Women’s World Cup first timers Côte d’Ivoire must have been feeling nauseous before this particular game, probably even when they first heard they would face Women’s World Cup giants Germany in their first ever WWC game. I would turn around and cry for my mother, though I am German, so maybe not. Ivory Coast, CIV, are a solid team, a unit. They win matches because of their togetherness, their team-spirit and their willingness to fight for the one another and the team. Germany is known for, eh, being Germany and featuring at the world stage for a long time.
The stadium
Line-up Germany: Angerer – Maier, Krahn, Bartusiak, Kemme – Gössling, Leupiolz – Laudehr, Popp – Sasic, Mittag.
Line-up Côte d’Ivoire: Thiamale – Kacou, Aguie, F. Coulibaly, Kpaho – Akaffou, Guehai – Nahi, Essoh, Elloh – B. Diakite
Goals Germany: Sasic – 3′ Germany: Sasic – 14′ Germany: Mittag – 29′ Germany: Sasic – 31′ (hat-trick) Germany: Mittag – 35′ Germany: Mittag – 64′ (hat-trick) Germany: Laudehr – 71′ Germany: Daebritz – 75′ Germany: Behringer – 79′ Germany: Popp – 85′
Substitutions Germany: Behringer in, Leopolz out (17′) CIV: Tchetche in, Kpaho out (38′) Germany: Daebritz in, Sasic out (46′) CIV: Nrehy in, Essoh out (51′) CIV: Nguessan in, Elloh out (72′) Germany: Petermann in, Laudehr out (73′)
Cards CIV: Akaffou – yellow – 36′ CIV: Thiamale – yellow – 40′ CIV: Aguie – yellow – 58′ CIV: Elloh – yellow – 66′ CIV: Coulibaly – yellow – 70′ CIV: Nahi – yellow – 86′
Game: Germany vs Côte d’Ivoire Attendance: 20,953
Germany’s Leonie Maier, left to right, Alexandra Popp, and Anja Mittag celebrate a goal as they take on Ivory Coast during FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, June 7, 2015. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT ORG XMIT: OTTK116
It was a pretty one-sided game. I suppose the score may have given that a way. Two players got their hat-trick, Sasic’s hat-trick was the quickest ever WWC hat-trick recorded. I can go into detail when it comes to the game, but it is probably better to let the statistics speak for themselves, I love statistics; Germany had 61% possession. Germany had 29 attempts (CIV 4), 17 on target attempts (CIV 2), 3 blocked shots (CIV 1), 12 corners (CIV 5) and 29 free-kicks versus 12 from CIV. Germany committed less fouls (12) compared to their opponents (29).
Germany were dominant, absolutely, but Côte d’Ivoire weren’t bad, not at all. If anything because of their defence, especially their amazing goalkeeper, we didn’t break our own record of biggest victory ever at a WWC. If it wasn’t for her, we would have won with a minimum of 5 more goals. It cannot be easy to face a giant like Germany at the first game of your country’s first every Women’s World Cup. Regardless of what everyone says, these ladies never gave up, they never stopped looking for that goal, they continued to play football, they continued to fight, they continued to defend. An incredible performance. They should be proud of that, I understand that can be difficult.
Player of the Match, officially was Anja Mittag. For me it was Côte d’Ivoire’s goalkeeper, Thiamale, and actually their whole team. What an incredible spirit they’ve shown during that game. It is admirable, it is incredible and it make me respect them as a team.
My player of the match
#FIFAWWC: Germany 10-0 Côte D'Ivoire #GER #CIV (via @StefNeuer) Women's World Cup first timers Côte d'Ivoire must have been feeling nauseous before this particular game, probably even when they first heard they would face Women's World Cup giants Germany in their first ever WWC game.
