Krieger familiar with German squad
MONTREAL — U.S. defender Ali Krieger is fluent in German, a language she learned during her six years under contract to the Frankfurt club in Germany’s Bundesliga system. And although that will allow her to understand much of what the Germans are saying during Tuesday’s Women’s World Cup semifinal, she’s not sure it will be of much help.
“I don’t know how quickly I’ll be able to tell my teammates,” she said.
But Krieger does have some other knowledge that figures to be useful. Because 19 of the 23 players on the German roster play in the Bundesliga — five are currently with Frankfurt — Krieger knows many of them intimately, both as teammates and opponents.
“I’ve played with them more than I played against them,” said Krieger, who has faced Germany just twice as a member of the U.S. national team. “They’re good one versus one, attacking. They can shoot from anywhere. And they’re strong in the air as well.”
Morgan Brian, whose play as a holding midfielder was key in the Americans’ quarterfinal win over China, also knows the Germans well, having played on a U.S. team that lost to them in group play, then beat them in the final of the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup.
“We’ve seen them before,” said Brian, who also beat Germany in the U-17 World Cup in 2008. “It takes an organized team to defend Germany. They’re so good on the ball and in tight spaces.
“Every time we play Germany, whether it’s the 20s or the youth team or on the full team level, it’s a physical game.”
Getting defensive: Brian, normally an attacking midfielder, said she defended more against China then in any game she’s ever played. That freed Carli Lloyd, Brian’s teammate on the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League, to play her best game of the tournament.
But with midfielders Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday returning from one-game suspensions, Brian said she’s uncertain if she’ll play against Germany. However, she said she’s ready for whatever role is handed to her.
“For me, it’s more of just doing what the team needs,” she said. “Yes, I want to go forward. And I have to hold myself back sometimes.”
U.S. draws record TV audience: Fox said the Americans’ quarterfinal win over China on Friday drew 5.7 million viewers, the third-largest audience for a women’s soccer game on U.S. television. The 1999 World Cup final between the U.S. and China and the Japan-U.S. final four years ago are the only games that were watched by more people.
The network also drew 5 million viewers for the U.S. win over Nigeria in the final game of group play.
Bardsley’s status uncertain: England lost goalkeeper Karen Bardsley early in the second half of its Saturday quarterfinal win over Canada with an apparent and unexplained eye infection. After the game, coach Mark Sampson said it was uncertain whether she would be available for Wednesday’s semifinal with Japan.
The English team did not update Bardsley’s condition Sunday.
Bardsley was attended to by trainers after her right eye swelled. She was replaced by Siobhan Chamberlain who was able to protect England’s one-goal lead.