Ivory Coast and Thailand open against big guns
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Top ranked Germany open their campaign for a third Women's World Cup crown today against the Ivory Coast-the lowest ranked team in the tournament-as Asian minnows Thailand take on former winners Norway.
The Group B double header in Ottawa features two of the eight teams making their debut in the 24-team global event-Ivory Coast and Thailand-against two of the most experienced who have qualified for all seven editions of the tournament.
Germany's powerful squad includes five players who won the the trophy in 2007, including goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2014. Germany also won the title in 2004.
By contrast the 67th-ranked Ivorians, known as 'Les Elephantes', do not have any star in their ranks, with Svesda Perm forward Josee Nahi, whose four goals helped her Russian club to the Champions League second round, their only foreign-based player.
The Ivorians can count on their experienced coach Clementine Toure who led them to third place at the African Women's Championship, having previously coached Equatorial Guinea to the continental title in 2008. "We had been waiting for this moment for such a long time," Toure told FIFA.com.
"It is a historic achievement-the first time Ivory Coast has reached the World Cup."
Silvia Neid's Germany are targeting a third world crown in 12 years, to complete an unprecedented double after their men won in Brazil last year.
They suffered a shock early exit at the 2011 World Cup when as hosts they were knocked-out in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Japan, who beat the USA on penalties in the final.
The Group B double header in Ottawa features two of the eight teams making their debut in the 24-team global event-Ivory Coast and Thailand-against two of the most experienced who have qualified for all seven editions of the tournament.
Germany's powerful squad includes five players who won the the trophy in 2007, including goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2014. Germany also won the title in 2004.
By contrast the 67th-ranked Ivorians, known as 'Les Elephantes', do not have any star in their ranks, with Svesda Perm forward Josee Nahi, whose four goals helped her Russian club to the Champions League second round, their only foreign-based player.
The Ivorians can count on their experienced coach Clementine Toure who led them to third place at the African Women's Championship, having previously coached Equatorial Guinea to the continental title in 2008. "We had been waiting for this moment for such a long time," Toure told FIFA.com.
"It is a historic achievement-the first time Ivory Coast has reached the World Cup."
Silvia Neid's Germany are targeting a third world crown in 12 years, to complete an unprecedented double after their men won in Brazil last year.
They suffered a shock early exit at the 2011 World Cup when as hosts they were knocked-out in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Japan, who beat the USA on penalties in the final.
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