar being the unfortunate victim again. Uzunlar made the mistake of trying to dribble around Anonman out of the back and the Guinean striker picked her clean. Anonman walked in alone and hit a well-placed shot into the lower right corner of the net and it was 3-2.

Surprisingly, only two minutes of stoppage was given, considering there were three goals, a couple of injuries, and a few yellow cards in the second half, not to mention several discussions between the players and the referee. Equatorial Guinea's last opportunity came in stoppage time. Laetitia effort from 25 yards went well wide of the net and Australia had held on to a 3-2 victory.

For Uzunlar, it has to be a day she'd just as soon forget, but it was somewhat softened by the Matilda's victory. De Vanna's energy and fire helped inspire the Aussie's in the second half. Khamis, McCallum, Van Egmond, and Garriock had very strong games for Australia and except for the two mistakes, Australia's defense was solid.

One cannot say enough about the play of Anonman. She was perpetually running at the Australian defense with seemingly endless energy and her efforts were the only reason they were able to stay in the match. However, it just wasn't enough for Equatorial Guinea to win on this day.

For Equatorial Guinea, only a miracle would prevent them from being eliminated. They will face Brazil on Wednesday.

Australia will now meet Norway in what could be a winner take all match for a quarterfinal berth on Wednesday. At this point, Australia and Norway have one goal victories over Equatorial Guinea, with the Aussies also suffering a one goal defeat by Brazil. Norway and Brazil both have three points and they will meet later today.

If Brazil should beat Norway, the goal differential could have major implications for that final match. A tie would mean that Australia would need to defeat Norway to advance. A Norwegian victory complicates matters further.

World Cup: Day 8

Australia vs. Equatorial Guinea (8 am eastern)

While it is mathematically possible that the loser of this match will still have a chance to advance to the quarterfinals, it's not very likely. Both teams lost close low scoring matches in their first game and both teams are still looking for their first goal in the 2011 World Cup. Both teams pushed their first game opponents to the limit.

In spite of Australia and Equatorial Guinea going scoreless in their first match, this one could very well be wide open. Certainly neither has any reason to hold anything back.

Australia certainly had their chances against Brazil and it took one heck of a goal to beat them. Maybe this not exactly a do or die game, but very close to it. It will be interesting to see if Tom Sermanni makes any changes to his lineup. He surprised a lot of people by starting young Caitlin Foord in the first game and on the back line at that.

Lisa De Vanna had a fairly frustrating day, but she certainly wasn't the only forward that's had a problem putting the ball on frame in this World Cup. De Vanna is almost essential to Australian attack, because opposing defenses simply must respect her blazing speed.

One wonders if veterans Clare Polkinghorne or Lauren Colthorpe might get a start in match two. Lisa Barbieri will probably again be the keeper for Australia. She really had no chance on the goal scored against her.

For Equatorial Guinea, Anonman certainly kept Norway busy. She launched over 10 shots for the match and she will likely be a thorn in Australia's side on Sunday as well. Like De Vanna, Anonman had trouble getting shots on frame. Diala is another player that could give Australia some problems.

Equatorial Guinea gave up 13 corner kicks in their first match and they will not want to repeat that against the Aussies. Carolina had a solid match against Norway on the back line. Miriam will be the starting goalkeeper and she gave up just one to Norway in the opener.

Equatorial Guinea surprised a lot of people in the first match, playing Norway to a one-goal match, especially considering they were missing several players that helped them qualify for the World Cup. Now the question is can they get their first victory in the World Cup.

Look for Australia to play the ball into space for their speedy forwards, particularly De Vanna, to run onto. Kyah Simon was very effective at times against Brazil. Australia will want to mark Anonman closely. If they can force her to take long shots, it may frustrate her. Equatorial Guinea needs to have a lot of energy and continue high pressure on the Australian back line, hopefully forcing a mistake.

This should be an entertaining match to watch and a very hard match to predict.

My Prediction: Australia 2, Equatorial Guinea 2.

Brazil vs. Norway (12:15 pm eastern)

This one is unique in that it is the only game where two teams that won their first match are meeting in the second match. Brazil and Norway will do battle with the winner being in the driver's seat to advance to the quarterfinals. The loser will do a lot more sweating in anticipation of their third match.

