team of the group phase
so, the group phase has ended and the 8 quarterfinalists are confirmed.
here is my team of the group phase:
keeper: hedvig lindahl (sweden)
you won't recall any great saves that she's made (i don't either), but what i like about her is how she plays with her team, quick to sweep things up. solid, unspectacular, but keeps up with the team.
leftback: babette peter (germany)
i think she's had the most number of touches so far in the german team. not bad for a leftback. easily the most consistent player on the german team
centreback: charlotte rohlin (sweden)
the organiser in the solid swedish defence which conceded only one goal from a corner.
centreback: christie rampone (usa)
in a tournament where the captains have come under fire, she stood out for her commitment and reading of the game. but perhaps what is most impressive is that she is probably doing the job of 2 players(1+0.5+0.5), having had to clean up after amy le pailbet the leftback and rachel buehler, her partner in central defence.
rightback: yukari kinga (japan)
that i pick her ahead of alex scott says it all.
centremid: homare sawa (japan)
hattrick heroine against mexico, tough uncompromising midfielder who distributes the ball well.
centremid: simone laudehr (germany)
all-action midfielder
left wing: aya miyama (japan)
for me, she is a genius passer of the ball. as simple as that.
attacking midfielder: louisa necib (france)
outstanding against nigeria and canada. people were raving about her after the nigeria game, wondering why her name is not listed under the stars of the french team.
right wing: celia okoyino (germany)
strong, skilful, fast and clinical. there is life after birgit prinz.
forward: lotta schelin (sweden)
the complete forward.
you might wonder why there are no players from brazil or australia or england, the other 3 quarterfinalists.
most people would look at the statistics and tell you that brazil are the best team, because they scored the most number of goals(joint with germany and france) and conceded 0 goals and won all 3 games. but to be honest, brazil haven't impressed me at all. they show some nice individual tricks here and there, but so have many players. brazilian football is first marta, then individual tricks.
australia really gave them problems, and norway and equatorial guinea were dispatched with convincing scorelines, but perhaps not convincing performances.
likewise, england haven't played to their ability. different players have stepped up to the rescue in each of the games.
australia have impressed, but it is more a team effort. probably the only player who stood out would be collette mcCullum, but i feel that aya miyama and the midfielders i have chosen have had bigger performances. lisa de vanna is a livewire in attack, but the real stars of australia are the team and the coach, whom i think is quite astute tactically.
here is my team of the group phase:
keeper: hedvig lindahl (sweden)
you won't recall any great saves that she's made (i don't either), but what i like about her is how she plays with her team, quick to sweep things up. solid, unspectacular, but keeps up with the team.
leftback: babette peter (germany)
i think she's had the most number of touches so far in the german team. not bad for a leftback. easily the most consistent player on the german team
centreback: charlotte rohlin (sweden)
the organiser in the solid swedish defence which conceded only one goal from a corner.
centreback: christie rampone (usa)
in a tournament where the captains have come under fire, she stood out for her commitment and reading of the game. but perhaps what is most impressive is that she is probably doing the job of 2 players(1+0.5+0.5), having had to clean up after amy le pailbet the leftback and rachel buehler, her partner in central defence.
rightback: yukari kinga (japan)
that i pick her ahead of alex scott says it all.
centremid: homare sawa (japan)
hattrick heroine against mexico, tough uncompromising midfielder who distributes the ball well.
centremid: simone laudehr (germany)
all-action midfielder
left wing: aya miyama (japan)
for me, she is a genius passer of the ball. as simple as that.
attacking midfielder: louisa necib (france)
outstanding against nigeria and canada. people were raving about her after the nigeria game, wondering why her name is not listed under the stars of the french team.
right wing: celia okoyino (germany)
strong, skilful, fast and clinical. there is life after birgit prinz.
forward: lotta schelin (sweden)
the complete forward.
you might wonder why there are no players from brazil or australia or england, the other 3 quarterfinalists.
most people would look at the statistics and tell you that brazil are the best team, because they scored the most number of goals(joint with germany and france) and conceded 0 goals and won all 3 games. but to be honest, brazil haven't impressed me at all. they show some nice individual tricks here and there, but so have many players. brazilian football is first marta, then individual tricks.
australia really gave them problems, and norway and equatorial guinea were dispatched with convincing scorelines, but perhaps not convincing performances.
likewise, england haven't played to their ability. different players have stepped up to the rescue in each of the games.
australia have impressed, but it is more a team effort. probably the only player who stood out would be collette mcCullum, but i feel that aya miyama and the midfielders i have chosen have had bigger performances. lisa de vanna is a livewire in attack, but the real stars of australia are the team and the coach, whom i think is quite astute tactically.
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