Ivorian coach ‘thanks’ Germany for the 10-0 loss

Cote d’Ivoire coach, Clementine Toure, has thanked two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Germany for the 10-0 spanking in their first match in Group B.

Germany had never lost their opening match at the Women’s World Cup and the debutants West Africans were handed a harsh welcome to the competition.

But Toure sees the positives in the negative result.

“We want to thank and congratulate the team of Germany, they are a great team,” she said.

“From this game, we have positive points we can take out – the experience. It’s our first participation in the World Cup, and there was a great crowd here.

“Our girls discovered something today – a high level of competition, and it did have an effect on us a little bit. We must forget the score from today, forget the negative points, and learn from this. Playing the best team in the world is also the best way to learn for us.”

Celia Sasic opened the floodgates of goals by putting the ball in an empty net after a defensive mix up by the Ivoirians.

She later doubled Germany’s lead with an open header. Anja Mittag found her way onto the scoresheet next. Sasic then completed her first-half hat-trick 15 minutes before the break with another simple tap-in.

The best goal of the game was Mittag’s second of the day, coming ten minutes ahead of half-time when right-back Tabea Kemme served in a delightful cross that found the No11 alone in the middle of the area who hammered the ball into the back of the net.

The second half continued like the first as the Germans scored again 20 minutes into the second half. Mittag collected her hat-trick, Simone Laudehr later made it 7-0 and half-time substitute Sara Daebritz made it eight shortly thereafter.

Angerer misjudged a cross late on to give Côte d’Ivoire a sniff of the goal, but Ange Nguessan’s header sailed over the crossbar. Germany swiftly responded with goals from Melanie Behringer and Alexandra Popp to round off the scoring.

In the group’s first game, Norway began their campaign with a 4-0 win over debutants Thailand in Ottawa.

Isabell Herlovsen scored a first-half double as Norway raced to a 3-0 half-time lead while there were goals also for Trine Ronning and Ada Hegerberg.