Germany, France set for fireworks in quarterfinals clash

Maybe this isn’t the “Clash of the Titans.” After all, Germany has long held the top spot in the FIFA World Rankings and France has just ascended into truly dominant form over the past year.

Still, when Germany and France take the field Friday at Olympic Stadium in Montreal for their 2015 Women’s World Cup quarterfinals match (FOX, 4 p.m. ET), it must be viewed as a de facto World Cup final -- or at least the marquee showdown between two teams that are without dispute considered the best in the world.

That may not be fair to defending champion Japan, which is playing brilliant soccer and meets Australia in their quarterfinal matchup. Nor would the Americans, still with their No. 2 FIFA ranking intact, agree that they’re on the outside looking in.

But this European glut-fest of outstanding individual talent melded into two highly-organized, talented and productive sides makes Germany vs. France a humdinger not to be missed.

Germany is looking to seal a third World Cup title and is not lacking even a shred of motivation. They were unceremoniously sent packing in the 2011 World Cup -- a shocking ouster on home turf. Now long-time head coach Silvia Neid is at the helm for her last World Cup run, as she has announced her resignation set for next year.

Germany all but storms into the match with its top-scoring stars Anja Mittag and Celia Sasic each with five goals so far in the tournament. The pair have powered Germany to a 10-0 opening win over defenseless Cote d’Ivoire, and after a 1-1 draw against Norway, Germany racked up a 4-0 win over Thailand and a 4-1 cruise over Sweden in the Round of 16.

Captain and goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, one of the best to ever play the game, anchors Germany. With her announcement that she will retire after this season with the Portland Thorns of the NWSL, the motivation for Germany to win again during the Angerer era is huge. The Germans are systematic, organized, potent and, most times, impenetrable -- just as Neid demands them to be.

In addition to Mittag, Sasic and Angerer, the Germans are loaded with talent, young and veteran. Dzsenifer Marozsan, 23, is an exceptional midfielder while 29-year-old Annika Krahn anchors a dominant defense. Midfielder Lena Goessling has three assists so far in the tournament.

France, meanwhile, under head coach Philippe Bergeroo, has been almost equally as dominant so far in this tournament. They opened with a 1-0 win over England before falling 2-0 against a tricky Colombian side -- a loss that only reinvigorated Les Bleues’ drive. They roared back to crush Mexico, 5-0, and then almost duplicated the effort against South Korea, striking early and putting the game away. And they aren't scared of the task ahead.

“We don’t have an inferiority complex when it comes to the Germans," France goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi said, according to the FIFA site. "To be completely honest, I actually think we’re a bit better."

The momentum for both teams has been strong and steady for the entire World Cup qualifying season. Both teams went 10-0 in those matches, with France racking up a 54-3 goal advantage along the way.

For the French, the goals do come easily -- and with creativity and flair. Their top scorer is Marie-Laure Delie (61 goals) followed by veteran Gaetane Thiney (55) and striker Eugenie Le Sommer (47). Their goal-scoring is unleashed through star midfielder Louisa Necib, considered one of the best playmakers in the game today.

Feeding into the tension of the match is the fact that No. 3-ranked France has been on the heels of Germany, just as it has been against the second-ranked U.S. squad. Germany was beaten by France in a tune-up match eight months ago. The 2-0 France win was the same score by which France took down the U.S. in February.

France winger Elodie Thomas suggested in a recent interview that angering Germany may not serve Les Bleues’ best interests.

"We know Germany's mentality and how much that defeat on home soil will have hurt. Maybe that makes things even worse, and I'm sure we scared them. But this will be different, as this is an elimination game,’’ Thomas said. "Germany is a good team, but France is a good team, too, and we've made a lot of progress. Just look at some of the great moves we've played. When you get a goal at the end, then it's greatly satisfying, and we want to carry on playing like this."

Bergeroo is holding nothing back. He said winning this match against Germany is France’s best chance to ever get to a World Cup final. Germany, meanwhile, has done nothing to diminish the narrative that says they are the powerhouse class of this 2015 World Cup field.

On Friday afternoon in Montreal, it is game on between these two title contenders.