The 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany is filled with all of the drama and intrigue usually reserved for the more widely publicized leagues and tournaments like the World Series, Wimbledon or the Superbowl.
The cup began on June 26 when women from 16 countries took to the field. And now, after two weeks of hard fought battles, and plenty of sweat and tears, the table is finally set for the remaining four teams.
The semis are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Japan is taking on Sweden in game one and the US will face France in game two. The winner of each match will head to the final on Sunday.
For everyone out there who is relatively new to the cup, I’m sure you’ve heard about Team USA’s improbable overtime win over favored Brazil last Sunday. According to Bloomberg news it was the most watched women’s world cup game in the last 12 years and brought ESPN their second highest ratings in network history.
So, in celebration of their physical prowess on the field, their fortitude and determination, we at Shewired would like to introduce you to the most impressive of them all.
10. Lotta Schelin, 27, Forward, Sweden
Schelin scored her first goal and played her strongest game to date, during Sweden’s 3-1 win over Australia. She was named the player of the match for her efforts. In 2004, Schelin was named Sweden’s breakthrough player of the year and in 2006 she was awarded the Forward of the Year award for in the Swedish Premier Division.
9. Karina Maruyama, 18, Forward, Japan
Maruyama stunned fan favorite (and host country) Germany during the quarterfinal match between Japan and Germany. Maruyama entered the game as a substitution during extra time and went on to score the game winner. She has compiled a pretty impressive resume for her young age; in the 63 games she has played for Japan, she has recorded 13 goals. In 2008, Maruyama was named as the under-17 Women’s World Cup best player.
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8. Gaetane Thiney, 25, Forward, France
In 51 games for the French national team, she has a remarkable 22 goals to her credit. Thiney scored her first career hat trick in a 2011 World Cup qualification match against Estonia and she went on to finish the qualification round with a team-high 12 goals.
7. Inka Grings, 32, Forward, Germany
Germany entered the tournament as the two-time defending World Cup champions and Inka plays an integral part in that winning formula. She has 64 goals in 93 appearances and scored two goals in Germany’s win against France during the group round.
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6. Corine Franco, 28, Defender/Midfielder, France
Franco is vice captain for the French club Olympique Lyonnais and is known as a physical and strategic play maker. She made her international debut in 2003 and though defenders aren’t usually top goal scorers, she has manager to record 8 goals from that position.
5. Marta, 25, Forward, Brasil
Marta is the five-time defending FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, and is arguably the best player on her squad, if not the world. This is saying a lot as Brasil hadn’t lost a match since April 2009, that is, until the US team beat them on Sunday in an epic showdown filled with extra time and penalty kicks. In the 2007 World Cup, she was awarded the Golden Ball scoring a tournament-best seven goals. She has recorded a whopping 78 goals in 72 appearances for Brasil.
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4. Megan Rapinoe, 26, Midfielder, US
Rapinoe is a quick midfielder who can score just as quickly as assist in game winners. Rapinoe is best known for her beautiful cross in the box to Abby Wambach in the quarterfinal win against Brasil. The game-tying, extra time goal forced the match into the penalty kick phase, where she also contributed a goal. Prone to ligament injury, she was not able to play in 2007 or 2008 and she was sorely missed. Rapinoe has recorded 11 goals in 34 matches for the US team.
3. Kim Kulig, 21, Midfielder, Germany
Still very much a rookie, Kulig can add 6 goals in only 26 international matches to her resume. In 2008, Kulig won the Fritz Walter Silver medal when she was named as the year's second best female junior player. Known as Germany’s shooting star, sadly, Kim Kulig was injured during this year’s cup and will be out of action for the next six months.
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2. Jessica Landstrom, 26, Forward, Sweden
Out and proud Landstrom has recorded 17 goals in 54 matches and put her team on her back during a 1-0 win over Colombia during the group stage of this year’s world cup. She scored a beautiful 57th minute goal on a cross from Lotta Schelin. She made her debut for the Swedish national team in 2007 and went on to score her first international goal during that same match. She was named the Breakthrough Player of the Year at the 2008 Swedish Football Awards.
1. Hope Solo, 29, Goalkeeper, US
Goalkeeper Hope Solo is an old pro and is the spine that holds the US team upright. In the extra time stunner against Brasil, Solo was named player of the match after her heroics kept the US in the match. One quality save after another included two penalty kick stops (one of which had to be retaken due to a questionable call). The first stop came during the second half of normal time and the other, during the shoot-out. Solo never buckles under pressure. In the 2008 Olympics, she led the United States to a 1-0 shutout of Brazil to help the US capture the gold medal. She once went 1,054 minutes (roughly 11 games) without allowing a goal.
