Women’s World Cup: Germany vs. England third-place preview

  

Both teams will want to finish their Women’s World Cup run on a high note.

After losses to the United States and Japan respectively, Germany and England still have something to play for: third place. There’s no podium in this competition, but both teams will want to finish their Women’s World Cup run on a high note.

Here’s all you need to know about Saturday’s game, and how we think it will play out.

Germany (1) vs. England (6)

Location: Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton

Time: 4 p.m. ET

TV: TSN 1, 3, 4, 5

Last game: In one of the great upsets of the tournament, the U.S. defeated the world No.1 in 2-0 in a match where controversial refereeing took centre stage. England lost a heartbreaker against holders Japan when Lionesses fullback Laura Bassett scored aninjury-time own goal to secure a 2-1 win for her opponents.

At stake: Pride, and the highest finish either of these teams can hope for.

Players to watch: Germany’s Celia Sasic, in contention for the tournament’s Golden Ball award as the top player in the competition, will be gunning to make up for a missed penalty versus the Americans. England centre-back Steph Houghton will be charged with watching Sasic but the German’s must pay attention to her going forward as well; she’s the player the Lionesses look for on set pieces.

Projected Starting XI

Germany: Nadine Angerer (GK), Saskia Bartusiak (DF), Leonie Maier (DF), Annike Krahn (DF), Simone Laudehr (MF), Melanie Leupolz (MF), Lena Goessling (MF), Tabea Kemme (MF), Anja Mittag (F), Celia Sasic (F), Alexandra Popp (F)

England: Karen Bardsley (GK), Claire Rafferty (DF), Steph Houghton (DF), Laura Bassett (DF), Lucy Bronze (DF), Jade Moore (MF), Fara Williams (MF), Jill Scott (MF), Katie Chapman (MF), Toni Duggan (F), Jodie Taylor (F)

What to expect: The Lionesses put in a valiant effort this tournament, coming back from an opening game 1-0 loss to France to win their next four matches. They were oh-so-close to taking Japan to extra time but couldn’t hold on to the draw past stoppage time. Still, England was lucky to get a penalty called after Houghton dove in the box. Germany will have to be careful against the English on set plays, but the first-ranked team, who many predict would be World Cup winners once again come Sunday night, should have the quality necessary to finish third.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

World Cup third-place play-off: England v Germany
Venue: Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada Date: Saturday, 4 July Kick-off: 21:00 BST Coverage: Live on BBC Three, BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sport website

Mark Sampson wants his team to become England's second best World Cup side ever by defeating Germany in their third-place play-off on Saturday.

If England win - and they have never beaten Germany in 20 attempts - their achievement will only be bettered by the men winning the 1966 World Cup.

England's men came fourth after they were knocked out of the semis in 1990.

"There's only one English team that's finished higher than third, we're determined to join that club," he said.

"There's only us and the 1966 team that have won as many games at World Cups - it's an incredible achievement.

"So we want to give ourselves the best chance of achieving something special on Saturday, making more history."

Germany have been European champions six times in a row and Sampson added: "I think we'll look at it as a champions of Europe match. We can't win the world title, but this is the next best thing."

England, ranked sixth in the world, are set to move up to their highest ever ranking after reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time.

And despite the dramatic nature of England's semi-final defeat by Japan - when Laura Bassett's injury-time own goal gifted the reigning champions victory - Sampson said his side would need no motivation as they take on the world's number one team in Edmonton.

Sampson added that Bassett, 31, would recover from her disappointment to face Germany, describing her as an "England warrior".

Regardless of what happened, it wouldn't surprise me if she was a contender for a place in the team of the tournament," he said.

"If I walked away now they [England] would turn up on Saturday and absolutely go for it. I won't but I don't think this team will need any extra motivation. It's England versus Germany."

The road to the play-off
England	Germany
1-0 defeat by France (Group F)	10-0 win v Ivory Coast (Group B)
2-1 win v Mexico (Group F)	1-1 draw v Norway (Group B)
2-1 win v Colombia (Group F)	4-0 win v Thailand (Group B)
2-1 win v Norway (round of 16)	4-1 win v Sweden (round of 16)
2-1 win v Canada (quarter-finals)	5-4 win on penalties v France after 1-1 draw (quarter-finals)
2-1 defeat v Japan (semi-finals)	2-0 defeat v USA (semi-finals)

The game against Germany, who were beaten 2-0 by the United Statesin their semi-final, completes a full circle for Sampson's World Cup campaign.

After taking over 18 months ago, Sampson's side were thumped 3-0 by Silvia Neid's team at Wembley last November, his first taste of a match against one of women's football's superpowers.

But the Welshman, who calls two-time world champions Germany the "queens of women's football", said lessons learned on that evening had been crucial to England's success in Canada.

"It was a huge moment to play at the home of football, something the girls have been dreaming of their whole lives and when we reflect back on it, it was too much for us," he added.

"Since then, we've worked hard on the emotional side of the game and in my opinion we have been the best in this tournament at managing emotions and taking us to levels we never thought possible."

After 10 years in charge of Germany, the game will be Neid's last at a World Cup before she steps down at the end of the year.

"This German team have got the greatest coach in the history of the women's game," Sampson added.

"Their team will want to win her last game for Sylvia and they will be wounded, they don't lose two games in a row, so it's an immense challenge. Let's go there, give it our best shot, make more history."