INTERVIEW WITH WORLD CUP!
Going through Group A, let's say hello to Group B. Both of us can see the big difference and experience in here.
More surprises from it.
In Group B, we can see two former champions: Germany and Norway, both joined all 6 previous World Cups. Germany won 2003 and 2007 while Norway got it in 1995. This 7th edition would be their best chances. But in here I can say more surprises like I'd said: 1st was Ivory Coast, Africa's weakest team in World Cup appeared after shocking 1-0 win over South Africa, a real giant of women's football… sorry, soccer, in Africa; and the 2nd big surprise: Thailand. This was the second ASEAN team after Australia to participate it.
Thailand… you had eliminated Vietnam in Thong Nhat, I'm not going to forget this… "banana Thais"…
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7 June, 2015
Ottawa, Canada
Lansdowne Stadium…
Norway 4-0 Thailand
Before the match, Nuengruethai Sathongwien and Thailand showed in press conference. They smiled: "When we smile, Norwegians should watch out!" Norway's face turned dark. Even Pellerud got mad…
"ASEAN… all are bunch of copiers… stole from EU… Costa Rica, Morocco, Lithuania, Poland, the United States, Czech Republic… are all victims of flag stealers from Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines… Only Australia is clean."
I smelt that darkness inside…
…
…
Lansdowne Stadium saw so many Norwegian fans secured the A stand. However, the Thais dominated the B.
And for the first time, they heard not just the Norwegian anthem, but also the Thai one… First ASEAN anthem in Women's World Cup since Australia's appearance in the AFC. Right after Burmese in U-20.
"ประเทศไทยรวมเลือดเนื้อชาติเชื้อไทย
เป็นประชารัฐ ไผทของไทยทุกส่วน…"
(Thailand unites its people with flesh and blood,
Every inch of Thailand belongs to the Thais…)
And the match began! Surprisingly, the Thais played pressing right at the opening. But when Mr. Sathongwien did not completely finish yet, suddenly, a foul was made by Natthakam Chinwong caused for Norway a freekick. Standing there was Trine Rønning.
Norway yelled: "DO IT NOW!" Only then she kicked. But the kick had become… GOAL! GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! 1-0 NORWAY! In 16' Trine scored 1-0! Even Pellerud laughed in Norwegian, while behind me was… Thor. If you watch Norse mythology, Thor is from Nordic Europe.
"Good job girls! We should finish it quickly!"
New Zealander referee did not complete too. When she just started for another kickoff, the ball got into Norwegian hands. Now, Norway wanna destroy Thailand. They launched another attack. Oh, I could see Norway. Her dress was a Viking uniform. The Vikings never laughed like the Thais and… WTF? Herlovsen! The number 9 player crossed through all the Thai defenders! She kicked and… GOAL! 2-0 Norway! 29'
When the Thais still being shocked, another… GOAL! Another goal! I was talking to Thor, forgot the goal! Isabell Herlovsen! 3-0 and second goal. Now the Thais totally collapsed. Good header.
I got bored now. Please, let me go to second half.
Norway, once again, she yelled to dominate the match. Seemed like 3-0 was not satisfied her. Ada Hegerberg used her brain to be in Thailand's defense but kept balance until she got a ball! 4-0! End of the match. Thailand 0-4 Norway! Former world champion and ASEAN, definitely ASEAN were not match to Nordics. But the unlikely story for Thailand at least ended after goalkeeper Warapom Boonsing made history: avoid a penalty kick! Maren Mjelde should be mad, but at least Norway could smile. Her face looked happier.
4-0! Good opening for Norway. However, Nuengruethai did not give up easily… I smelt the penalty's prevent might bring a success for Thailand.
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Ottawa, Canada
Lansdowne Stadium…
Germany 10-0 Ivory Coast
Because the next match… oh, I wouldn't tell you… 10-0! WOW! I would not tell much, but in entire of the match, what was you seeing? Only Germany's domination. If Yaya and Kolo Touré had been girls thing could have been different. Too bad Miss Ivory Coast did not. Like a 7-1 excepted Ivory Coast is too weak to compare… with Brazil.
I would list:
1-0: Célia Šašić in 3' (the African Croatian).
2-0: Célia Šašić in 14'.
3-0: Anja Mittag in 29'.
4-0: Célia Šašić in 31'.
5-0: Anja Mittag in 35'.
…
6-0: Anja Mittag in 64'.
7-0: Simone Laudehr in 71'.
8-0: Sara Däbritz in 75'.
9-0: Melanie Behringer in 79'.
10-0: Alexandra Popp in 85'.
Only watching it I saw Tadase Hotori sick… for the lost. He was eventually carried by Amu. Meanwhile I checked I-phone, again. I would tell you, this was Ivorian Holocaust… in soccer language.
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11 June, 2015
Ottawa, Canada
Lansdowne Stadium…
Germany 1-1 Norway
I heard it.
