By Debby von Winckelmann
It’s looking more and more like the road to the World Cup trophy goes through Germany.
On Saturday, the Germans became the first team through to the quarterfinals with a definitive 4-1 win against Sweden.
“We’re overjoyed, right from the first minute we worked very well in thirty-eight degree temperatures,” said Germany’s coach, Sylvia Neid. “I think we were clearly the better team, we played extremely well against (Sweden’s) set pieces, you can’t (defend) everything against a team that is that skilled at set pieces, but I thought we were good on our set pieces as well.”
The first-ranked team in the world played worthy of that ranking, threading together quick, precise passes and taking every opportunity to shoot. Sweden, by contrast, was unable to provide reliable service and wasted many balls and thus, opportunities.
Germany was all action from the opening whistle, taking three shots in the first five minutes and continually sending in balls that challenged Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl. In the 24th minute, Anja Mittag put Germany on the scoreboard after taking a pass from Celia Sasic and sending the ball far post from the top of the box. The goal was Mittag’s fifth in this world cup, making her the leader for goals scored thus far.
Mittag was taken down in the box in the 35th minute and Sasic converted from the spot to increase Germany’s lead to 2-0.
Sweden’s best opportunity in the first half came in the 45th minute, but Sofia Jakobsson’ header sailed over the crossbar.
Germany’s dominance continued in the second half, again continually peppering Lindahl with shots. Sasic gave Germany its third goal in the 78th minute, heading in a deflected shot by Simone Laudher.
The Swedes got one back in the 82nd minute, as Linda Sembrant headed in a free kick by Therese Sjogran. It looked like Sweden would get another, just two minutes later, when Jakobsson broke free with a one-on-one with German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, but Angerer came out on Jakobsson and made the save.
Dzsenifer Marozsan scored a brilliant goal in the 88th minute, as a corner kick came into the box across Marozsan’s body, and falling away from it, she was able to put the ball into the upper net.
Germany will have to play its next match without Saskia Bartusiak, who received a second yellow card. Also, of concern, Laudehr appeared to roll her ankle in the final minutes of the match, with the extent of that injury unknown at this point.
Sweden exits the tournament after advancing from the group of death, a journey which took its toll on the Swedes, according to a disappointed coach Pia Sundhage.
“In this tournament, we ended up in a group of death, with three really hard games before playing Germany,” Sundhage said. “I’m really sad at the fact that we didn’t advance to the next round, because it means so much to the women’s game in Sweden, that’s really tough.”
Germany will play their quarterfinal match on Friday against the winner of the match between France and Korea Republic.
