The European play-offs for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ have reached the final phase, with Italy and the Netherlands earning the right to square off for the continent’s last slot at next year’s world finals. Elsewhere there were friendlies between Germany and Sweden, both of whom have already qualified for the main event in 2015, and Canada and Japan, who faced off twice in a matter of days.
Italy and the Netherlands stay in the running Italy, Ukraine, Scotland and the Netherlands were the four sides to win through to the European play-offs for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, with one slot available at next year’s tournament.
The semi-finals were held this week, with the Italians and the Dutch advancing to the winner-takes-all final.
After securing a 2-1 win in the first leg of their tie with Ukraine, Italy travelled to Lviv confident of completing the job. Their hopes of reaching the final looked to be receding, however, when Vira Dyatel scored either side of half-time to put the Ukrainians in charge. The outstanding Melania Gabbiadini promptly brought the Italians level on aggregate, with Patrizia Panico adding a second for the visitors 11 minutes from time to dash Ukraine’s hopes of making their world finals debut.
Like the girls in blue, the Netherlands also went into the second leg of their tie against Scotland with a 2-1 lead to defend, albeit on home soil in Rotterdam, where goals from Lieke Martens and Manon Melis completed a comfortable 4-1 aggregate win for the Dutch. The first leg of the final will be played on 22 or 23 November and the second leg four days afterwards.
Landmark win for Germany After tripping up against France, Germany got back to winning ways against Sweden in Orebro, in what was their 400th international. Silvia Neid’s side marked the occasion with a 2-1 win, coming from behind after 2014 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year candidate Lotta Schelin pounced on a Jennifer Cramer back-pass to put the Swedes ahead.
Dzsenifer Marozsan pulled the visitors level with a free-kick eight minutes later, with second-half substitute Alexandra Popp completing the German fightback 11 minutes from time.
“Our performance in every area of the pitch was very different to how we played against France,” said Neid afterwards. “We kept our shape and we were well-balanced at the back. We deserved the win and I’m pleased with our display.”
The Germans will next be in action on 23 November, when they take on England at Wembley.
Japan complete successful tour of Canada Reigning world champions Japan seem to have the measure of next year’s world finals hosts, earning back-to-back friendly wins over the Canadians this week. Fresh from cruising to a 3-0 victory in Edmonton last Saturday, the Japanese came out on top when the two sides met again in Vancouver on Tuesday, this time emerging 3-2 winners in an entertaining match watched by a crowd of 14,328.
Asano Nagasato began the goal feast by putting the Japanese ahead, with Sophie Schmidt levelling things up after the break. Yuki Ogimi restored the visitors’ lead only for Schmidt to score her second of the night with just minutes remaining. Canadian hopes of securing a creditable draw were dashed in the final seconds, however, when Aya Sameshima popped up to make it two wins out of two for the world title holders.