Miss Silvia Neid is a clever woman. She did not make any mistake. Mark Evans should learn from this woman something. So now I invited him here, despite that he knew a lot about her.
"If the Inazuma won it would be different."
Sashi and Penn sat together but waiting Boone wasting their time. But the match must go. Sashi saw the first surprise. Norway's defenders lost ball and yes, it came to Hungarian German Dzsenifer Marozsán. She kicked far but not hit the target. However, goalkeeper Ingrid Hjemseth lost control, helping Anja Mittag for… GOAL! 1-0! Thor was not happy.
I just could not feel amazed. Germany is already a powerhouse.
But the match turned out to be boring. The Germans did not dominate like before, meanwhile ex-Queen Norway gained control about that. The last thing I saw, Thor did nothing.
1-0 for Germany after first half. Subsequently, I looked back to Sashi Kobayashi. Meanwhile I saw Penny Peterson made appearance. I asked Thor and he did not mind.
Second half came out with no change. But a bit different. Norwegian player was fouled in German ground. Right on penalty area. Sadly only a freekick was made. That's enough. Norway's Maren Mjelde got a kick and… OH! 1-1! NORWAY DRAWS 1-1! Unless you are a player from Norway, Sweden, Italy or France, or you will never know how to defeat Germany. That was simple, because German women are the biggest lovers of women's soccer in Europe.
Enough! I saw again and this time managing 1-1 draw was enough. Germany and Norway got 4 points, forcing Thailand and Ivory Coast to fight. Just like Group A World Cup 2014.
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Ottawa, Canada
Lansdowne Stadium…
Ivory Coast 2-3 Thailand
But this was a decisive moment. Thais vs. Ivorians. Elephants vs… Elephants! Wow! Elephants fought against Elephants, no wonder.
Referee Domka from the United States thought that she could relax. But seriously, she worked harder than she thought.
First half began! Ivory Coast, she knew what to do now. She threw Ange N'Guessan and she finally helped Ivory Coast. In a chaos corner kick, she appeared in a right place and oh… GOOOAAAALLLLLLLLL! 1-0 for Ivory Coast! First goal ever in this tournament. Ivory Coast scored. But just for few minutes, Thailand went up.
"Don't scare, girls!"
She encouraged. And Thais launched an offensive. This could be their best chance. But they must wait to 26' (the goal was… offside). SCORE! Orathai Srimanee got a ball from her teammate and GOAL! 1-1! A GOAL IN… OFFSIDE! Ivory Coast accused the referee and she shouted: "OFFSIDE! OFFSIDE!" But no one listened…
And so be it, Thailand ATTACK! There it was. An offside goal must cause a big trouble for Ivory Coast. Orathai Srimanee and her team forced Ivory Coast to defend, but weak game caused another goal for Thailand, only this time the goal was onside. Orathai Srimanee, again.
Ivory Coast 1-2 Thailand.
Referee controversies continued. Second half saw Ivorians used their stamina, speed and strength to fight. Lacking of skills, Ivory Coast's attack could not become a threat. And so then, Thailand launched another… oh wait.
I stood up! It was another offside! Why referee did not mention? The ball was given to Anootsara Maijarem which in offside and later she sent to Thanatta Chawong. And she scored from a header. 3-1 for Thailand which two of them were not deserved. Because of Domka mistake, I got sick and left, did not found Josée Nahi's goal in 88'. Ivory Coast 2-3 Thailand final score.
This was Thailand's first ever victory in a World Cup. They did performance better than neighbor Myanmar, who totally sucked in 2015 U-20 World Cup with all three losses.
Well great job madame Thailand. Sadly, you won unfair.
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15 June, 2015
Winnipeg, Canada
Winnipeg Stadium…
Thailand 0-4 Germany
And a team which won unfair must pay a lot. Thailand battled against Germany, former world champion. Germany still built up hope for vengeance against the Asians, definitely must be the Japanese, for 2011 lost. Thailand was their modest target.
Germany started not bad. Thailand did the same to Norway. Even so…
"Hey Penny, look!"
Sherman showed that. An attack! Not from Germany but from Thailand! Sadly Thailand did not know to use, definitely easy… to execute… Thailand. Germany launched an offensive and… a corner kick. From Behringer. It went high, headed to Melanie Leupolz! And GOAL! 1-0! Germany 1-0 Thailand! But this was their only goal in 1st half.
I kept spending a moment…
…
Second half! Now, Germany guessed that they must smash the Thais. So they reinforced players.
"Go on!"
Prussia! She was backing Germany! After being a shadow for two matches, Prussia must appear. Prussia+Germany would be a big test for Thailand as she was worrying.
"Damn it!"
And now the Thais could not hole their defense much longer. In this half, Germany's health and skill's advantages were completely proved: they managed a deadly attack. Prussia ordered or not, yet Thais just stood there.