This will be a match of contrasting styles, South American vs. European if you will, and contrasting formations as well. That alone would make this an interesting match. But because of what may be on the line and the fact that they are meeting early enough in the tournament where neither has clinched a quarterfinal bid makes this compelling soccer.

Marta has played in 11 World Cup games and scored in seven of them, but has been shut out in the last two, Wednesday's match against Australia and the 2007 World Cup championship against Germany. One would think it highly unlikely for her to be blanked again. While Marta had her moments in Brazil's opening match, it was Cristiane and Rosana that provided the magic.

Formiga will be a pivotal factor in the midfield. One thing to look for in this match is to see how many touches she is getting and how well she is distributing the ball. If she is effective, Norway could be in for a long day.

Will Brazil play a true 3-4-3 against Norway? That could be another interesting aspect of this match, because the Brazilian back line did appear to be vulnerable at times against Australia and Norway has some skilled young attacking players in Elise Thorsnes and Isabell Herlovsen that could exploit any weakness.

Even without her goal, I thought Emilie Haavi had an excellent match against Equatorial Guinea. She will have to play a big role in this match as well if Norway is going to win.

Norway's back line against Brazil's three forwards will be another thing to watch closely. The Norwegians are sound on the back line and they have a great defensive-minded midfielder in Ingvild Stensland to help them out.

I would call the matchup between goalkeepers, Andreia for Brazil and Ingrid Hjelmseth for Norway to be fairly even. Both are veteran keepers that have seen a lot of action.

This game may be one of the more fun matches to watch in the World Cup. Brazil has to be the favorites, but the Norwegians could certainly pull an upset. However, I think this will be Marta's match and it's hard to bet against her.

My Prediction: Brazil 2, Norway 1.

Brazil 1, Australia 0

In yet another low scoring, closely played match, Brazil was able to juggle their way to a 1-0 victory over Australia. These two teams played a close match in the 2007 World Cup as well, with Brazil winning 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Offense was not nearly so prevalent in this match.

Brazil had the first good opportunity of the match as Maurine crossed the ball in from the left side. Rosana was able to get her head on it, but from an awkward position and the ball landed on top of the net.

Australia played very well for the first 45 minutes. Kyah Simon was clipped by Erika in the 18th minute, but the referee ruled she was just outside of the penalty area. On the insuing free kick, Collette McCallum's effort was sent right into the middle. The ball fell to the ground, but in the scramble, Heather Garriock just couldn't quite get her foot on the ball and Brazil was able to clear.

A few minutes later, Simon's shot from 18 yards out appeared to be heading for the upper right part of the goal, but Brazilian keeper Andreia made a nice grab to keep Australia off the board.

On a long ball up the left side, Marta was able to beat a defender and then cross the ball from just shy of the end line. Her low cross found Cristiane 15 yards out, but her shot was not struck solidly. Rosana then gained possession but put the ball over the goal from eight yards away.

Lisa De Vanna was a worry for the Brazilian defense throughout the first half. A turnover by Brazil and De Vanna had a shot from 18 yards, but she mishit it and the ball rolled harmlessly off to the side.

Brazil had two chances late in the half. Marta's low drive from 22 yards went just wide right. Later, Maurine's cross came to Cristiane, who hit one high and wide from just ten yards away. Maybe Brazil was just a little rusty, having played very few matches over the last several months.

The game went into halftime with the score at 0-0, a recurring theme in this year's World Cup. But Cristiane's rather unusual play put the Brazilians up early in the second half.

In the 54th minute, the ball was sent into the middle from the right side with Cristiane getting to the ball about 22 yards out left center. She first juggled the ball over one defender toward the center, then surrounded by two defenders, juggled the ball back into the air and then headed the ball forward to Rosana, whose timing gave her a half step on Australian defenders. Tameka Butt recovered only to have Rosana put a brilliant touch past her. Then Rosana sent the ball into the right corner of the net, with Melissa Barbieri having no chance.

Later, a Marta drive from 22 yards was blocked at six yard box by Kim Carroll in what could have been a danger for the Aussies.

