Women's World Cup 2015: Latest Semi-Final Results, Updated Odds and Predictions
It’s the United States who will await either Japan or England in the final of the 2015 Women’s World Cup after Jillian Ellis’ team ground out an impressive 2-0 win against Germany.
The U.S. women's national team continued to be functional rather than fluid in their play, but there are few who will mind too much if this kind of football propels them to a third world crown. Indeed, the onus is on other teams to breach what is looking an impenetrable outfit at this juncture.
So, who will it be in the final against the Americans? Here’s a closer look at the remaining semi-final showdown, the USWNT side and how the bookmakers are seeing things with the climax of this engrossing competition edging ever nearer.
| Germany | 1-2 |
| Japan | 10-3 |
| England | 9-1 |
| Japan | 4-9 |
| England | 17-10 |
Odds courtesy of Oddschecker and accurate as of 10:20 a.m. (BST), July 1. Check out the website for full listings and other markets.
Savvy Japan Will Be Too Strong for England
Mark Sampson and his England side have been the undoubted dark horses at this World Cup. After losing their opening game against France with a tepid display, expectations were lowered for this team. But in a roundabout way, that defeat seemed to settle the players, who have been brilliant ever since.
The win over Canada in the quarter-finals was a measure of their mettle. To play in front of a partisan BC Place crowd and eliminate the hosts showcased plenty of spirit. It wasn’t the most fluid performance, as OptaJoe illustrated here, but the team dug in superbly:
Japan are a class above the Canadians, though. The reigning champions have meandered through this competition with a quiet authority, and up to this point, they’ve looked in complete control in all of their matches.
It was the same against Australia in the quarterfinals. Although the determined Aussie defending shut down Japan’s intricate players for long spells, there was a sense of inevitability about Mana Iwabuchi's winning goal.
Nonetheless, as noted here by Paul Carr of ESPN, Japan do seem to have some issues killing teams off completely:
England will be similar opponents to Australia in that they’ll be happy to surrender possession and allow Japan to probe. Provided Sampson’s side can be as clinical in front of goal as they have been in their previous two outings, it may be a blueprint for another famous win.
But Japan will have too much quality. Norway and Canada didn't have the class to punish England at times, but the reigning champions have made it clear in this competition that they do.
Prediction: Japan 2-1 England
United States Big Favourites for the Title
The semi-final performance from the United States against Germany was a defining one. Ellis' side may not have been at their best, and the players had to make sacrifices against a strong German team, but they were calm and collected when the big moments came about.
Indeed, Janusz Michallik of ESPN thinks the manner in which the USWNT nullified Germany’s attacking arsenal was key:
Having knocked out the pre-tournament favourites, things should only get easier for the United States from this point on, in theory. But they’ll be taking nothing for granted in the final, especially given the manner in which this team was shocked by Japan in the final four years ago.
Ellis revealed afterward that the team’s focus will be unwavering in the buildup to the Vancouver final, per the Press Association (via MailOnline):
"We will enjoy this tonight, and then our focus will turn to our next opponent. I’m very proud of the players, and they stepped up tonight.
This team has embraced the accountability of defending in every line. We have gritty players at the back, and sophisticated players at the back and our defensive record is a credit to the team.
"
Indeed, while the attacking facet of this squad has flickered in and out of games, the United States have been solid defensively. As the team’s official Twitter account noted here, it’s been a long time since Hope Solo’s goal was breached:
It’s this sturdiness that’ll make the United States formidable final opponents, especially when you consider they’ll get the luxury of an extra day of rest.
But after coming up short in a big shock four years ago, you suspect the most pertinent hurdles for this team to overcome will be mental ones; the evidence from recent games suggests they’re ready to take this crucial step.
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