SOCCER WORLD CUP ARTICLES

Four years ago, the United States women fell in their quest for the World Cup when they were beaten in penalties by Japan. Now, they have a chance for some vengeance, as these two teams meet once again on the grandest stage in women's soccer on Sunday in Vancouver.... 

Third place games are never easy to predict, as you never know how either side is going to react to losing just a few days early. England suffered the cruelest of heartbreaks against Japan, while Germany was bullied around by the United States. Neither could be in the best of shape heading into Saturday's penultimate match of this tournament.... 

Four years ago, 11 Japanese women made history, halting all of the horrid memories of the tsunamis in their homeland as they raised their first ever World Cup title.Japan still isn't the favored side to win this championship once again, but just the fact that it is favored over England to reach the finale for a second straight tournament is remarkable.... 

When the draw came out for the knockout rounds of the Women's World Cup, the world watched and waited for a potential semifinal tie between the United States and Germany. Now, that dream matchup has become a reality, and the winner of this fixture will surely be the favored side to hoist women's soccer's greatest prize on Sunday in Vancouver.... 

The defending champions are looking to repeat but a fiesty Australian side stands in their way. Who will advance in this meeting between Asian Federation rivals?... 

Fans of the United States Women's Team will never forget the side's first World Cup ever, a penalty kick shootout win over China in 1999 that brought women's soccer into the US in a big way.Both teams have fallen since that time though with the US no longer the invincible giant they once were and China only getting four points out of the Group Stage in order to meet in the Quarterfinals.... 

Everyone expected these two behemoths of women's soccer to meet here when the draw was announced and neither have disappointed with Germany cruising through their group and the Round of 16 with ease.Meanwhile France bounced back from a stunning loss to Colombia to put their last Group Stage match with Mexico and their Round of 16 match against South Korea out of reach early and have looked like the team we expected them to be at the start of the tournament.... 

The Canadians have the home field advantage and what should be a raucous crowd in Vancouver on Saturday night against England, but the Three Lionesses played their best game of the tournament yet against Norway in the Round of 16 and will be no pushover for the hosts of the Women's World Cup.... 

The United States hasn't been the most impressive team in the Women's World Cup this year, but it still has a tendency to be the most dominating team in Canada.A Round of 16 match against Colombia was a gift, as this is the weakest team left standing in the tournament.... 

You're not going to find a better Round of 16 match in the Women's World Cup than the duel between Norway and England.These two teams both had high hopes for a deep run in this tournament, but both are going to be tested dramatically on Monday night in Ontario.... 

It hasn't always been easy for Canada in the Women's World Cup this year.The Canadian women's team struggled to win an extremely easy Group A, and that definitely gives us pause for concern against Switzerland in the Round of 16 on Sunday.... 

Brazil was one of the two teams to secure the maximum nine points in the group stage in the Women's World Cup.The team's reward is a relatively easy draw in the Round of 16, a match against surprising Australia.... 

The knockout rounds of the Women's World Cup will begin on Saturday afternoon, and the opening match might be the most anticipated one.Germany, in spite of the fact that it was one of the most dominating sides in the group stage, has a horrible draw, beginning with a very dangerous Sweden team which underachieved in Group D.... 

Brazil has finally showed its true colors. The team which was expected to run away with the U-20 World Cup title this year never looked impressive in the tournament until the semifinals when it rolled up a 5-0 win over Senegal.
Many suspect that Saturday's match against Serbia is nothing more than a mere formality on the quest for Brazil's record-tying sixth U-20 championship.... 

Both Mali and Senegal should be very proud of their under-20 men's soccer teams. Both reached the semifinals of the U-20 World Cup in shocking fashion, and though both ended up bowing out there, one of the two will end up claiming third place in the consolation match of the World Cup.... 

It's not all that often that teams which faced each other in the opening round of the tournament play again in the knockout rounds.Mali will hope that it learned a lot of lessons from its initial game against Serbia, one which was lost 2-0.... 

Just the fact that there are two African teams in the Under-20 World Cup semifinals is quite the accomplishment. However, Senegal could find its road to a major championship dashed on Wednesday against the giants from Brazil.... 

The "Group of Death" in the Women's World Cup really shouldn't have been as much of a hassle as it has become for the United States.
The team is very fortunate to have four points in two fixtures, but because it hasn't gotten the full six points, it is going to have to snare a point in this third group match against Nigeria just to ensure safety into the Round of 16.... 

Japan became the first team in qualify for the Round of 16 of the Women's World Cup, and it will look to become the first team to finish off a perfect nine-point sweep of a group on Tuesday when it tangles with overmatched Ecuador.... 

Odds have it, Canada is going to end up being alright when it comes to qualifying for the Round of 16 in the World Cup no matter what happens on Monday night in Montreal.
However, it's going to take at least a point in this third and final match against the Netherlands to guarantee that its World Cup dreams will stay alive.... 

Brazil is one of the handful of teams given any legitimate opportunity to win the 2015 Women's World Cup.
After taking three points from its opening match, the team will head to Montreal, where Spain is going to be waiting in its second World Cup match in team history.... 

Cameroon posted one of the biggest victories of the first round of the World Cup when it blasted Ecuador 6-0.
The fun and games for the African side are over with though, as Japan, one of the favorites of the tournament is up next in what should be the decisive match in Group C.... 

When the World Cup draw came out last year, the most intriguing match on the docket is this second fixture in Group B. Pia Sundhage helped create this United States team over the course of the last several seasons. However, she is going to be the enemy to the USWNT for the first time in a competitive match now that she has taken over control of her homeland team of Sweden.... 

The expanded field at the World Cup has provided a ton of opportunities for first-time teams to get a taste of the biggest competition of the world.
That's how both of Tuesday's competitors, Spain and Costa Rica made it into the field in Canada.... 

Brazil is the heavy favorite to win Group E this year in the Women's World Cup. Though in theory, the Brazilians shouldn’t have any troubles in their first match, South Korea is a tactical side the likes of which could stick around in a game like this one....