Germany is playing like a title contender, just at the right time.
After seeing her team start the Women’s World Cup with a pair of one-goal wins, Germany Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg told her players to keep the game simple.
Germany played to its status as the world’s second-ranked team and one of the top challengers hoping to dethrone the United States, routing South Africa, 4-0, on Monday in Montpellier, France, to top Group B with a 3-0 record. The Germans will play a third-place team in the round of 16, avoiding an immediate matchup with the Americans.