Ivory Coast, making their first appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, were given a rather not so warm welcome as they were whopped by ten goals by the number one ranked team in football Germany. Though a difficult day for the Ivorians, their fans seemed unaffected by the happenings on the pitch and cheered their team on till the final whistle.
A flurry of chances for a German team who had not even kicked in to gear, amidst some jittery performance from the Ivorian keeper showed the gulf in class. Germany opened their account after only three minutes with Celia Sasic grabbing her first of three goals. Sasic fired home from the edge of the six-yard box after a cut-back from Leonie Maier. The Germans could have been five goals up after ten minutes as they missed a host of chances with Dominique Thiamale also pulling off some good saves.
Germany thrash World Cup Debutants Ivory Coast
Thiamale was beaten for the second time by Sasic after thirteen minutes. The goalkeeper misjudged a cross with Sasic getting to the ball first and nodding it home – a nightmare start for the debutants. The Ivorians grew in confidence after conceding the second and fashioned some half-chances but failed to make the most out of it. Germany soon made it three in the 29th minute; a one-two pass between Lena Goessling and Anja Mittag left the latter wide open who slotted calmly past Thiamale. After conceding the third goal, the Ivorians lost their shape and were all over the place. Their defense was at sixes and sevens as they struggled to deal with the off-the-ball movements and the passing of their opponents.
Much like their male counterparts did to Brazil in last year’s Men’s World Cup, the Germans took advantage of the Ivorians disorganization and two minutes later, they scored their fourth. Goessling played a ball over the top to Mittag who laid it off to Sasic to have the easiest of finishes. A hat-trick after thirty-one minutes for Sasic. Die Nationaleif will soon make it five, three minutes later – Mittag grabbing her second. Simone Laudher outpaced Kpaho Nina (who was substituted shortly after the goal) and cut-back for Mittag who smashed it home. The Ivorians energy looked to have been sapped and their confidence smashed after that goal. The Germans could have scored a couple more before the interval but failed to convert their chances. The Germans outplayed the Ivorians in the middle of the park and the West Africans struggled to deal with the pace of their opponents in the one-sided first half.
The Ivorians came back after the break motivated as they looked to dominate the midfield. They were more physical and tackled the Germans hard resulting in some clumsy fouls much to the displeasure of the German technical team. Ivory Coast played with a much higher line after the break and pressed the Germans but could still not fashion any clear-cut chance. Germany switch from playing through the middle and played through the flanks in a more direct style. The flat-footed back four of Ivory Coast struggled to deal with the pace of Germany and twenty minutes after the restart, the Europeans were on the score-sheet yet again. Mittag completed her hat-trick slotting past Thiamale following a poor touch from Aguie Sophie which left Mittag free on goal.
Mittag turned provider for Germany’s seventh as she played Laudher through on goal. The midfielder cut in and curled into the bottom corner rounding off a well-played move. At this point, there was no fight left in the Ivorians as their legs tired and Germany made it eight four minutes later. A well-taken goal by Dabritz who blasted into the net after a low cross across the goal by Petermann. Germany’s coach enjoyed that strike as she high-fived her players on the bench. Eight goals down and the fans of the African side were ever loud. They cheered their team on even in defeat, but the German’s pressed on. First-half substitute Behringer got the ninth following a corner from Goessling as she brought down the cross and volleyed into the net. She was given so much time and space and she duly converted. Ivory Coast had a chance of their own to score their first ever goal in a World Cup but Ange missed a free header after the Angerer was beaten by a cross from a corner. Germany scored their tenth and final goal from a direct free-kick on the edge of the box as Popp got her name on the score-sheet. Guilty of missing a host of chances in the first half, the midfielder celebrated her goal with a shout and a fist pump.
An easy win for their two-time champions who failed to equal their record biggest win – An 11-0 victory over Argentina in 2007. The Germans were comfortable throughout the game and were quicker, more intelligent and technically better than their African opposition. In a David versus Goliath contest, the lowest ranked team in the competition failed to deal with the quality of the highest ranked team. The Ivorians must quickly put this defeat behind them and look forward to their winnable match against Thailand in their next game.
