INTERVIEW WITH WORLD CUP!
Now, let's move on! The battle for women's World Cup title will be in Group C, where defending champion Japan was placed with Ecuador, Switzerland and Cameroon. Both three others made their debuts.
Group C! Japan must be the strongest in all! However, just like France 1998 where Argentina was placed with Croatia, Jamaica and Japan (the men's), thing could be different.
Croatia, Jamaica, Japan in 1998 men's World Cup = Switzerland, Cameroon, Ecuador in 2015 women's World Cup. Interesting!
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8 June, 2015
Vancouver, Canada
BC Place…
Cameroon 6-0 Ecuador
Before the tournament, Ecuador's coach Vanessa Arauz said she had a bit of… inexperienced in this tournament. WHAT? Lacking skills, lacking players, lacking managing style? How could Ecuador survive when Ngachu Enow, a British-style manager of Cameroon, commented that Cameroon "will clean all the dirts of Brasil 2014".
Vancouver was the city which host the final.
Referee Katalin Kulcsár ordered the game to start. But quickly after the opening, Cameroon dominated the game. Ecuador is too weak! They could not manage any chance. Ecuador just tried to cheer: "Go on, girls!"
But Ecuador could just hole until 34'. It was a true disaster for Ecuador. Oh my Gosh a kick from Cameroonian forward! Goalkeeper Shirley got it but she dropped the ball! Oh, Madeleine Ngono Mani got it. SHOT! GOAL! 1-0 Cameroon. But it wasn't ended. Just two minutes later, from a far kick, ball got into Gaëlle Enganamouit. A GOAL! 2-0 Cameroon. Really to say, Ecuador was really in worries. She knew her team is not strong, but…
Bad referee was also a problem.
Katalin had awarded a penalty which I believed was not right. However, Christine Manie got it 3-0. Even so, I thought… sometimes, she got injured. Cameroon, she seemed too strong for Ecuador.
But that did not end. Chitoge Kirisaki, was it right? She was with me in the stade.
And again, second half saw bad referee decision. In 66', Ecuador's captain Ligia Moreira was sent off because fouling with Enganamouit. This time, Cameroon totally won! But I did not think this was a foul.
So be it, Ecuador totally collapsed. In 73', Enganamouit managed it 4-0, before two penalties from Gabrielle Onguéné in 79' and Enganamouit in 90+4' marked Cameroon biggest World Cup win: 6-0. Cameroon, she jumped with joys, while Ecuador, her chance seemed… to be closed.
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Vancouver, Canada
BC Place…
Japan 1-0 Switzerland
Japan! Asia's pride and proud! Japan was the defending champion, and so, the United States wanna revenge for sure. But according to FIFA, Japan and America would not be placed in a same group.
Emily F. Jones did not feel satisfied at all.
However, Switzerland, she managed long time enough for the tournament. After years and years, Switzerland could be proud for their first appearance in Women's World Cup, making them to be the first Central European team to have both men's and women's in World Cups.
Japan after the disastrous Brasil 2014 which Japan ended last with 1 pt, must transform quickly. Japan vs. Switzerland, began!
Japan opened their match really slow. They did not turn too fast so they made balance between line and line. Switzerland isn't Ecuador, so Japan hardly found the way she played.
"Sasaki, are you serious?"
Seriously. Kirisaki yelled: "GO JAPAN!" Funny. Because of pressing style, Japan must wait for luck… oh wait! Kozue Ando was coming! Goalkeeper Gaëlle Thalmann prevented it, but she HIT Kozue! A penalty, from Mexican referee!
And now, in 29', Aya Miyama got a chance! Shot! GOAL! 1-0 Japan! Japan 1-0 Switzerland. The Swiss launched a serious offensive on Japan's line, but none of them hit the target. Lucila Venegas' whistle ended first half 1-0.
Chitoge, were you really pro-soccer fan?
In second half, Japanese often made mistakes. Too bad the Swiss didn't too smart to breakthrough: some missed the ball; some kicked too far, too high; some was went outside. Japan did not be passive: they quickly reorganized and attacked the Swiss defense. Sugasawa's kick into the upright caused danger for the Alps' side. But no more goal, giving the match ended 1-0.
Japan after all, she showed her kimono during her visit to her Japanese community. Even Chitoge too.
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12 June, 2015
Vancouver, Canada
BC Place…
Switzerland 10-1 Ecuador
I wanna burn this, right now!
After watching this match, I felt like this could be the biggest loss ever for Ecuador. After the men's team loss 1 year ago, now Switzerland even made Ecuador's pain got worse.
I would list, again. Exactly same to Germany vs. Ivory Coast.
1-0: Angie Ponce (own goal), 24'.
2-0: Eseosa Aigbogun, 45+2'.
…
Okay first half was fine, but the second half was… crazy…
3-0: Fabienne Humm, 47'.
4-0: Fabienne Humm, 49'.
5-0: Fabienne Humm, 52'.
6-0: Ramona Bachmann (penalty), 60'.
7-0: Ramona Bachmann, 61'.
7-1: Angie Ponce (penalty), 64'.
8-1: Angie Ponce (own goal), 71'.
9-1: Martina Moser, 76'.
10-1: Ramona Bachmann, 81'.
After Rita Gani whistled ending which a… 10-1 result, I must yell…
ECUADORIAN HOLOCAUST! (at least they had 1 goal).
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Vancouver, Canada
BC Place…
Japan 2-1 Cameroon
Before the battle between Cameroon and Japan, they mentioned back about this battle. In South Africa 2010, Cameroon lost 0-1, therefore they were out.
Now, Cameroon and Japan, both had 1 win, must fight. Sweden allowed to start!
