2007 Women's World Cup Preview - Germany

Soccer Betting Lines

09/05/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Germany enters the 2007 Women's World Cup as defending champions and is considered to be one of the favorites to capture the crown again this time.

Although head coach Silvia Neid's side has a few different faces from the team that beat Sweden in the 2003 final, it still returns a nice group of core players to mix in with its exciting crop of young talent.

Germany enters the competition looking as strong as ever, with top striker Birgit Prinz, as well as world-class midfielder Renate Lingor and defender Kerstin Stegemann. Along with Sandra Minnert, Ariane Hingst and Silke Rottenberg, this group of six German legends combine for 847 international caps and should help to guide Germany's next wave of talent through this year's competition.

The Germans looked dominant in qualifying for China 2007, posting an 8-0 mark with a plus-28 goal differential to go along with it. Prinz led the club with eight goals, and Germany was rarely tested throughout, coasting to a spot in the World Cup.

They will be the prohibitive favorites in Group A, which also includes Argentina, England and Japan.

Neid's side should have no problem finding their way to the top of the group, but their goals are set a little higher.

Germany enters the competition ranked second in the world in the latest FIFA rankings behind only the United States. In Neid, they have a coach who is no stranger to winning, and who is expected to take Germany back to the final match.

Neid took over the head job from Tina Theune-Meyer in 2005 after serving as an assistant and guiding the U19 team to the world title in 2004.

Many of those players from the U19 squad will now be playing under Neid on this year's team, and the coach will also be breaking in a new keeper in Nadine Angerer. The 28-year-old Angerer will be charged with taking over for Rottenberg, who is battling injury issues but will still serve as the back up.

Rottenberg has amassed 123 caps, but after suffering cruciate ligament damage and then a torn calf muscle leading up to the tournament, the 35-year-old will serve as a mentor to her younger successor.

The young players to watch for on this German team include defender Annike Krahn, striker Anja Mittag and midfielder Simone Laudehr. Fellow midfielder Celia Okoyino da Mbabi is viewed as one of Germany's next superstars but will have to wait to show that promise because she will be staying home after suffering a broken shin in March that has not fully recovered.

The expectations are justifiably high for Germany, who should settle for nothing less than an appearance in the final. Germany is a deep and talented team that has both youth and experience on its side, and they also have a title to defend that they have no plans on giving back.

PAST ACHIEVEMENTS:

-- 4th FIFA Women's World Cup - 1991

-- 2nd FIFA Women's World Cup - 1995

-- Quarter-finalists FIFA Women's World Cup - 1999

-- Champion FIFA Women's World Cup - 2003

-- 3rd Olympic Games - 2000

-- Champion UEFA European Women's Championship - 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001

-- 4th UEFA European Women's Championship - 1993

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