Germany, Brazil set for Canada 2015 warm-up - FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
Germany play Brazil in a friendly on Wednesday, but two months before the FIFA Women's World Cup™, thoughts of another 7-1 scoreline are far from the injury-hit hosts' minds.
"Half of our team's gone," said goalkeeper Nadine Angerer after seven of the Germany squad were forced to pull out before the international in Fuerth.
Few fans need reminding of the men's historic 7-1 drubbing of hosts Brazil in the semi-finals as Germany went on to win last year's FIFA World Cup™. But Germany's women are simply hoping for a morale-boosting win in their penultimate warm-up ahead of Canada 2015.
Brazil hope to have forward Marta, a five-time winner of the FIFA Women's World Player award, in their ranks.
Germany are set to include experienced strikers Anja Mittag and Alexandra Popp, who have scored more than 60 international goals between them.
Germany, the world's highest-ranked, posted a 3-1 win over Brazil, positioned seventh, in March's Algarve Cup en route to finished third after beating Sweden in a play-off.
The Germans are targeting a third World Cup title in Canada, having been knocked out by eventual winners Japan in the quarter-finals of the 2011 finals on home soil.
Germany face Thailand, Côte d'Ivoire and Norway in Group B, while Brazil will take on Spain, Korea Republic and Costa Rica in Group E.