Australia tried to come back in the final 15 minutes. Heather Garriock and Butt both attempted midrange shots, but neither troubled Andreia very much. A few minutes later, Butt was well inside the box near the end line, but her cross went all the way through without a teammate being able to reach it.

The last best chance came in the 87th minute, as a long ball got over the Brazilian defense with De Vanna running on to it. Andreia came out to defend and De Vanna attempted to chip it over Andreia from 15 yards out. Unfortunately for her, she hit it too high and too hard and the ball went harmlessly over the net.

In the closing seconds, the Matildas won a corner, but Samantha Kerr's attempt from inside the eighteen was blocked by the Brazilian defense and the referee's whistle signaled the end of the match.

Perhaps the Matildas deserved a better fate on this day, but Cristiane's magic and Rosana's finish brought the victory home for Brazil.

Group D will next be in action on Sunday and it should be two very interesting contests. Australia will take on the enigmatic, but exciting Equatorial Guinea team. Brazil will battle the winner of today's other match, Norway, for the lead in Group D.

World Cup: Day 4

Norway vs. Equatorial Guinea (9am eastern)

It some ways, Norway is in an enviable position. On Wednesday, they will face the lowest ranked team at this year's World Cup and that team is missing a few of the top players that got them there. But there is also the unknown to deal with and Equatorial Guinea certainly represents a bit of a mystery at this point.

Of course, to be fair, Norway is missing many of the players that got through qualifying as well. Lise Klaveness, Toril Akerhaugen, and Lisa Marie Woods were an integral part of Norwegian qualification for the 2011 FIFA World Cup and none of them will be playing for Norway in Germany. Nor will Solveig Gulbrandsen who has since retired.

Norway has had some trouble scoring goals this year. Their best options are a trio of young forwards Isabell Herlovsen, Elise Thorsnes, and Cecilie Pedersen. Herlovsen scored six goals in a qualification match against Macedonia. Thorsnes and Pedersen recently scored five goals between them in a friendly against Finland.

Norway looks to their midfield for experience, particularly the great Ingvild Stensland, who is among the best defensive midfielders in the world. Lene Mykjaland is another talented midfielder that Equatorial Guinea must deal with. It's more experience in goal for Norway with Ingrid Hjelmseth. Maren Mjelde is a very good young defender.

With Jade Boho out, the player to watch for Equatorial Guinea will be Genoveva Anonman. There will be a lot on the shoulders of Anonman in this match. She is one of the few players on the team with a generous amount of international and club experience.

Hjelmseth should have the advantage in goal over Miriam, both in experience and ability. It is likely that Miriam will be subjected to more pressure than Hjelmseth as well.

Look to see how Equatorial Guinea comes out. If they appear nervous early on, this could be a very long day for them. Their lack of international experience and match play leading up to this World Cup could be telling. However, if they can string some passes together and get into a rhythm, perhaps they can give Norway a run for their money.

Norway is usually built on defense. If they can keep their defensive shape and keep mistakes at a minimum, they should be able to keep EG at bay. As in most matches, the midfield will be the key battleground. Anonman has a lot of experience in the Frauen Bundesliga, so she is used to European soccer.

Heat may also be a factor in this match. One would think that Equatorial Guinea would be more used to hot conditions than Norway. But Norway has played more soccer and may be more match fit at this point. We saw how conditions seem to bother the Nigerians more than France on Sunday.

One doesn't know quite what to expect from Equatorial Guinea in this match, but Norway has the edge in several categories, so it would hard to see them losing this match.

My Prediction: Norway 3, Equatorial Guinea 0.

Brazil vs. Australia (12:15 pm eastern)

This is a rematch of a 2007 quarterfinal match that Brazil won 3-2. In that match, Brazil jumped out to an early two goal lead. Brazil dominated for most of the match, but Australia stormed back and tied the match, before Cristiane scored the game winner in the 75th minute. Brazil has eight starters from that match back for 2011 and Australia has six, so you can bet there will be plenty of players that well remember that match.

This match features three of the top scorers from the 2007 World Cup, all of whom scored in that match, Marta, Cristiane, and Lisa De Vanna. Both teams are known for their offense more than their defense, so we might see a bit of scoring in this match as well.

