•Eye history against Germany
•Kick-off time 12 am
The final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 comes up tonight at the Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada. The match is a repeat of the 2010 showpiece between the then hosts Germany and Nigeria. That game went the way of the European side, an outcome the in-form Nigerians will be aiming to avenge to tonight.
This is the fourth time the ultra-consistent Germans have reached the final of the competition and the third in a row, though the Super Falconets can also lay claim to being a powerhouse in this age group, having checked into their second final in the last three tournaments. Given those impressive records, tonight’s showdown will reveal much about the balance of power in the women’s youth game.
Nigeria’s 6-2 defeat of Korea DPR was the biggest win ever seen in the semi-finals of the competition and saw their attacking spearhead Asisat Oshoala become only the third player to score four goals in a match in the history of the competition. The rampant Nigerians have made a habit of scoring early and then overwhelming their rivals with their strength and speed, a winning formula they will be out to repeat against the Germans.
Maren Meinert’s side are a formidable unit, however, and have barely put a foot wrong at Canada 2014. Making the most of their opportunities in front of goal, they saw off a strong France side in the last four and now have their sights set on repeating their 2010 final win on home soil, one that saw the Germans lift the U-20 Women’s World Cup trophy for a second time. To achieve that, they will almost certainly need Meike Kamper to maintain her fine form and blunt the threat posed by the lethal Oshoala.
Meanwhile, Korea DPR will take on France in the third place play-off.
Buoyed by their victorious campaigns at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012 and the UEFA European Women’s Under-19 Championship Wales 2013, France arrived in Canada full of confidence. But despite turning on the style and creating more chances than their opponents in most of their games, Les Bleuettes became increasingly goal-shy, paying the price for their erratic finishing against the Germans.
Russia 2006 champions Korea DPR will be looking to striker Ri Un-Sim to fire them to third place. Her duel with France centre-half and captain Griedge M’Bock Bathy, herself a potent goal threat, could prove decisive.
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