Group D
The Big Match
Brazil vs. China (Sept. 15 in Wuhan) – New world power versus old world power. Brazil, the rising stars of the beautiful game, against the host nation, an equally talented and athletic side. An entertaining match to be sure, especially when first place is up for grabs.
Schedule
Sept. 12: New Zealand vs. Brazil in Wuhan
Sept. 12: China vs. Denmark in Wuhan
Sept. 15: Denmark vs. New Zealand in Wuhan
Sept. 15: Brazil vs. China in Wuhan
Sept. 19: China vs. New Zealand in Tianjin
Sept. 19: Brazil vs. Denmark in Hangzhou
What The Experts Say
Helen Stoumbos, Analyst, CBC Sports:
I’m picking Brazil to take first over China because they can score goals. It’s been shown China can be scored on.
The one thing about China is that they will do whatever they have to do to make it through. They’re playing at home. If it means training 10 hours a day, they’ll do it. That’s kind of their mentality – they work hard. I can’t imagine them not making it out of the group.
Brazil is just too talented. They’ve proven they can defend as they didn’t concede a goal at the Pan Am Games. Defensively they’re getting stronger. And I think the talk of the tournament is going to be Marta. She is just amazing.
As for Denmark, they recently lost badly to Germany and lost to Sweden, I just don’t think they are confident going into the tournament.
And New Zealand, they don’t have the international experience to compete. The fact Australia was taken out of that region really gives them no one to play against.
Predicted finish: 1. Brazil, 2. China, 3. Denmark, 4. New Zealand.
Craig Forrest, Analyst, CBC Sports:
This is another tough group. I think China is going to go through as winners with Denmark coming out on top of Brazil for second.
China is a well organized team, very technical. Brazil can mix it up too that way, but I’m going to stick with China and Denmark going through. Brazil is getting better and there’s been a lot of attention around them, but Denmark has that physical advantage.
The Chinese are just great passers of the ball and they’re playing at home.
Predicted finish: 1. China, 2. Denmark, 3. Brazil, 4. New Zealand
Signa Butler, Editor, 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup, CBCSports.ca:
Initially looking at this group, I would have picked Brazil and China as the favourites, but something in my gut is telling me to watch out for Denmark.
After missing out on the last two World Cups, Denmark will be hungry. They have a size advantage over both Brazil and China and their key players have a ton of experience - Merete Pedersen up front and Anne Dot Eggers Nielsen in the midfield, to name a few. Though they had that bad loss to Germany earlier this summer, they were also the runners-up to the United States at the Algarve Cup in March. Not too shabby an accomplishment. They will have to overcome the heat and humidity in China. They seem to get up for big games.
Brazil just has too many scoring threats. I think Marta and Cristiane are going to rip New Zealand apart in that opening game (on Sept. 12) and their quickness will be no match for Denmark.
No one can deny China’s talent, especially their two strikers, but I don’t think they have the edge to handle a feisty team like Brazil and they don’t have the size to compete with Denmark.
New Zealand is young and athletic, but they don’t have the experience to compete with the likes of this group. Being the class of the Oceania region is one thing, but I’m pretty sure a team of Helen, Craig, Dick [Howard] and I could beat the likes of Tonga and Papua New Guinea in that region as well.
I’m picking Brazil to go through in first with Denmark squeaking into the second round on goal differential over China.
Predicted finish: 1. Brazil, 2. Denmark, 3. China, 4. New Zealand
