Meabh De Burca is a current member of the Irish National team with 18 caps and also has over 30 appearances as a youth international. At senior level she has played against USA, Germany, France and Sweden while at U19 level she played against England, Norway, France and Germany. She currently plays in the WPSL for the Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves. Follow her on twitter: @MeabhDeBurca
Quarterfinals:
England vs. France – France
This all-European c lash is one that I am really looking forward to. The game will be decided by a goal; with extra time and penalties possibly needed to get a winner. England started the tournament slowly, with a draw against Mexico but they have improved with each game and will be looking to carry that momentum into Saturday’s match. France will be without their starting goalkeeper but their back up keeper is not lacking experience, with 45 caps to her name. Les Blues have an abundance of pace offensively which will cause problems for the English rear-guard. Delie is a Henry-esque striker with a hugely impressive scoring record and could prove to be the difference between the sides.
Germany vs. Japan - Germany
Japan started the tournament brightly, but looked technically weak when they faced their only real test of the group stage against England. They were outplayed for most of the match by the English and with an average height of 5'4'' they lack the distinct physical presence and aerial threat that has been so prominent in this World Cup. Germany on the other hand has lived up to the hype by topping their group with 9 points and they continue to show why they are the tournament favorites. The Germans have not conceded from open play in their first three games and in Garefrekes, Grings and Okoyino Da Mbabi, they will have more than enough of an offensive threat to dispose of Japan with relative ease.
Quarterfinals:
England vs. France – France
This all-European c lash is one that I am really looking forward to. The game will be decided by a goal; with extra time and penalties possibly needed to get a winner. England started the tournament slowly, with a draw against Mexico but they have improved with each game and will be looking to carry that momentum into Saturday’s match. France will be without their starting goalkeeper but their back up keeper is not lacking experience, with 45 caps to her name. Les Blues have an abundance of pace offensively which will cause problems for the English rear-guard. Delie is a Henry-esque striker with a hugely impressive scoring record and could prove to be the difference between the sides.
Germany vs. Japan - Germany
Japan started the tournament brightly, but looked technically weak when they faced their only real test of the group stage against England. They were outplayed for most of the match by the English and with an average height of 5'4'' they lack the distinct physical presence and aerial threat that has been so prominent in this World Cup. Germany on the other hand has lived up to the hype by topping their group with 9 points and they continue to show why they are the tournament favorites. The Germans have not conceded from open play in their first three games and in Garefrekes, Grings and Okoyino Da Mbabi, they will have more than enough of an offensive threat to dispose of Japan with relative ease.
USA vs. Brazil - Brazil
The quarterfinals bracket is highlighted by this match as neither team can be seen as a favorite in this tie. Both are superpowers in the sport and are considered serious contenders for the cup. The Americans have yet to find cohesion and their midfield has been lacking in mobility and creativity. This is in contrast to Brazil’s comfort on the ball as well as attractive combination play and dynamic offensive threat. The yanks will do well to recover from their ego smashing defeat to the Swedes, but should they regain composure we could see them seriously threaten the three-man Brazilian back line, which has yet to face any major test. I predict Brazil to win by the slimmest of margins.
Australia vs. Sweden - Sweden
Sweden will be full of confidence going into this match, and they have every right to be after gaining maximum points in the group stage and beating the world’s #1 on the way. They fear nobody and their play so far has resembled that. Sweden don’t possess as much creativity and flair as Brazil, but they are a solid outfit and dangerous from set pieces. Their four goals scored is the least of all the quarter finalists, however they have also only conceded one goal. As a result I won’t be expecting this to be a high scoring match. The Aussies are, in my opinion, the weakest team in the quarterfinal pairings. They did well to beat a fancied Norway side, however they struggled to keep pace with Brazil and looked far from impressive in their opening day 1-0 win against World Cup minnows Equatorial Guinea. The Matildas will be relying on their hunger and determination to try to cause an upset against the world’s fifth ranked team.
Semifinals: Germany v Sweden - Germany
As previously mentioned, Germany are my favorites, so I am backing them to come out on top against their fellow European opponents. The Germans appear defensively vulnerable on set pieces and France proved this by scoring twice from corners when the teams met in group play. Questions have been raised about their zonal marking. Sweden will be hoping to use this uncertainty in the German defense to their advantage and make their set pieces count. I think that the goal-scoring prowess of Germany’s strikers will prove too much for the Swedish defense to handle.
