The Rivalry Continues

This match will mark the ninth time the USA and Germany have met in a knockout round game at a FIFA Women’s World Cup or an Olympics, but amazingly the two countries have never met in a final. Of the previous eight meetings, six have been in semifinals and two were in the quarterfinals. The USA holds a 6-2 record in these knockout round games.

Prior to the USA’s 2-1 victory over Germany in the semifinal of the 2008 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and subsequent loss to North Korea in the final, the winner of the semifinal meeting had always gone on to win the championship.

The USA has met Germany in two U-19 Women’s World Cup semifinals (2002 in Canada a 4-1 U.S. win and 2004 in Thailand, a 3-1 Germany win) and one U-20 Women’s World Cup quarterfinal (2006 in Russia, a 4-1 U.S. win).

Tonight's match between the two most successful women’s soccer countries in the world will mark the ninth meeting in the 14 FIFA world championships that have been contested.