12/21/24
July 09, 2011
Japan Knocks Germany Out of World Cup: Losing a World Cup match for the first time since 1999, Germany was defeated 1-0 by Japan Sunday in the women's World Cup quarterfinals. Substitute Karina Maruyama scored the only goal in the 108th minute. Germany won the last two World Cups and had never been beaten by Japan.
Japan is a pretty good ball possession team. They are well-organized and disciplined, and are by now used to playing with the height disadvantage that wasn't an issue in qualifying.
Their team fitness also appears to be superb.
Watching the tournament, in general, I'm impressed by the power and speed that has been shown, but the lack of accuracy has been tough to watch.
To my eyes, the ball is being put in the air far too often and possessions are given away far too readily.
It's also stunning to see the amount of space available at various times in various spots on the field, such as the weak side top corners and both ends of the middle third of the field.
posted by beaverboard at 11:37 PM on July 09, 2011
The announcers were driving me nuts during Homare Sawa's injury. Replay after replay showed that her injury was caused by a sharp kick to her privates, but they kept calling it a muscle injury of some kind.