"God damn it!"
An attack from Germany. They were making dangerous. A bunch of bomb from German side. Oh! A kick! Ball was falling and… 2-0! GOAL! A goal from … that could destroy any Thai's chances. But the Germans did not allow the Thais anything.
They battled again. Only now, ASEAN team were no match to ex-Queen.
A corner kick! Penny Peterson threw the ball to the ballboy and he threw to German player …. She took a kick and…
What a… SHOCK! An attack from Germany. Chaos in Thailand's ground… OH YES! Thailand 0-3 Germany! Once again …. Thailand totally collapsed. She did not believe on her eyes.
"Buddha, please save us!"
German tanks seemed not to stop. They kept marching on and now they assaulted the Thais. They would not give any chance for Thailand. Prussia yelled: "DESTROY THEM ALL! SHOW THEM THE POWER OF GERMANY!" It might close to the New Day. Thailand failed to resist. Germany claimed that this could be their final goal, and they were correct. Referee did not come close to see, but if she had seen it, she would have felt sorry for not playing soccer.
A breakable moment! A shot! A… GOAL! Thailand 0-4 Germany and German game was completed successfully. Thailand's dream was over, from now.
I did not see the last goal because I bought a hamburger, but I must say from my eyes, this goal had eliminated Thailand. ASEAN 0-4 EU! Thailand 0-4 Germany! Game over!
Whistle was blown! Nuengruethai Sathongwien and his team did not feel disappointed although Thailand wasn't same. With Germany, they went top, 7 points, and only 1 draw.
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Moncton, Canada
Moncton Stadium…
Ivory Coast 1-3 Norway
Two losses, two goals, no point, Ivory Coast was completely eliminated despite they might qualify as the best third-place team. But it was just a dream. Norway, another big stone, would not let this chance thrown away. They would make another 10-0!?
Norway told to me: "This time, I will show that big sister is back!"
And I'd a reason to trust.
With me, I felt sorry for Ivorians. They were not strong enough. If they were Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Ghana or Cameroon, thing could be very different.
Referee had allowed to start the game! I saw it now. Oh boy, it was Thor too. Without Loki, he could spend a day watching the match. Clementine Touré saw it, he prayed in European traditional Christianity. Thanked Thor…
But Ada Hegerberg quickly grabbed a chance, she got a free pass from her teammate, and in a thin corner, she shot! 1-0 Norway! But things did not end so fast.
The first half, Ivory Coast was in passive way. They were under siege. And nobody knew what would happen later? Norway got a lot of chance, but 1-0 was first half score.
Second half, nothing change. Oh wow, a pass! This time, Ada got on her feet. She ran and ran and ran… OH! 2-0! Norway finished the game. But Norway did not stop. A freekick and Norway took a shot! The ball grabbed to Norwegians. And it came Solveig Gulbrandsen. A header! 3-0! Norway destroyed Ivory Coast this time.
But this wasn't going over. In a week offensive led by Ange N'Guessan, she got a super punch from outside the range! 1-3! Despite that could change nothing, this goal must be awarded as the best goal in this tournament.
Thor left away, no wonder he did not know that goal!
Over! Ivory Coast 1-3 Norway. Ivorians had lost all 3, and were out. I guessed Ivory Coast would have learnt a lots from their debuting tournament.
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After all, I arrived to the press conference. Germany, Norway and Prussia seemed not too worry, but with Thailand, they got worried. Three points with a worse goal difference (-7), could they get out from the group stage safety?
Before the conference, Germany went out, leaving Prussia to speak…
Thailand: "Look, you admire Vietnam? Vietnam is not here! They are out! By us! And anyway, we told you, we don't give up any hope to get passing through! Even smallest! We have won and we would not give up!"
Prussia: "Germany won the 1st, but I felt disappointed about our performance in the match against Norway. We could have won all! However, we will turn out to the knockout round. Die Mannschaft!"
Norway: "In honor of my Viking peoples, I must say this is our wonderful comeback! Outcome the darkness Germany 2011, we'd fixed it and we would not lose again!"
Ivory Coast: "I saw this tournament is our wonderful ever tournament we had joined. We are out, but we did not feel sorry. Ivory Coast had played with all costs. Clementine Touré is a good manager. Soon, we will make a return to World Cup. And I will not let the Muslim-Christian divine preventing us. Toujour Elephants!"
(Ivory Coast's speech so special. I knew what was she saying. In Ivory Coast, over 25% believed in regional religions or atheists, but over 38% Muslims living in Northern Ivory Coast while 35%-37% Christians living in Southern. Another Nigeria. Ivory Coast everyday had to watch out the North which Muslims mainly dominated, because of afraid for another Boko Haram although it was not happened yet.)
Well then, Thailand got last hope, but would other opponents wanna mercy? With Norway and Germany, their journey got harder and harder. Ivory Coast could say farewell in honor…