FIFA Women’s Soccer World Cup: Will Germany be cheering again?

The German team is already qualified for the quarter finals. Will they be able to win their 3rd World Cup?

By Andreas Hennings

“The beautiful side of 20Eleven20!” is the official slogan of 6th Women’s World Cup being hosted in Germany this year for the first time. From June 26 to July 17 sixteen nations will be playing in nine stadiums for the coveted trophy. Their goal is clear: To play in the finals in Frankfurt in front of approximately 50,000 spectators. The teams given the best odds of winning the title are Germany, the title defender, and Brazil, whose team lineup includes seven-time “female world soccer player of the year” Marta, as well as the USA. After ending up in third place at the last two World Cups, the two-time World Champion US women’s national team wants to climb to the top of the winners’ podium. German World takes a look around the camps of the German and American teams.

Anticipation is high among the US national team. So far the USA has always finished the World Cup as one of the top three teams. According to fans, this year will not be any different. Hopes for another title are justified: Since the World Cup in 2007 the team has  lost only two international matches.

Many new talents have joined Swedish US national trainer Pia Sundhage’s squad. Twelve of the 21 nominated players have not played in a World Cup match. The career end of world record national player Kristine Lilly (352 international matches) in January was another upheaval for the team.

Facing Sweden, North Korea and Columbia in the preliminary rounds, the USA has not drawn lots for an easy group, but is still regarded as the favorite of Group C, from which two teams will qualify for the quarterfinals. One of the hopes of the US team lies with Hope Solo (29), possibly the best goalkeeper in the world. Running the show on the defense is team captain Christie Rampone, and on the offense Abby Wambach delivers goals on a regular basis. She has scored 118 goals already for the US team; only four forwards in the world have ever been more successful.

The earliest the USA could encounter Germany is in the semifinals. In the host country euphoria prevails as the World Cup approaches. After winning the past five European and past two World Cup championships, the team is aiming to do another title hat trick. To prepare for the championship tournament Germany’s Women’s Soccer League ended in March instead of May. “Of course we want to be world champion,” emphasized German national trainer Silvia Neid. The stadiums hosting the German national team have already sold out. Around 73,000 spectators are expected for the match against Canada in Berlin. Germany will also face Nigeria and France in the preliminaries.

Neid is counting on the “golden generation” of Birgit Prinz, Inka Grings, Martina Müller, Kerstin Garefrekes and Ariane Hingst for the last time. All are over 30 years old and have played together in more than 800 international matches. Especially Prinz, the German record goal scorer, could crown her career with another World Cup victory. New faces on the team are players who won the U-20 World Cup in 2010. They provide for the right mixture of young and old on the squad. Among them is Alexandra Popp (20), top scorer and best player of the world youth soccer championship. Neid has the choice, and even star players like the 2007 World Cup victory goal scorer Fatmire Bajramaj (23/cover) is not sure of starting in her regular position.

President of the Organizing Committee is Steffi Jones (38), a German with US-American roots. In the run-up to the tournament she visited all 15 participating nations and welcomed them to the Women’s World Cup. Now not only she is hoping that this World Cup will be a success and will further promote the growing popularity of women’s soccer.