Women's World Cup 2015: Pivotal Factors to Decide Group B
On paper, Group B in this summer's Women's World Cup appears to be quite mismatched. On the field, all indications point to the same.
At the top are Germany and Norway, two of women's football's most successful sides. Germany has won two World Cup titles and each of the last six European Championships, incidentally defeating Norway in the Euro 2013 final. Norway, for its part, reached the inaugural World Cup final in 1991 and won the event four years later.
And then there are Ivory Coast and Thailand, two first-timers who appear to be out of their depth. Will the minnows have a chance in Canada this summer? Keep reading for the pivotal factors to decide Group B.
The Games
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All times listed are EDT. Match sites are in parentheses.
June 7
Norway vs. Thailand, 1 p.m. (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m. (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
June 11
Germany vs. Norway, 4 p.m. (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
Ivory Coast vs. Thailand, 7 p.m. (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
June 15
Thailand vs. Germany, 4 p.m. (Investors Group Field, Winnipeg)
Ivory Coast vs. Norway, 4 p.m. (Moncton Stadium, Moncton)
How Will Germany Cope Without Nadine Kessler?
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With a strong, balanced team, Germany is the favorite to win the group. Coach Silvia Neid's team boasts excellent technical abilities and can pass with the best sides in the world. The Germans are two-time World Cup winners and six-time defending European champions.
But in Canada, they will play without Nadine Kessler, the 2014 FIFA World Player of the Year. The 27-year-old midfielder will miss the entire tournament while recovering from knee surgery, per Deutsche Welle.
The question, then, is how Germany will cope without her. Fortunately for Neid, the team is packed with stars, even in Kessler's absence. Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2013, while forwards Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag help form the "backbone" of the team, in the words of FIFA.com.
With or without the reigning World Player of the Year, this Germany team is strong and will rank among the favorites to win the entire tournament. Neid's side won all 10 games in qualifying by the almost unbelievable combined score of 62-4. Expect more dominance in Canada, especially against newcomers Ivory Coast and Thailand.
Will Norway Have Success with Its Direct Attacking Style?
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Norway has a proud history in the Women's World Cup, reaching the final of the inaugural event in 1991 and winning the title four years later. But after crashing out in the group stage in 2011 and failing to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, the team turned to former coach Even Pellerud.
Pellerud was in charge when Norway won it all in 1995, and the team did it with a direct style of soccer. He used the same approach successfully during his time with the Canadian women's national team, and he'll use it again this summer.
As the team's recent record would suggest, Norway has fallen behind top teams like Germany and the United States. But the roster still has plenty of talent, including stalwarts like Trine Bjerke Ronning, Ingvild Stensland and Ingrid Hjelmseth.
Isabell Herlovsen scored six goals in qualifying. Caroline Graham Hansen, who scored eight, will miss the World Cup through injury.
Can Ivory Coast Compete?
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Ivory Coast qualified for the World Cup by finishing third in the 2014 African Women's Championship, where it beat South Africa for the continent's final berth.
In Canada, Les Elephantes will be outsiders in their first-ever World Cup appearance. Coming in at No. 67 in FIFA's latest world rankings, Ivory Coast will play three sides that are ranked higher than Nigeria, the team that eventually won the African Women's Championship.
It's probably not realistic to expect much from the first game, against No. 1-ranked Germany. But if Ivory Coast can beat Thailand in the second match, it could stand a chance of advancing to the knockout stage as one of the four best third-place teams.
Can Thailand Shock Either of the Group Favorites?
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Thailand is Group B's second outsider, and like Ivory Coast, another World Cup debutant. Qualification came via a 2-1 victory over Vietnam in the fifth-place match of the 2014 Women's Asian Cup.
In fairness, that doesn't sound like a strong resume for World Cup success, but as ESPNFC'.com's Andrea Canales notes, Thailand's team will have a couple of key advantages:
"Thailand's strength is a passing game that relies on good spacing and a keen awareness between teammates. Many of the players have been together for years on national youth teams, so their understanding of where to put the ball results in effective, short passes that move the ball around opponents.
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Even with good passing and players who know each other well, Thailand will remain a long shot. Unless Ivory Coast or Thailand catch Norway or Germany on the right day, expect the two European sides to progress comfortably.
Follow @MiguelCominguez