The quarterfinals bracket is highlighted by this match as neither team can be seen as a favorite in this tie. Both are superpowers in the sport and are considered serious contenders for the cup. The Americans have yet to find cohesion and their midfield has been lacking in mobility and creativity. This is in contrast to Brazil’s comfort on the ball as well as attractive combination play and dynamic offensive threat. The yanks will do well to recover from their ego smashing defeat to the Swedes, but should they regain composure we could see them seriously threaten the three-man Brazilian back line, which has yet to face any major test. I predict Brazil to win by the slimmest of margins.
Australia vs. Sweden - Sweden
Sweden will be full of confidence going into this match, and they have every right to be after gaining maximum points in the group stage and beating the world’s #1 on the way. They fear nobody and their play so far has resembled that. Sweden don’t possess as much creativity and flair as Brazil, but they are a solid outfit and dangerous from set pieces. Their four goals scored is the least of all the quarter finalists, however they have also only conceded one goal. As a result I won’t be expecting this to be a high scoring match. The Aussies are, in my opinion, the weakest team in the quarterfinal pairings. They did well to beat a fancied Norway side, however they struggled to keep pace with Brazil and looked far from impressive in their opening day 1-0 win against World Cup minnows Equatorial Guinea. The Matildas will be relying on their hunger and determination to try to cause an upset against the world’s fifth ranked team.
Semifinals: Germany v Sweden - Germany
As previously mentioned, Germany are my favorites, so I am backing them to come out on top against their fellow European opponents. The Germans appear defensively vulnerable on set pieces and France proved this by scoring twice from corners when the teams met in group play. Questions have been raised about their zonal marking. Sweden will be hoping to use this uncertainty in the German defense to their advantage and make their set pieces count. I think that the goal-scoring prowess of Germany’s strikers will prove too much for the Swedish defense to handle.
France v Brazil – Brazil
A notable feature of the top teams in this year’s competition has been aerial dominance. Les Bleus have been on both the giving and receiving end of this aerial ability. The French defense was beaten in the air for two goals against Germany. On the contrary, four of France’s seven goals in the group stage came from headers, and they will be hoping to add to this tally against the South Americans. Brazil’s attacking style and flair is the teams most talked about feature of their play, and their extraordinary dribbling skills can set any game alight. Another important attribute contributing to their success is their strong defensive capabilities. They are the only team not to have conceded a single goal during the group stage and it will be interesting to see how they deal with the French attackers. Brazil to narrowly win and set up a final meeting with the hosts.
Final: Germany v Brazil - Germany
This will be a very enticing match-up, the outcome of which is as predictable as a coin toss. By this stage I expect Marta to have closed in on Birgit Prinz's all-time Women's World Cup scoring record of 14. The fact that Prinz has not been an automatic starter in this tournament has shown the depth of the German squad. Grings and Popp, amongst others, have stepped up to the plate and brought truth to the cliché that you cannot win a World Cup with eleven players. Defending set pieces is the German’s achilles heel and Brazil will be looking to exploit this. I think the Samba Queens will push the defending champions all the way, with the Germans ultimately being successful in lifting the cup on home soil.
A notable feature of the top teams in this year’s competition has been aerial dominance. Les Bleus have been on both the giving and receiving end of this aerial ability. The French defense was beaten in the air for two goals against Germany. On the contrary, four of France’s seven goals in the group stage came from headers, and they will be hoping to add to this tally against the South Americans. Brazil’s attacking style and flair is the teams most talked about feature of their play, and their extraordinary dribbling skills can set any game alight. Another important attribute contributing to their success is their strong defensive capabilities. They are the only team not to have conceded a single goal during the group stage and it will be interesting to see how they deal with the French attackers. Brazil to narrowly win and set up a final meeting with the hosts.
Final: Germany v Brazil - Germany
This will be a very enticing match-up, the outcome of which is as predictable as a coin toss. By this stage I expect Marta to have closed in on Birgit Prinz's all-time Women's World Cup scoring record of 14. The fact that Prinz has not been an automatic starter in this tournament has shown the depth of the German squad. Grings and Popp, amongst others, have stepped up to the plate and brought truth to the cliché that you cannot win a World Cup with eleven players. Defending set pieces is the German’s achilles heel and Brazil will be looking to exploit this. I think the Samba Queens will push the defending champions all the way, with the Germans ultimately being successful in lifting the cup on home soil.
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