MONTREAL — The Women’s World Cup semifinal clash between top-ranked Germany and the second-ranked United States will feature two of the best goalkeepers in the game in Nadine Angerer and Hope Solo.
The two women will be the last line of defense on Tuesday night for their teams, with is each seeking a spot in the final match. Historically, when the Germans have met the Americans in the World Cup, the winner has gone on to win the title.
Both teams have won it all twice: The United States in 1991 and ’99, and the Germans in 2003 and ’07.
Solo, despite being inundated at the start of the tournament with new revelations about her domestic violence arrest last June, has been nearly perfect. She has only allowed one goal — in the first half of the group-stage opener against Australia.
Since then, she’s posted four consecutive shutouts. The stout U.S. defense hasn’t conceded a goal in 423 minutes. Solo leads all goalkeepers at the World Cup with 11 saves.
In the 1-0 quarterfinal victory over China, Solo surpassed Briana Scurry with 134 wins by a U.S. goalkeeper.
“Hope’s absolutely world class,” midfielder Heather O’Reilly said. “We’re proud of her for that accomplishment. I know she has a big one in mind, and that’s to win the World Cup.”
Angerer, the former FIFA Player of the Year and the first goalkeeper to win the award, started for Germany in the 2007 World Cup and did not allow a goal on the way to the title, setting a World Cup record with 540 minutes played without a goal.
Angerer has nine saves in Canada. Germany has conceded three goals.
“I think a lot of people have respect for her,” U.S. defender Ali Krieger said. “She’s consistent, she’s confident, she does her job really well and she’s the leader of that team. They really look to her for making those MVP plays, and consistently does that at the right times.”
Angerer, 36, has said she plans to retire following the World Cup.
This is the fourth meeting between the two teams at the World Cup. In each instance the winner has gone on to claim the title.
The United States defeated Germany, 5-1, in the semifinals of the first women’s tournament in 1991, then went on to beat Norway in the final. They also won, 3-2, against Germany in the 1999 quarterfinals, beating Japan on penalty kicks in the final on home soil at the Rose Bowl.
The Germans beat the United States, 3-0, in Portland, Oregon, in the semifinals in 2003, then beat Sweden, 2-1, in Carson, California, for the team’s first title.
Overall, the United States is 18-4-7 against the Germans.
The victor will face the winner of the other semifinal between defending champion Japan, ranked No. 5 in the world, and sixth-ranked England at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Wednesday night. The final is set for next Sunday at BC Place in Vancouver.
The consolation match between the two losing teams will be held on Saturday in Edmonton.
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