The showdown between the two top teams in women’s football — No.1 Germany and No. 2 United States — is underway in a Women’s World Cup semifinal at Montreal.
The two sides were battling Tuesday night for a place in the final against either England or Japan on July 5. England and Japan face off Wednesday.
It is hard to predict a winner from two nations, which have each triumphed at the tournament twice — even though the USWNT have not lifted the trophy since 1999 and Germany have won two of the past three tournaments.
So far, neither team has had an entirely smooth path to the last four, with both having struggled to produce top form at times.
Germany needed penalties to see off France after a tense quarterfinal, while its American counterparts were criticized for the sluggish performance that eventually brought a 2-0 win over Colombia in the round of 16.
Michelle Akers, a member of the team that won those two World Cups, went as far as to question whether coach Jill Ellis was the right person for the job.
Speaking after the match, she told radio show SiriusXM FC: “If she’s pleased with the way we played, then what the hell is she doing coaching our U.S. team?”
“We take it personal. That’s our baby out there, too.”
But despite those misgivings, the USWNT has chalked up a unique feat in Canada — it’s the only team to have reached the last four of all seven World Cups played.
Before the semifinal, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo believed she and her colleagues are finding form when it matters most.
“We’re peaking at the right time,” she told reporters. “Germany is a great team. They’re tactically great. They’re organized.
“But we are right where we need to be, and hopefully we’re going to beat Germany and head into the final.”
And U.S. striker Alex Morgan, who scored her only goal of the tournament so far against Colombia — her third in World Cup competition and the 52nd international strike of her career — told FIFA’s official website the huge support the USWNT has enjoyed throughout the tournament could make a crucial difference.
“There have been so many U.S. fans at the last few games that it’s felt like we’ve been playing at home, even though we’re in Canada,” she said.
“The two best teams in the world are coming face to face. It’s virtually a final.”
But that noisy traveling support, according to Germany’s Annike Krahn, could work against the American players.
“The crowd will definitely be against us, but that just motivates us even more,” she told reporters.
“With the USA, a strong opponent awaits us. We’ve had some really tough games already — that has also shown us that we can compete against strong sides. It’s definitely a positive thing.”
The Germans, however, will have their work cut out to breach a USWNT defense that has not conceded a goal since Australia scored in their first match of the tournament.
That amounts to 423 minutes of flawless defense — a period of time that has seen only 13 shots allowed on the U.S. goal.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, the Americans have scored seven goals in five games, and four in the past four.
Germany, though, has plenty of incentive to consign those statistics to the realms of meaninglessness.
After all, it’s the best team in the world — and its players and staff want to keep things that way.
“Of course it’s very exciting, the best and the second-best teams playing against each other,” German coach Silvia Neid told reporters.
“I know the United States would like to be the No.1 — but we are still the No.1, and we will try to show that’s our position to keep.”