Germany is playing like a title contender, just at the right time.
After seeing her team start the Women’s World Cup with a pair of one-goal wins, Germany Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg told her players to keep the game simple.
Germany played to its status as the world’s second-ranked team and one of the top challengers hoping to dethrone the United States, routing South Africa, 4-0, on Monday in Montpellier, France, to top Group B with a 3-0 record. The Germans will play a third-place team in the round of 16, avoiding an immediate matchup with the Americans.
After Germany grinded out 1-0 wins over China and Spain, its offense broke out with three goals in the first half at Stade de la Mosson, matching its total in its previous five World Cup games combined.
“I told my players that we should keep it simple,” Voss-Tecklenburg said. “The players performed very well. They showed that football can really be very simple sometimes.” She added, “There were moments within the match when we tried to go for the more difficult solution. That’s something we can work on.”
Displaying a varied attack, Germany generated a constant stream of scoring opportunities and could have easily won by a bigger margin.
Melanie Leupolz opened the scoring in the 14th minute with her first goal for Germany since the 2016 Olympics. Sara Däbritz doubled the lead in the 29th minute from a goalkeeping blunder, Alexandra Popp made it 3-0 in the 40th, and Lina Magull added the final goal in the 58th.
NORWAY 2, SOUTH KOREA 1 Norway knocked South Korea out of the tournament by scoring on two penalties in a 2-1 victory in Reims.
Caroline Graham Hansen scored after five minutes, and Isabell Herlovsen beat goalkeeper Kim Min-jung from the spot six minutes into the second half.
Yeo Min-ji converted in the 78th minute but couldn’t ignite a South Korean comeback.
South Korea went 0-3 in France with one goal while allowing eight. Norway advanced to the round of 16 as the runner-up in Group A, which was won by France.
SPAIN 0, CHINA 0 Spain and China played to a scoreless draw in Le Havre that advanced both squads to the round of 16.
Spain finished second in Group B behind Germany. La Roja advanced to the knockout stage for the first time and will face the winner of Group F on Monday at Reims — likely the United States if the Americans win or draw in their final group match against Sweden.
Defender Celia Jiménez said it doesn’t matter which team Spain will face because they are all good.
“The U.S. has a really powerful team. They play a direct game. They like to be dangerous, but at the same time, I think Sweden is as well a really good team,” she said. “They also tend to play direct, so they kind of are similar teams. I think Spain is ready. I think we know what we play, our style of play. It’s good, and I don’t think it matters who we take on next.”
China has advanced to the knockout stage at each of its seven World Cup appearances. It finished third in the group at 1-1-1.
La Roja’s best chance came in the 39th minute, but Peng Shimeng stopped Jennifer Hermoso’s header off a cross from Virginia Torrecilla. China’s goalkeeper also fended off a free kick by Alexia Putellas in the 71st.
Source : NYtimes
