World Cup win
June 27, 2011
The 2011 Women's World Cup swung into action on Sunday as the German skies opened up and gifted the host nation with perfect conditions ahead of their opening fixture against Group A opponents Canada.
The organizers of this year's tournament were hoping to emulate the festival atmosphere of the widely successful 2006 men's World Cup, and if the weather keeps showing its more perky side then that could well be achievable.
In excess of 73,000 fans turned up for the opening clash at Berlin's Olympic Stadium - a magnificent sight to see such a cauldron full to the brim and buzzing with anticipation ahead of the referee's first blow of the whistle to get the game underway.
The big wigs of German public life, including Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Christian Wulff, turned out for the event, with the latter delivering the speech officially opening the three-week tournament.
Rocky start
Germany, strongly favored to win a third-straight World Cup and playing in the tournament on home soil for the first time, secured a 2-1 win over the courageous Canadians, who never really managed to properly assert themselves, but also never looked completely out of the contest.
Germany were heavily favored ahead of the Canadians coming into the tie and didn't fail to set about methodically dismantling the North Americans' defense down the flanks from the outset.
For a time, it seemed as though the hosts would dominate the clash after taking the lead after only 10 minutes. A nifty little through-ball down the left approaching the byline found its way to defender Babett Peter, who guided a lovely cross into the box where tall midfielder Kerstin Garefrekes leaped over her defender and headed home.
The crowd had to wait another half-hour for more, however, when attacking midfield Celia Okoyino da Mbabi padded a looping through-ball down with her knee a few steps into the box and smashed a shot past Canadian keeper Erin McLeod to make it 2-0.
As the second half opened it looked as though Germany might run away with the match, but the Canadians hung in and were rewarded eight minutes from full time after star striker Christine Sinclair hit a sweet free kick which curled over the wall and into the top right corner of Nadine Angerer's goal, granting her team a glimmer of hope they might be able to come away from the fixture with a draw.
It wasn't meant to be, however, with Germany successfully frustrating the Canadians' efforts on goal in the dying minutes. The Germans will have much to ponder ahead of their next clash, with coach Silvia Neid certain to be concerned about her team's inability to kill off their opponents, despite having a potent attacking strike force on the field.
"We got two goals in the first half and didn't play so well, then in the second half we were much better organized but we couldn't score," said Neid post-match. "Things got tight at the end and it could have been 2-2, so I am very happy we won the first game."
German Football Federation (DFB) President Theo Zwanziger expressed his satisfaction with the event. "The World Cup could hardly have started better," said Zwanziger. "A full Olympic Stadium, a great crowd, an atmospheric opening ceremony and a good match as well as a win for out national team - what more could one want as president of the DFB?"
Chancellor Angela Merkel paid credit to both soccer teams as well as the crowd. "It was a very energetic match," said Merkel. "I have a lot of faith in the German team and I'll keep my fingers crossed that they get to the final."
Quiet opener
Whilst all eyes were on Berlin for the World Cup opener, the tournament was actually kick-started earlier Sunday in the south-western city of Sinsheim when Germany's Group A opponents France eked out a 1-0 win over Nigeria in a relatively close encounter.
Montpelier striker Marie-Laure Delie netted the only goal of the game after 56 minutes against the African champions in front of over 25,000 spectators at the Rhein-Neckar Arena.
The results mean Germany sit atop Group A on three points and a favorable goal difference, ahead of France, followed by Canada and lastly Nigeria. Germany next play the Africans in Frankfurt on Thursday before rounding off the group stages against France in Mönchengladbach on July 5.
Author: Darren Mara
Editor: Andreas Illmer