Germany beat Japan 3-0, showing true class
(fifaworldcup.com)
Updated: 2003-09-25 10:01

European champions Germany showed their true class, making easy meat of Japan 3-0 at Crew Stadium in Columbus Ohio. Never allowing the Asians to get their free-flowing game going, a goal from Sandra Minnert and a brace from Birgit Prinz saw the Germans confirm their dominance in Group C.

Not long after their 6-0 dismantling of Argentina, the Asians looked toothless against the stiffer German opposition. Unable to resist the size, speed and power of the Europeans, they looked out of their league in their second match.

With the help of a strong wind at their back, Japan enjoyed the better of the opening action against the German favourites. The Europeans nearly captured an undeserved lead after ten minutes as Nozomi Yamago had to be at her best to keep out a stinging half-volley by FFC Frankfurt's Renata Lingor.

However, as the first half progressed, the Japanese struggled to come to terms with the European champion's physical strength. Germany's advantage almost paid off when Kerstin Garefrekes found Birgit Prinz bursting into the box only to find her close-range shot blocked by the Asian defence (13').

The goal allowed the Germans to momentarily take their foot off the gas pedal, but the relaxation did not last long and they extended their lead after the half hour mark. Tomoe Sakai was dispossessed, allowing Maren Meinert to turn provider for the on-rushing Prinz who slotted the ball under the reach of Yamago (2-0, 36).

Japan looked down and out, but they were nearly thrown a lifeline shortly before the interval when a shot just outside the box by Mio Otani was nearly deflected past the helpless Silke Rottenberg, but the ball went just over the crossbar.

Meinert struck the frame again just minutes after the break, this time from a corner. The experienced forward rose strongly in front of the Japanese goalkeeper at the near post, but the ball came back from the crossbar and was cleared by the Japanese defence (49’).

Germany continued to have the run of play, and Japan tried to stem the tide with a double substitution just before the hour mark. On came Miyuki Yanagita and Eriko Arakawa, but they failed to slow down the in-form Europeans (56’).

Reflecting their dominance, the Germans added another goal when Wiegmann sent a wonderfully accurate pass into the path of the marauding Prinz. The defence gave her just enough room and her sliding left-footed blast curled around the Japanese goalkeeper and squashed the hopes of the rising sun (3-0, 66’). It was her third tally in the finals so far.

As Germany coasted to the finish line, Japan were given time and room to express their obvious skill. Naoko Kawakami did well on the right side of the German box, setting up Sawa at the top of the area. However, the attacking midfielder’s shot sailed just past the upper-left corner of the goal (74’).

The Japanese almost got on the scoreboard twice more before the end. The first chance came when Otani’s left-footed shot from 20 yards skimmed the top of the crossbar (78’), and substitute Yanagita lofted her free-kick too high as well (80’).

After the match, German coach Tina Theune-Meyer pinned her side's dominance on one thing: "The main factor was our physical advantage. We were able to get a lot of scoring opportunities from that ... But, we still have a lot of aspects of our game that we can improve, for instance, we could be more creative and more solid on the defensive end."

The Japanese coach responded, "I knew we had a huge disadvantage in terms of physical strength, and I thought we could make up the difference with our skill and decision making. But, the Germans do that well also, so we need to keep improving on that in order to make up for our lack of physical prowess."