The quarter-finals of the 2020 Women's Draft World Cup didn't see any real upsets. The upshot of this is that the semi final line up is very tantalising:
USA have been favourites for this tournament every year, but have yet to reach the final. They have to get past Spain if they are to do that this year. And in the other semi final we see reigning champions Germany taking on rivals England. Let's go!
Spain vs USA
Are Spain dark horses for the title this year? They have won all four matches so far by an aggregate 9-0. By contrast, USA have drawn one match (against Americas) and won their other three matches by a single goal.
Regardless of form, USA have go to in as strong favourites, particularly when you consider they can field a front four of Megan Rapinoe, Marta, Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan. Spain match their opponents' 4-2-3-1 formation, with the focus on superstar wingers Lieke Martens and Caroline Graham Hansen.
Spain vs USA
Are Spain dark horses for the title this year? They have won all four matches so far by an aggregate 9-0. By contrast, USA have drawn one match (against Americas) and won their other three matches by a single goal.
Regardless of form, USA have go to in as strong favourites, particularly when you consider they can field a front four of Megan Rapinoe, Marta, Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan. Spain match their opponents' 4-2-3-1 formation, with the focus on superstar wingers Lieke Martens and Caroline Graham Hansen.
USA kick off, and Spain press them high up the pitch. But USA calmly play it out and Rose Lavelle runs at Spain's midfielders, laying it off to Marta. She turns Ingrid Moe Wold inside out, breaks into the box and drills a low shot past Sandra Panos! It's a magical goal and it has USA ahead within 20 seconds! Wow!
Marta is really up for it, and she wrestles the ball from Graham Hansen on the left and finds Morgan with a low cross, but her shot was held by Panos. The one-sided start continues, with Morgan have a few more half-chances saved.
Spain's first effort comes halfway into the half when Martens dances into the box but fires wide. USA respond ruthlessly, as Lavelle carves Spain's defence open with a slide rule pass that puts Morgan through for a clear sight of goal, and she belts it in to double the lead!
Spain's first effort comes halfway into the half when Martens dances into the box but fires wide. USA respond ruthlessly, as Lavelle carves Spain's defence open with a slide rule pass that puts Morgan through for a clear sight of goal, and she belts it in to double the lead!
Spain make changes to be a little more defensive, with the intention to get it to the wings faster. And it has an immediate impact as Graham Hansen dribbles past Casey Short and fizzes a shot across Alyssa Naeher to pull one back!
Spain have a lifeline, can they capitalise on it? They get to half time only 1 behind, but with the shot count 18-2 in USA's favour, they still face an upfield task.
Spain tone down their pressing, trying to sit back. But that is still hard to do against USA's attackers, and they restore their two-goal lead in the 57th minute as Heath drills across to Rapinoe who buries it in the bottom corner!
Spain tone down their pressing, trying to sit back. But that is still hard to do against USA's attackers, and they restore their two-goal lead in the 57th minute as Heath drills across to Rapinoe who buries it in the bottom corner!
That might be the fatal blow. It certainly is a couple of minutes later when Rapinoe curls a delightful early pass into the path of Morgan, who side-steps Panos and makes it 4-1!
And two minutes later, Morgan earns the match ball as she ties Mapi León in knots and places it home. Three goals in 5 minutes. Ouch.
USA make changes to protect key players, and are happy to see out the remainder of the game in comfort. Spain are in damage limitation mode, and the result is no more highlights - USA progress to the final!
Final score: Spain 1-5 USA
Player of the match: Alex Morgan (USA)
Germany vs England
These two met in the semi of the 2019 Men's Draft World Cup, where the Germans produced a superb comeback to win 3-2 from 2-0 down, en route to their second title. Will the women do something similar? The two sides finished second in their groups (to the sides in the other semi, as it happens), but recovered with impressive wins last time out.
Both sides are fielding narrow 4-4-2 formations, with width coming from attacking full backs. The one area where there is a bit of a difference between the teams is up front, where Vivianne Miedema and Sam Kerr are a sensational front two for England.
Final score: Spain 1-5 USA
Player of the match: Alex Morgan (USA)
Germany vs England
These two met in the semi of the 2019 Men's Draft World Cup, where the Germans produced a superb comeback to win 3-2 from 2-0 down, en route to their second title. Will the women do something similar? The two sides finished second in their groups (to the sides in the other semi, as it happens), but recovered with impressive wins last time out.
Both sides are fielding narrow 4-4-2 formations, with width coming from attacking full backs. The one area where there is a bit of a difference between the teams is up front, where Vivianne Miedema and Sam Kerr are a sensational front two for England.
England win a free kick on the left wing. It's floated in by Kim Little, and Maren Mjelde meets it with a thumping header to put England ahead! Less than 100 seconds into the game, and it's another fast start!
England keep the pressure on as Jordan Nobbs curls an effort into the side netting, before Lina Magull fires a warning shot over at the other end. In the 8th minute England have a corner. It's another fine cross by Little, and this time it's met by Miedema who thuds a header in to make it two!
Nobbs and Magull both have further efforts denied, whilst Kerr has a one-on-one blocked by Hedvig Lindahl. It looks as if England will maintain their two-goal lead until the break, but on the stroke of half time Anne Blasse creates a crossing opportunity on the right, and her cross finds Ewa Pajor unmarked in the box, and she beats Manuela Zinsberger with the game's third headed goal!
Germany replace Sara Gunnarsdóttir with Dominique Bloodworth and change to a 5-2-1-2 formation, hoping that this will allow their wing backs to test England. It nearly works immediately as Alexandra Popp's early cross finds Pernille Harder, but the Dane heads over.
Germany fashion another good chance as Simone Laudahr exploits a lapse by England's defence, racing all the way through but is unable to beat Zinsberger. A similar chance arises in the 69th minute when Harder bursts between England's centre backs, but she drags her shot badly wide.
It proves decisive, as Germany cannot create any more clear chances. A very even game ends with England's early Little-inspired onslaught enough to earn victory!
Final score: Germany 1-2 England
Player of the match: Kim Little (ENG)
Germany fashion another good chance as Simone Laudahr exploits a lapse by England's defence, racing all the way through but is unable to beat Zinsberger. A similar chance arises in the 69th minute when Harder bursts between England's centre backs, but she drags her shot badly wide.
It proves decisive, as Germany cannot create any more clear chances. A very even game ends with England's early Little-inspired onslaught enough to earn victory!
Final score: Germany 1-2 England
Player of the match: Kim Little (ENG)
So we have our finalists, and it'll be a rematch from the group stage clash between USA and England. It means we'll have a first-time WDWC winner, but who will it be? Find out next time...