The Women's World Cup began today. I think it's so funny how people who don't even really give a crap get all amped up for the men's World Cup every four years, but even most soccer fans seemingly don't care about the Women's World Cup. I wonder how many people even realize that it's going on right now.
Anyway, seeing as last year's World Cup was the inspiration for the name "Joe Brackets," I think it's only fitting that I give the women the same respect. I don't pretend to be any sort of expert about the world of international women's soccer, but I'll give it a shot.
Group A: Germany, Canada, France, Nigeria
Germany is the two-time defending champions, top-ranked team in the world, and tournament hosts. So I don't really think I'm going out on much of a limb to take the Germans in this group. The Germans also have Birgit Prinz, the all-time leading goal scorer in Women's World Cup play. It's by no means a lock that they'll win the World Cup again, but this group shouldn't be a problem. The second-place spot is up for grabs, though. Canada always has a good team, and they made the semifinals in 2003. A lot of the Canadian players attended college in the U.S. and play in the WPS, which means they go against the Americans all the time. They also won the CONCACAF qualifying tournament. France is an up-and-coming team that has finally broken through to reach the World Cup. They could be dangerous, but probably need a little more experience. Nigeria is the best team in Africa and could definitely make some noise.
Group B: Japan, New Zealand, Mexico, England
Evidently Japan's women's soccer team is very good. They're the seeded team in the weakest of the four groups. But make no mistake, Japan is nowhere near as talented as Germany, Brazil and the United States. I do have to give credit where it's due, though. Japan's here while its Asian rival, traditional power China, isn't. And with a weak group, the Japanese will probably advance without any problems. The knockout phase should be a reality check, though. Just like Group A, the second spot is up for grabs. Of the other three teams, I think England is probably the best. (Sidebar, FIFA has reached an aggreement with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish federations to allow for a completely British team at the London Olympics, but the other three aren't sure they want to do that, which means it could essentially be this English team that's playing in Germany that we see next summer, as well.) Mexico was a surprise qualifier, beating the U.S. and finishing second behind Canada in CONCACAF (the U.S. had to win a home-and-home against Italy to get in), and this group could definitely help them. New Zealand's problem is that it comes out of the weak Oceania federation.
Group C: United States, Sweden, North Korea, Colombia
I think it's one of the rules of the Women's World Cup that the United States, Sweden and North Korea are drawn into the same group. This marks the third straight World Cup where those three teams are in the same group, and the United States and North Korea were also in the same group in 1999. So, needless to say, those three nations are familiar with each other. This is easily the "Group of Death." The United States won the last major international tournament (the 2008 Olympics) and has to be considered the group favorite, but Sweden has already beaten the Americans this year and North Korea played them to a 2-2 tie in the opening game four years ago. Just like 2003 and 2007, that North Korea-Sweden game is probably going to determine the other team that advances. Sweden won it in 2003 (en route to the finals), while North Korea won in 2007. In each of the past two World Cups, Nigeria was the unfortunate team that was also drawn into this group. The Nigerians got a reprieve this year. Instead it's Colombia, which is a much weaker foe and will likely go 0-3. Although, Colombia did qualify ahead of Argentina.
Group D: Brazil, Australia, Norway, Equatorial Guinea
Brazil is the second-best team in the world. They've won silver at each of the last three major international tournaments (2004 Olympics, 2007 World Cup, 2008 Olympics), but have never won the gold. Led by the incomprabale Marta, the best player in the world, the Brazilians are talented, dynamic and fun to watch. Just like the Brazilian men's team, they show why soccer is called the "Beautiful Game." Brazil is going to break through eventually, and it very well could be here. Norway was one of the early dynasties in the sport and is one of just three nations ever to win the World Cup (Germany and the United States are the others). They took some lumps in the early 2000s, but they beat the eventual gold-medalist Americans in the opening game of the Beijing Olympics and are definitely on their way back. Australia left Oceania for the more competitive Asian federation a few years ago, and that move has helped the women's team as much as the men's Socceroos. The Aussies got in, while China didn't. That tells you something about both the quality of the Asian teams and the Australian side in particular. I know absolutely nothing about Equatorial Guinea other than that the country is in Africa and, I'm assuming, near the Equator.
I'm going to take Germany and Canada (the 2015 hosts) in Group A, England and Japan in Group B, the United States and Sweden in Group C, and Brazil and Norway in Group D. In the quarters it's A vs. B and C vs. D, so I'll go with Germany over Japan, Canada over England, the United States over Norway and Brazil over Sweden. Brazil should get by Canada easily in one semifinal, while the other is a showdown between Germany and the U.S. That could easily be the game of the tournament. Germany beat the U.S. on American soil in the 2003 semis, and the Americans would certainly love to return the favor on German soil. But I'm not sure that's going to happen. I'm going with Germany and a rematch of the 2007 final against Brazil. That's where things change. Germany won't become the second host nation to win the Women's World Cup. I think Brazil finally wins its first major international women's championship.
No comments:
Post a Comment