France coach calls for giant-killing skills against USA

France coach Bruno Bini believes his side will have to call on all their giant-killing skills to get past the United States in the women’s World Cup semi-finals here on Wednesday.

As two-time defending champions Germany and Brazil, the 2007 finalists, have already been eliminated the United States are the only remaining pre-tournament favourites in the running.

Despite struggling to reach Germany 2011 the Americans have never failed to qualify for the global tournament and were twice champions - winning the inaugural edition in 1991 and again in 1999.

As well as being ranked number one in the world by FIFA the United States are also the reigning and three-time Olympic champions.

France, by contrast, are a team on the rise after failing to get past the group stages in their only previous appearance on the world stage in 2003.

Comparing the two nations is impossible, Bini said.

“They are the number one nation in the FIFA rankings. They have 2.5 million club players. It’s sure that it’s easier to find 21 than when you have 55,000 club players to chose from,” said Bini.

“But you’re not under-19 European champions, European quarter-finalists and World Cup semi-finalists without being competent in some way.” Both sides have had very similar paths to the semi-finals, finishing second in their respective groups after losing one of their games. France fell 4-2 to Germany in Group A, while the United States were shocked 2-0 to Sweden in Group C.

They are also both coming from bruising quarter-finals needing dramatic penalty shoot outs before advancing after a gruelling 120 minutes of play.

The United States got past Brazil 5-3 on penalties after the match ended 2-2 after extra-time on Sunday, a day after France achieved a 4-3 penalty win over England after their tie had ended 1-1.

AFP