The Brazilians are now a mature soccer team. Many of their players have been through at least one World Cup and an Olympics. They will certainly be one of the favorites in Germany. Australia has a young team by comparison and defense is one area where that youth is underscored.

The young Australian defense will have to play solid against the skilled Brazilians. They will have to withstand a lot of pressure and keep from being mesmerized by the superior technical skills of their opponent. At age 23, Kim Carroll is the senior member of that back line and the most experienced. Veteran keeper Melissa Barbieri will have to keep her young defense organized in front of her.

The Aussies certainly have attacking weapons and a pretty experienced group in the midfield led by Heather Garriock and Collette McCallum. They will need to shut down Brazilian passing lanes and hopefully, start counterattacks.

Lisa De Vanna is no doubt the most dangerous offensive player for the Aussies. In the absence of Kate Gill, her striking partner is likely to be Kyah Simon or possibly, Samantha Kerr. The Matildas will have to take advantage of their scoring opportunities which are likely to be far fewer than their Brazilian counterparts.

Brazil can methodically break down opposing defenses or they can strike lightning quick. Marta will undoubtedly draw numerous defenders toward her, leaving more room for Cristiane to attack. Formiga is a great organizer in the midfield and unless the Aussies can shut her down, they are in for a very long day.

Brazil's outside defenders, particularly Rosana, could pose problems as well. Again, Australia will have to look for good opportunities for the counter if Brazil's outside defenders get caught upfield.

The goalkeeping matchup should be interesting with both being very experienced, Andreia for Brazil and Barbieri for Australia. Neither can afford to make mistakes, but it is almost a given that Barbieri will see more action at her end of the field.

Look early in the match to see how sharp Brazil's passing game is. They haven't played very many matches lately and they might be a bit rusty early on. Australia will have to avoid 1 v. 1 situations as much as possible and it's a must when Marta is involved. The trick is to frustrate Marta, as we have seen happen on very rare occasion in WPS.

Australia is always a game squad. They won a very tough AFC qualification tournament without De Vanna, which is a laudable effort indeed. Once again, they will be without one of their best scorers in Gill. It may be too much for them to overcome against a team like Brazil, which has so many weapons and the world's best player. Brazil will likely have the possession edge and might be able to wear the Matildas down, although you'll never see them quit.

My Prediction: Brazil 3, Australia 1

Group D Preview: Australia

Australia (#11)
Region: AFC
Coach: Tom Sermanni
How They Qualified: Won the Asian Cup in May, 2010.
Prior Cups:
2007: Lost in Quarterfinals
2003: Group Stage
1999: Group Stage
1995: Group Stage
1991: DNQ
Returnees from 2007 WWC: (8) Barbieri, Williams, Colthorpe, Garriock, McCallum, Polkinghorne, Shipard, De Vanna.

Roster (Average Age: 22.39)

Name	Pos	Club	Age	Caps/Goals
Melissa Barbieri	GK	Melbourne Victory	31	76/0
Casey Dumont	GK	Brisbane Roar	19	0/0
Lydia Williams	GK	Canberra Utd.	23	25/0
Teigen Allen	DF	Sydney FC	17	8/0
Laura Alleway	DF	Brisbane Roar	21	2/0
Kim Carroll	DF	Brisbane Roar	23	39/2
Elise Kellond-Knight	DF	Brisbane Roar	20	20/0
Ellyse Perry	DF	Canberra Utd.	20	13/2
Servet Uzunlar	DF	Sydney FC	22	21/1
Tameka Butt	MF	Brisbane Roar	20	20/1
Lauren Colthorpe	MF	Brisbane Roar	25	50/7
Heather Garriock	MF	LdB FC Malmo	28	120/21
Collette McCallum	MF	Perth Glory	25	63/9
Clare Polkinghorne	MF	Brisbane Roar	22	44/2
Sally Shipard	MF	Canberra Utd.	23	53/4
Emily Van Egmond	MF	Canberra Utd.	17	4/0
Lisa De Vanna	FW	magicJack	26	66/24
Caitlin Foord	FW	Sydney FC	16	1/1
Samantha Kerr	FW	Perth Glory	17	14/3
Leena Khamis	FW	Sydney FC	25	17/4
Kyah Simon	FW	Sydney FC	20	25/5

