FIFA Women’s World Cup correspondent Janai Garrett previews Group B action…
Germany vs Thailand
Group B action in the 2015 Woman’s World Cup will conclude on Monday, June 15th as Germany take on Thailand in a match that is nearly a must win affair for the top ranked team in the World if they want to seal their spot as Group B leaders.
After suffering a surprise draw against Norway on Tuesday, the German’s will be thinking about nothing other than a win. The Thai defeated Ivory Coast in a thrilling match of the underdogs and will hope to surprise the Germans in getting a victory to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Germany who opened up group B action with a 10-0 win over the Ivory Coast, will show no mercy to Thailand as they look to take the top spot of group B.
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However, with the German’s high goal margin, if the results stand in a tie against the Norwegians, the two time World Champions will be the leaders at the end of group play. Thailand are aware of the threat that Germany propose and the only thing that they would need to do is keep their defense as strong as possible, Norway beat them 4-0 and the German’s have the potential to do that three times worse if given the chance.
Prediction
Germany will take the win against Thailand. There is no reason that Germany won’t score a slew of goals against the World Cup debutantes. If the German’s play like they did against the Ivory Coast, then they should be okay winning getting a comfortable win. Thailand know that they will have a very difficult test ahead of them but with confidence on their head from their recent win against the Ivorians, they can go into the game thinking that they can at least score a goal.
Projected Lineups
Germany
Angerer (GK)(C), Bartusiak, Maier, Krahn, Laudehr, Marozsan, Mittag, Sasic, Popp, Goessling, Kemme
Thailand
W.Boonsing (GK), N.Chinwong, D.Sritala (C), P.Khueanpet, S.Intamee, W.Phetwiset, S.Srangthaisong, O.Srimanee, A.Maijarern, K.Sung-Ngoen, N.Romyen
Norway vs Ivory Coast
Norway will take on the Ivory Coast in the hopes of climbing to the top spot of the Group B.
In a clash of confidence and incertitude, the Ivory coast and Norway will either be a blow up or an upset. After two successful games in their opening matches, Norway will look to seal their way into the knockout rounds with no losses. After drawing against Germany in their last match with a stunning free kick by Maren Mjelde, surprising the Germans, the Norwegians will be expected to give it their all against the Ivory Coast, who received a heartbreaking defeat against Thailand in their second game.
With spirits broken and confidence shaken, Norway should have an easy task in getting all three points against les elephants.
Prediction
Norway will defeat the Ivory Coast, 5-0. The Norwegians defeated Thailand by 4-0, in their opening game of group play and with the Ivory Coast’s confidence and spirit trashed after consecutive losses by both Germany and Thailand, Norway are essentially being handed a wounded animal. However, the Ivorians can surprise the Norwegians, although that would be fairly unlikely.
Expect the goal margin to be high. Even if the Norwegians receive all three points in the group, depending on the Germany-Thailand result which likely end with Germany getting all three points, a tie would allow the Germans to ease their way into the top spot of the group due to their ten goal thrashing of the Ivory Coast in their opening match. However, if the Norwegians score an exceptional amount of goals, they can steal the spot away from the Germans.
Projected Lineups
Norway
Hjelmseth (GK)(C), Thorisdottir, Skammelsrud, Tofte Ims, Mjelde, Herlovsen, Wold, Schjelderup, Mykjaland, Minde, Hegerberg
Ivory Coast
Thiamale D. (GK)(C), C.Fatou, Djelika, A.Rita, Ines Tia, N.Ange, G.Ida, Tchetche, L.Christine, Diakite Binta, K.Raymond