The battle began in favor for Japan. Norio Sasaki and Japan just waited to minute of 6 and the girls in yellow finally breakthrough! Aya Sameshima! GOAL! 1-0 Japan. Dorami was jumping. 5 minutes later, Japan, using a freekick, had taken the ball to Yuika Sugasawa's head. A heading! 2-0! Cameroon now got a trouble. But weird, Cameroon did not fall.
Japan ordered her players to attack. And they managed some dangerous chances. However, Ngachu's girls played defense really good, making Japan failed.
2-0, final score after 45'.
In the second, Japan and Cameroon kept conquering. Cameroon had a best chance from a freekick, but Onguéné was not success. Also, I saw a player with… black glasses. Might be Zouga or Feudjio. Freekick, outside kick… finally, in 90', from a fast and fascinating attack, Ajara Nchout scored a goal! 2-1, but too late.
Japan 2-1 Cameroon. Japan, she could feel happy for qualifying…
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16 June, 2015
Winnipeg, Canada
Winnipeg Stadium…
Ecuador 0-1 Japan
So be it…
Japan vs. Ecuador. I wondered what would happen.
Not so far, Ecuador was in bottom with no pt. Japan advanced to next round, but Ecuador's faith of hope might be the difference…
But Ecuador's hope was broken with an early goal from Yuki Ogimi in 5'. A heading goal. Header Yuki Ogimi scored 1-0. And I thought Japan would crush Ecuador again.
But it was wrong.
Vanessa Arauz and her students, after hearing the cheer from Ecuador, started defending, playing and making pressure on Japan. Japan also dominated entire the match, but they could not score.
1-0, half time.
And the second half, nothing was change. Chitoge Kirisaki, to hide her father, a yakuza Lord, must find Raku as soon as possible. Due to his missing, she ran out, making me alone at the stand. I might go sit with other, notably Black Widow. But she rejected it.
So I must have to wait. Sincerely, what's wrong?
Japan still managed more ball, but Ecuador's defense still stayed strong. The problem was, Japan's scorers were fully separated. I did think, could that be Norio Sasaki's balancing plan?
Japan and Ecuador kept on.
…
…
And over! Ecuador 0-1 Japan! Right now Chitoge hunted and found Raku. Ecuador lost this match with proud because they did not lose 0-6 or 1-10 anymore. Ecuador was out, but they could feel proud on it.
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Edmonton, Canada
Commonwealth Stadium…
Switzerland 1-2 Cameroon
Now, the last fight, was between the Swiss and Cameroonians. Unlike Ecuador, they felt… more stressful.
Before the clash, Cameroon spoke to the media that she "must beat Switzerland". But I was not really sure on it.
The battle began! Miss Uruguay and Mr. Uruguay got a break.
Switzerland at first showed a bit of passive in front of Cameroon's move. In here, a bit of same could happen. And Martina Voss-Tecklenburg students launched a sudden attack! Danger in Cameroon's line! Dickenmann passed to Bachmann, as she broke their offside's trap, getting ball to Ana-Maria Crnogorčević! Ana-Maria shot! 1-0 Switzerland!
Switzerland got the lead. But Cameroon seemed not surrender quickly. Enow shouted: "Don't give up!" The Cameroonians tried again many times, but the first half hadn't changed. 1-0 for European side.
And so, Ngachu Enow had whispered to Cameroon something. I believed this black woman had smiled a lot, with a big plan.
Second half. After facing a ton of attack, now Cameroon decided to do the same. Sadly, I was in dreamy, so I almost forgot to wake up until…
…
…
"GOAL! Gabrielle Onguéné! In 47' she scored a goal, which managed a 1-1 draw for Cameroon!"
1-1! Gabrielle again! Now this could really be fun. The battle turned more tense and more clashes between two side. But only one remained victory.
In 62', again Onguéné had made a pass! The ball was driven to… the head of Ngono Mani! She took a header! GOAL! GOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! 2-1 for Cameroon!
I was sure about Cameroonians' happiness, because one year ago, Samuel Eto'o and his team failed and returned home embarrassingly. Now, Cameroon ladies showed up!
And… the Cameroonians kept attacking. They conquered Swiss defense. Now, Switzerland lost its balance, just trying to hold the line! And it was…
Later, it was over!
Switzerland lost! But they managed their third place, hope for seeking a ticket to qualify. Meanwhile, with Cameroon, they would join Japan. Ecuador was out.
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After all, I could see only one thing: Japan played so slow but well-defended and quick attack. Ecuador was too lack of experience, but Cameroon and Switzerland did make a great performance.
With all of these, I smiled. Ecuador, Cameroon, Switzerland and Japan, both four girls did not feel too bad. Even Ecuador. If this were Venezuela she would never make that mistake, but… Ecuador…
What' ever. About Cameroon, they could be happy now.
Ecuador: I feel, being eliminated in a group that containing so many top teams, that was predicted. However, we have learnt a lot from the tournament. Soon, we will return with a new face. I hope our girls keep standing.
Japan: Once again, I did believe that we could manage a storm conquer in our group. But with only 1 goal distance, that was satisfied us. We qualified through, and… at least we did not fall into Spain's crash.
Switzerland: That is our debutant, and I'm glad that our girls had been ready for the next journey. However, I did not feel okay at all. We just qualified as the third-place one. This must be fixed before the round of sixteen.
Cameroon: Our dolls had been performing well. I can't agree more. However, their journey in the sea is not ended. We was qualified, but we must prove now. Nobody wanna see an useless team and so we must be ready.
I think, Thailand did not have a chance after Switzerland played like that…