Recent Matches:

Date	Opponent	Competition	Result
6/23/11	England	Friendly	W 2-0
6/20/11	Mexico	Friendly	W 3-2
5/15/11	New Zealand	Friendly	W 2-1
5/12/11	New Zealand	Friendly	W 3-0
10/28/10	Germany	Friendly	L 1-2
10/23/10	Korea Republic	Peace Cup	L 1-2
10/19/10	Chinese Taipei	Peace Cup	W 1-0
10/17/10	Mexico	Peace Cup	W 3-1
5/30/10	Korea DPR	Asian Cup	W 1-1 (5-4pk)
5/27/10	Japan	Asian Cup	W 1-0
5/23/10	China	Asian Cup	L 0-1
5/21/10	Korea Republic	Asian Cup	W 3-1
5/19/10	Vietnam	Asian Cup	W 2-0

Australia made it as far as the semifinals in 2007, before losing to Brazil 3-2. They return only eight players from that team and this year’s team is a fairly young squad with an average age of just over 22. This will be their fifth World Cup.

Australia qualified by winning a very tough and very competitive Asian Cup, featuring a strong AFC field that included Korea DPR, Japan, China, and the Korea Republic. They won the championship game of that tournament in penalty kicks over Korea DPR, in spite of missing top scorer Lisa De Vanna, who broke her leg earlier in that competition.

Since then, they have competed in the Peace Cup, winning their first two matches over Mexico and Taipei, before a disappointing loss to the Korea Republic. They then suffered a narrow loss to Germany 2-1, becoming one of the few teams that have played the Germans that closely. Their schedule for 2011 has been light to this point, with only four friendlies being played, two against neighboring New Zealand and matches this past week against Mexico and England. Australia won all four.

But perhaps the biggest news for Australia did not occur at one of their matches, but in the Swedish Damallsvenskan, where Kate Gill suffered a torn ACL in a late April match for Linkopings. Injuries are certainly a part of soccer, but this was surely one of the harshest blows dealt to any team. Gill is the current AFC Women’s Player of the Year and a leader on the Australian team. She will be missed at this year’s World Cup.

While Australia will miss Gill’s leadership and presence, the Matildas are deep at forward and as a group, they may be able to somewhat compensate for her absence. Australia has several talented young forwards including Kyah Simon, Samantha Kerr, and 16-year old Caitlin Ford who recently scored in her debut against New Zealand. They also have Leena Khamis, another dependable forward who has played exceedingly well in the Australian W-League.

Then there is Lisa De Vanna, who has scored 24 career goals for the Matildas and plays for magicJack in the WPS. While it sometimes appears that De Vanna marches to the beat of a different drummer, there can be no doubting her ability on the pitch. She is one of the fastest, most dangerous forwards in the world. She scored four goals in just four matches in the 2007 World Cup, including a late game-tying goal against Norway in the group stage.

Australia features a very experienced midfield with veterans Heather Garriock, Collette McCallum, and Lauren Colthorpe. Garriock has over 120 caps for the Matildas and has played in the last two World Cups. McCallum is a consistent player, who usually sets up her teammates, but can score as well. She recently scored twice in a friendly against England.

The defense is very young, with the oldest player being 23-year old Kim Carroll. Carroll is a steady defender and can be counted on to lead the back line. Other mainstays on the back line include Servet Uzunlar and Elise Kellond-Knight.

Melissa Barbieri, the senior member of the Matildas, is their number one goalkeeper and has been for many years. Her experience should help calm the youthful defense in front of her. She gave up just two goals in her three starts at the Asian Cup. Lydia Williams is a dependable backup and the Matilda’s starter of the future.

The Aussies will need fortitude entering this tournament without Gill. They recently showed their composure after falling behind 2-0 against Mexico and coming back for a 3-2 victory. They will face two tough, veteran teams in Brazil and Norway, plus Equatorial Guinea in the group stage. It will be interesting to see if they can advance to the quarterfinals.

Note: Some information for this article was obtained from www.fifa.com, www.the-afc.com, and www.footballaustralia.com.au.