ESPN Analyst Predictions for 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup

ESPN’s 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup television analysts – including seven former national team players and a World Cup champion coach – offer their predictions for Germany 2011 entering the tournament’s opening weekend. Four analysts predict Brazil to win its first Women’s World Cup crown, while defending champion and host nation Germany and the United States each have two votes, respectively. The predictions:

Brianna Scurry (USA 1995, 1999, 2003)

Final: Brazil defeats Germany. “It’ll be Germany vs. Brazil in the final – 2-1 for Brazil. They’re tired of being the bridesmaid. They want to be the bride.”

Tony DiCicco (USA Coach 1994-1999)

Final: U.S. defeats Brazil. “Germany will go out in the semifinals against the United States and the United States is going to regain their World Cup championship vs. Brazil. The score will be 2-1 USA.”

Kate Markgraf (USA 1999)

Final: Brazil defeats Germany. “Germany will have too much pressure to succeed.  They’re going to be too exhausted.  I’m going with Brazil 3-1 over Germany.”

Viola Odebrecht (Germany 2003)

Final: Germany defeats U.S. “The final match will be the U.S. vs. Germany and Germany will win 2-1. They have more strength. They are physically and technically better than the U.S.”

Alicia Ferguson (Australia 1999, 2007)

Final: Germany defeats U.S.  “It will be a Germany vs. USA final, but Germany will come away with the goods: 2-0.”

Cat Whitehill (USA 2003)

Final: Brazil defeats U.S. “Brazil will come out with a victory with Marta playing as well as she is.”

Julie Foudy (USA 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003)
U.S. defeats Brazil. “After overcoming Germany in a semifinal match, USA will ride that confidence into the final to beat a talented, but defensively shallow, Brazilian side.  And Marta will still be the best in the world without a World Cup title.”

Mónica González (Mexico 1999)

Brazil defeats Germany. “The structure and discipline of the Germans will inevitably make them predictable and less potent. Brazil has come up empty-handed in the past three finals.  Their players have experience in big games and a fire in them to turn heads and hearts back home. Their federation doesn't fund the team to play many international games or even train much together, but thanks to the WPS, seven Brazilians have become stronger in every capacity since Beijing.  If the Brazilian women are ever to win it all, the time is now.”

The 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off Sunday, June 26, at 8:45 a.m. ET live on ESPN2 with the first match – Nigeria vs. France – from Sinsheim, followed by host nation Germany vs. Canada at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN from the Olympiastadion in Berlin.  

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