The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada is well and truly underway. Every group has one matchday under its belt, and results have been, well, mixed. Crowds have ranged from paltry (think Cameroon v. Ecuador on a weekday afternoon in Vancouver) to fantastic (think United States v. Australia, primetime in Winnipeg), and the matches themselves have been hit-and-miss. There have been near-record blowouts, last-gasp equalizers and winners, and plenty of excellent football on display. So much has happened in the four days since the tournament kicked off in Edmonton that a simplified review of the first four days of Canada 2015 is required.
Canada – A battered, largely incapable military division saved by the bell by its old war horse.
Netherlands – One high hit from Lieke Martens was all it took to lift a nation.
China – A soundly-built defensive ship, sunk by one god-awful decision from a defender.Unit
New Zealand – Positive form, negative result.
Germany – From 0 to 100 real quick (like, less than 150 seconds quick).
Norway – Thank you for slowing down in the second half.
Thailand – Brought knives to a gun fight. Tactically sound outfit that just couldn’t compete physically.
Ivory Coast – Here despite massive infrastructure gap, only to see Germans fist pumping at 10-nil. Ugh.
Cameroon – Is women’s soccer in Africa really advancing, or is Ecuador just that bad?
Japan – Only took all three points off of debutantes Switzerland because of a sa- penalty?
Switzerland – Ramona Bachmann is basically Gareth Bale. Unfairly lost.
Ecuador – “Prediction…,” mouths Mr. T while looking at Ecuador’s back four, “pain.”
United States – Like a kid at the end of a haunted house, the US exploded with offensive happiness in the second half after pissing its pants in the first half.
Nigeria – When a ‘world class’ opposition gives you goals like this, and you use your pace, good things happen.
Sweden – When your defence is exposed as flat-footed and your goalkeeper plain awful, bad things happen.
Australia – It was closer than any American would care to admit. Quality side.
Brazil – They dove. They fancy-pants’d. And, they beat a heavily inferior opponent as they should have.
Spain – Everything was good. Until the finishing. Poor result against an inexperienced, overmatched Costa Rica.
Costa Rica – It could have been a lot worse than this for a rookie team with a 28 year-old coach.
South Korea – They defended. They were probably shafted. But football’s football, and they can’t score against good teams.
France – Eugenie Le Sommer’s goal probably wasn’t as spectacular as the pundits made it out to be. A solid 6.5/10, much like France’s performance.
Mexico – Positive vibes. Robbed of a last-gasp winner on a phantom foul call.
England – Is this the men’s World Cup? England breezed through qualification, but can’t score on the big stage!
Colombia – Not a great first account. Stormy waters ahead against European groupmates.
Pleasant Surprises
- Ramona Bachmann and Switzerland: For a nation making its debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Swiss were fantastic. They dominated (yes, dominated) defending champions Japan for most of the second half in a one-nil defeat. Bachmann was a sparkplug in the final third, dazzling the crowd in Vancouver with her fancy footwork. Dark horse? Perhaps it’s a little early for that, but the Swiss women can play with the world’s best physically and tactically.
- Nigeria Soaring: For a team that has only made it to one quarterfinal in the history of the tournament, Nigeria looked like a team of grizzled veterans in a 3-3 draw against traditional powerhouse Sweden. While Pia Sundhage’s Tre Kronor side made uncharacteristic mistakes defensively, the young Nigerians were cunning and pacy enough to capitalize. Well-earned point, and maybe a glimmer of hope for the underdogs in the ‘Group of Death’.
- Norway Setting Standard on- and off-pitch: With a clean 4-nil drubbing of Thailand already to its name, Norway looks primed for a run to at least the quarterfinals of this year’s tournament. Young Ada Hegerberg has teamed up well with Isabell Herlovsen to form a deadly 1-2 punch offensively, while the Grasshoppers have also been active in establishing ties with the local youth soccer movement.
Disappointments
- Canada: It’s quite simple really. The country tuned in expectantly on Saturday afternoon, ready to watch Canada create chance after chance against a young Chinese team. It didn’t happen. John Herdman’s Canada team failed to break down China, the world’s 16th-best team, which was blatantly playing for a draw. The Canucks required a controversial late-game penalty to eek out a one-nil win.
- Parity (not): The format of the tournament was changed to include 24 teams in Canada 2015, amidst much controversy. While there were some cracking matches in the first four days of the tournament, there were some hopelessly one-sided blowouts. Ottawa’s Group B saw European nations Germany (10-0 v. Ivory Coast) and Norway (4-0 v. Thailand) waltz over their non-European opposition, while Cameroon blasted Ecuador 6-nil. Perhaps there is too much disparity in the women’s game to have twenty-four teams on the world stage just yet.
- The Defending Champions: Norio Sasaki’s Japan side looked very far removed from their 2011 title in its opener against Switzerland. A brutal penalty call was the only reason Japan claimed all three points against tournament rookies Switzerland, and it was clear for all to see upon the final whistle that Sasaki and his team were far from pleased with their own performance.
Matchday Two: Games to Watch
- Canada v. New Zealand (June 11th, Edmonton, Group A): Canada has to put in a strong performance and pick up a deserved three points against New Zealand. Not so much in terms of moving onto the knockout phase, which the victory over China in the opener virtually assured, but in terms of capturing the national conscience and building momentum. Canadian coach John Herdman knows the in’s and out’s of the New Zealand program, and Canada should have an edge. It’s also a must-win match for New Zealand. Prediction: 2-0 Canada.
- Ivory Coast v. Thailand (June 11th, Ottawa, Group B): While all eyes will be turned to the heavyweights earlier on Thursday in Ottawa, Germany v. Norway, it’s the late game which could represent something even more important. Norway and Germany are likely to finish 1-2 in Group B and make deep runs in the tournament, while Thailand and Ivory Coast are simply thrilled to have made it to the final tournament. Ivory Coast is physically-gifted side with minimal tactical sense, while Thailand is undersized but tactically sound. Prediction: 3-1 Thailand.
- Australia v. Nigeria (June 12th, Winnipeg, Group D): While Australia ended up falling 3-1 to the tournament favourites US in their opener, Alen Stajcic’s side showed good qualities on either side of the ball. As for the Nigerians, they shocked many by hanging with Sweden. Will Stajcic’s Australia side maintain their form from the first half of their match against the US, and will they be able to contain the Super Eagles? Prediction: 1-1 Draw.
