quarterfinal preview
england v france
i won't make any predictions, because to be honest, i am quite torn between these two teams. it is like arsenal ladies v ol feminin again.
france will not have keeper sapowiecz available, thanks to her red card against germany. otherwise, bruno bini should field his first team, though the big question would be if wendy renard plays. personally, as i have explained, i am not in favour of playing her at centreback.
the key to this game is the flanks. stop the wingers from getting the crosses in. it is about markign the space rather than the player, especially since jill scott would be running from deep.
for the english, the question is whether faye white will return to the starting lineup. sophie bradley did very well in her place. i think the change was made because japan has a very mobile and pacy attack, so the idea is that bradley would be able to cope better with that. with france having a similar style to japan, i think bradley might well stay in the starting lineup.
in the england-japan game, japan were able to work out numerous openings but shot wide or over. the english defence, despite keeping that clean sheet, isn't the most solid defence. unlike japan, france have players who can get their shots on target: abily, le sommer, necib. and most importantly, delie is a poacher. japan were maybe lacking that poacher.
so i think france will definitely score. the question is: can england score? aside from the high balls, i think the french defence has been not bad. and i think it might have something to do with understanding and organisation. renard spent much of the season playing rightback, and georges has a superb understanding with viguier, so why don't they play that?
and i realise that bompastor will be up against alex scott. mouthwatering direct duel between the two fullbacks. matchup of the game.
as i said, i won't make predictions. i am just disappointed that one team will go home after this game.
germany v japan
germany will look to use their physical advantage and i think that is going to be a problem for japan. what impressed me alot in the japan-england game is that japan were able to recover and play their passing game. this is something they need to do even better against germany. and of course, they need to take their chances.
it may well be another case of japan playing the football, but germany getting the goals and the win. i will be cheering for japan, but i think the odds are against them.
brazil v usa
i am putting my head out on this to tell you that usa will beat brazil. people are shaking their heads after the american defeat to sweden, saying brazil are better than usa. but i think if there is a team that can expose the tactical shortcomings of the brazilians, it is usa.
usa is a team that produces the goods when the chips are down, so i am backing them to put on a show. of course, amy le pailbet worries me since marta will be smelling blood. but if hope solo and christie rampone can come to the rescue, i think usa will once again prove critics wrong.
sweden v australia
australia will be up against a better version of norway, in a way. a much better version. i think it will be interesting to see how the australian coach lines up his team. will he go cautious, or aim to dominate the game? it is a tough decision because you only have 90 or maybe 120 minutes. what makes things even trickier is that sweden themselves can play on the counter or control the game.
surprisingly, i think the swedish defence will face their sternest test against the australians. i think the colombian, north korean and american attacks haven't been dynamic enough.
i think however, that lotta schelin will prove to be the difference between the two sides.
i won't make any predictions, because to be honest, i am quite torn between these two teams. it is like arsenal ladies v ol feminin again.
france will not have keeper sapowiecz available, thanks to her red card against germany. otherwise, bruno bini should field his first team, though the big question would be if wendy renard plays. personally, as i have explained, i am not in favour of playing her at centreback.
the key to this game is the flanks. stop the wingers from getting the crosses in. it is about markign the space rather than the player, especially since jill scott would be running from deep.
for the english, the question is whether faye white will return to the starting lineup. sophie bradley did very well in her place. i think the change was made because japan has a very mobile and pacy attack, so the idea is that bradley would be able to cope better with that. with france having a similar style to japan, i think bradley might well stay in the starting lineup.
in the england-japan game, japan were able to work out numerous openings but shot wide or over. the english defence, despite keeping that clean sheet, isn't the most solid defence. unlike japan, france have players who can get their shots on target: abily, le sommer, necib. and most importantly, delie is a poacher. japan were maybe lacking that poacher.
so i think france will definitely score. the question is: can england score? aside from the high balls, i think the french defence has been not bad. and i think it might have something to do with understanding and organisation. renard spent much of the season playing rightback, and georges has a superb understanding with viguier, so why don't they play that?
and i realise that bompastor will be up against alex scott. mouthwatering direct duel between the two fullbacks. matchup of the game.
as i said, i won't make predictions. i am just disappointed that one team will go home after this game.
germany v japan
germany will look to use their physical advantage and i think that is going to be a problem for japan. what impressed me alot in the japan-england game is that japan were able to recover and play their passing game. this is something they need to do even better against germany. and of course, they need to take their chances.
it may well be another case of japan playing the football, but germany getting the goals and the win. i will be cheering for japan, but i think the odds are against them.
brazil v usa
i am putting my head out on this to tell you that usa will beat brazil. people are shaking their heads after the american defeat to sweden, saying brazil are better than usa. but i think if there is a team that can expose the tactical shortcomings of the brazilians, it is usa.
usa is a team that produces the goods when the chips are down, so i am backing them to put on a show. of course, amy le pailbet worries me since marta will be smelling blood. but if hope solo and christie rampone can come to the rescue, i think usa will once again prove critics wrong.
sweden v australia
australia will be up against a better version of norway, in a way. a much better version. i think it will be interesting to see how the australian coach lines up his team. will he go cautious, or aim to dominate the game? it is a tough decision because you only have 90 or maybe 120 minutes. what makes things even trickier is that sweden themselves can play on the counter or control the game.
surprisingly, i think the swedish defence will face their sternest test against the australians. i think the colombian, north korean and american attacks haven't been dynamic enough.
i think however, that lotta schelin will prove to be the difference between the two sides.
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