The Women’s World Cup Gets Serious

We only got one game in Berlin for the Women’s World Cup, the opener between Germany and  Canada. But elsewhere in the country the tournament has been progressing nicely, with some interesting games, dramatic media debates about out-of-form strikers, and excellent attendances and viewing figures on the television.

The Germans, many people’s favourites, began with a confident performance against Canada that should have resulted in a wider margin of victory except a number of the team were suffering from what is known in these parts as “Gomezitis”. An unconvincing win against Nigeria put the hosts through to the Quarter Finals, but if they want to win the group they will need to beat France tonight, and the French team have been one of the highlights of the tournament so far.

As have Japan, whose close passing and deadly finishing saw them to two victories against New Zealand and Mexico and to win their group need only a draw against England, who in keeping with the national character have been plagued by laboured performances and goalkeeping howlers. England should also progress unless they get absolutely tonked, but they will have to play France or Germany in the next round and that will probably be that. 45 years of hurt and counting…

Elsewhere, Brazil are starting to look ominously good, as are the world’s number one ranked team the USA. They will be joined in the Quarter Finals between either Norway or the Australian Matildas, and Sweden who have already qualified. With the knock-out stages there promises to be some titanic struggles, with a fair chance of England vs Germany, and USA or Sweden against Brazil. Yowsers!

We are showing all the games in the Circus Cafe, continuing this evening with Japan against England at 6.15pm…come on you lionesses!