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Uprising England to test quality, inspiration of US squad

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-21 15:17

TIANJIN ?-- World No 1 women's soccer side the United States are
expecting a real challenge?in Tianjin?on Saturday from England.

It may look like a slightly easier-to-tell game comparing to other
last-eight matches as the DPR Koreans, which beat off the 2003 runners-up
Sweden to finish second to the US in Group B for a last-eight berth, play
defending champions Germany on Saturday, before the 1995 winners Norway
meet hosts China and South American survivors Brazil take surprising
package Australia on Sunday.

England's Vicky Exley (L) celebrates her goal with team mates during
their Group A soccer match against Argentina at the 2007 FIFA Women's
World Cup in Chengdu September 17, 2007. England advanced to
quarterfinals with a 6-1 win over Argentina. [Reuters]

But the US-England tie marks an encounter between a traditional force
with falling forms to the women's soccer world and an uprising one from
the home to the modern game.

Having played ugly in the group stage, the US wobbled briefly against
world No 5 DPR Korea, No 3 Sweden and five-time African champion Nigeria
in Group B, but managed to win the tournament's toughest group, showing
their best form only in a 2-2 draw opener with the swarming Koreans.

England, however, have been highly expected to emulate their men's team
in vying for a position in the world stage after making a fantastic run
in the three-week World Cup which was kicked off in five cities of China
last Monday.

As one of the hottest surprising packages, England have matched their
repute by outplaying Germany for parts of last Friday's game, especially
in the first half, though they had to withstand waves of German pressure
in the last 20 minutes.

In their last round-robin match on Monday, England again proved the
quality of their squad by routing Group A bottem team Argentina 6-1 after
playing a creative, flowing game, building from the back and attacking
the flanks.

With the near perfect victory, England made it through to the quarters as
the second finishers of Group A on 5 points, edging Asian promising side
Japan with only one point in advance.

Arsenal striker Kelly Smith, who is joint top scorer here with four goals
alongside Germany's Birgit Prinz and Brazil's Marta, was the outstanding
England player against Japan in their 2-2 opening tie and will also be
the European new force's key weapon against the US.

Their major blow will be midfielder Fara Williams who picked up a second
yellow cared in the Argentina match will miss the quarterfinal game.

The US, on the contrary, have only "impressed" with their surprising lack
of offense, only five goals and 22 shots on goal in the three games.

An uninspired 1-0 win over Nigeria in Tuesday's final first-round match
allowed them to win its group and escape a quarterfinal matchup with
defending champion Germany.

In chasing their third World Cup title, the US have to overcome the
hurdle placed by England in the quarters.

The two sides' head-to-head results favored the US as England last
defeated the US in 1988 and the Americans won two World Cups and Olympics
since then.

But in a tournament eight months ago in southern China, the English tied
the Americans 1-1 while the US played without five key starters including
strikers Abby Wambach and Kristine Lilly.

Winners of Saturday's game in Tianjin will get Brazil or Australia in the
semifinals with the September 30 final in sight.

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