Montereal: France coach Philippe Bergeroo has had six months to worry about meeting top-ranked Germany in the quarterfinals of the women's World Cup, and four days to prepare for the actual match.
The No. 3 team in the world will play Germany, ranked No. 1 by FIFA, in a quarterfinal match being called an "early final" and a "final before its time." The winner likely will be the favorite to win the whole tournament.
"We don't think to the final or the semifinal. We are thinking about tomorrow's game, which is very important for our team," Bergeroo said at Montreal's Olympic Stadium on Thursday, a day before the European neighbors will play for a spot in the semifinals.
"We know their strengths. We also know their weaknesses. We've been observing them for some time."
And what they've seen is a two-time World Cup champion that is well-stocked for another run at the championship.
"Already we are playing against a team that is classed first in FIFA. So we are the outsiders compared to that team," Bergeroo said. "But we have a lot of ambition for that game."
Here are some other things to look for in Friday's game:
QUARTERFINAL OF DEATH
The Germans went 10-0 in European qualifying, outscoring their opponents 62-4. In Canada they beat the Ivory Coast 10-0 and Thailand 4-0 in the group stage, with a 1-1 draw against Norway in between. The Germans beat Sweden 4-1 in the round of 16.
And what do they get for that?
A match up with the No. 3 team in the world, which also went 10-0 in qualifying while outscoring its opponents 54-3.
"When in December the teams were drawn, we could see what would happen if we were first, what would happen if France was first," Germany coach Silvia Neid said. "You could predict what might happen.
"Yes, we will have a strong opponent tomorrow. This was all predictable after the draw. That is what you have to live with."
OLD FRIENDS
Germany have won the women's World Cup twice, in 2003 and '07, and is an eight-time European champion. France failed to qualify for the tournament four of its first five tries, and has won just two World Cup knockout games in its history.
But France has moved up to No. 3 in the world. And a 2-0 victory over Germany in a friendly in Offenbach in October may boost the confidence of Les Bleues.
"We have narrowed the field somewhat," captain Wendie Renard said. "In the friendly game we were able to see that."
The French beat England 1-0 in group play before a 2-0 upset to Colombia. They responded by beating Mexico 5-0, and then eliminated South Korea 3-0 in the round of 16.
France's only other World Cup knockout win was a penalty kick victory over England in 2011. The French finished fourth that year.
EXPERIENCE
Neid has been at the help of the German women's national team since 2005, leading the team to the World Cup title in 2007.
She has seen the sport improve, with teams getting better technically, getting faster and better at training.
"The team in 2007 would not be a team that could win this year. And the ones that made second place and third place would not get that far," she said. "The whole of women's soccer has gotten better."
Bergeroo also has plenty of World Cup experience. Just not any that will be especially helpful to his team.
He was a backup goalkeeper on the French team that finished third in the 1986 World Cup, but did not play. He was also an assistant coach on the team that won the 1998 men's World Cup.
"I covered, pretty much, men's football with this," he said. "Now with this women's final, I believe what I have to bring is a lot of calm and confidence for this team."
AT HOME INDOORS
France played in Montreal's Olympic Stadium for the first time in the round of 16, when it beat South Korea 3-0. The crowd seemed to be on the side of Les Bleues, serenading them with the French national anthem.
But the bigger problem for Germany could be its lack of familiarity with the building, which was built for the 1976 Olympics. Originally designed with a retractable roof, the fabric was prone to tearing and it was replaced with a blue roof that is permanently closed.
"I must say it is a different feeling," said Neid, who was in the building to watch France play South Korea on Sunday. "We don't have this in Germany, that you play inside in the summer. I'm surprised that the roof can't be opened.
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