August 18, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 15, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 17: Brazil will face Germany in the Olympic Games women’s football semi-finals on Monday determined to avenge their painful defeat to the European powerhouses in last year’s World Cup final.

Germany won that match 2-0 and go into the semi-final in Shanghai having not conceded a goal in the Olympics so far with that record including a 0-0 draw against the South Americans in the group stages.

Both sides have an extra incentive to progress — neither has managed to win an Olympic women’s football gold despite their countries’ rich pedigree in the game.

Brazil will be looking for their three most creative players — Cristiane, Marta and Daniela with seven goals between them — to break down the rock-hard German defence and carry them through to a gold medal match with either defending champions US or Japan.

Marta, who has been lauded for her performances in front of goal, has shrugged off the individual plaudits.

“All the strikers are great at shooting,” she said. “I just do what I can do in my position. Without the support of my team-mates, I cannot score.”

Brazil and Germany have been the nearly-women of Olympics football.

The Brazilians lost the Athens final in 2004 in extra time by 2-1 to the US while Germany have won bronze in their last two Games; they defeated Brazil in the third-place play-off in Sydney in 2000.

Both teams are injury-free although Germany have a slight worry over midfielder Linda Bresonik who twisted her ankle in the quarter-final win over Sweden.

In the second semi-final, being played at the Workers’ Stadium here, the US face Japan who they defeated 1-0 in the group stages as well as 2-1 in the quarter-final in Athens.

Japan have lost all matches they have played against the US in their four most recent World Cups and Olympics.

But they enjoyed a morale-boosting 2-0 win over China in the quarter-finals and are the competition’s top scorers with eight golds.

The US have won the gold twice — in 1996 and 2004 — and can boast plenty of depth in their squad as was shown when Natasha Kai came off the bench to hit the winner in the 2-1 win over Canada in the quarter-final.

“Natasha brings so much energy and when she comes on the field, she brings an excitement and energy to our team,” said coach Pia Sundhage.

“I see how she is when she comes onto the field. When she’s waving to the crowd and getting the crowd going, that puts a smile on the faces of the people on the field who are already tired and it lifts us up.”—AFP