Tomorrow, Saturday, August 6, Olympic group play continues for the women. Australia faces off against Germany in the two team’s second match of Group F play.
Australia, who hasn’t qualified for the Olympic games since 2004, lost 0-2 to Canada on Wednesday, despite their best efforts.
None of their attempts were able to find the back of the net even though Canada was down a player starting from the 18th minute of play after Shelina Zadorsky received a red card for a foul against Michelle Heyman.
Germany won 6-1 against Zimbabwe, who scored an own goal, adding a tally for Germany in the 90th minute. The two-time World Cup champion German squad seemed to be consistent throughout the game in terms of scoring.
Germany not only has the World Cup wins behind them, they also have more Olympic experience than Australia. They have been to four Summer Olympics (1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008) and in all but 1996, when they were eliminated during group play, they won bronze medals.
Australia will definitely have to step up their game drastically in order to pull out a draw at the very least. It will be interesting to see how the two teams play if Australia musters every ounce of play they have inside of them to come out victorious or if Germany plays like they did on Wednesday and dominate the pitch.
Australia Women’s National Team Roster
GOALKEEPERS: Lydia Williams (Houston Dash/Canberra United), Mackenzie Arnold (Perth Glory)
DEFENDERS: Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane Roar), Laura Alleway (Orlando Pride/Melbourne City), Alanna Kennedy (Western New York Flash/Sydney FC), Stephanie Catley (Orlando Pride/Melbourne City), Ellie Carpenter (Western Sydney Wanderers)
MIDFIELDERS: Elise Kellond-Knight (Potsdam Turbine), Emily van Egmond (FFC Frankfurt), Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar), Tameka Butt (Brisbane Roar), Caitlin Foord (Perth Glory), Chloe Logarzo (Eskilstuna United/Newcastle Jets)
FORWARDS: Lisa de Vanna (Melbourne City), Michelle Heyman (Cranberra United), Kyah Simon (Boston Breakers/Sydney FC), Samantha Kerr (Sky Blue FC/Perth Glory), Larissa Crummer (Melbourne City)
HEAD COACH: Alen Stajcic
Germany Women’s National Team Roster
GOALKEEPRS: Almuth Schult (VfL Wolfsburg), Laura Benkarth (SC Freiburg)
DEFENDERS: Josephine Henning (Arsenal), Saskia Bartusiak (C) (FFC Frankfurt), Leonie Maier (FC Bayern Munich), Annike Krahn (Bayer Leverkusen), Tabea Kemme (Turbine Postdam), Babett Peter (VfL Wolfsburg)
MIDFIELDERS: Simone Laudehr (FFC Frankfurt), Melanie Behringer (FC Bayern Munich), Lena Goßling (VfL Wolfsburg), Sara Däbritz (FC Bayern Munich), Melanie Leupolz (FC Bayern Munich), Isabel Kerschowski (VfL Wolfsburg)
FORWARDS: Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg), Dzsenifer Marozsán (FFC Frankfurt), Anja Mittag (Paris Saint Germain), Mandy Islacker (FFC Frankfurt)
HEAD COACH: Silvia Nied
WHAT: Australia WNT v Germany WNT
Olympic Group F Match
WHEN: Saturday, August 6, 2016
at 5 p.m. EST
WHERE: Arenas Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Brazil
TV: CNBC (USA)
ONLINE: nbcolympics.com (USA)