{
    "title": "Strong opening match for Canada",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-05 17:49:30",
    "published_at": "2011-06-26 11:00:00",
    "url": "https://news.canadasoccer.com/strong-opening-match-for-canada",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/S5Fd",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "Germany showed that it is still the best in the world, although Canada proved it has narrowed the gap in a hard-fought battle in the opening match of the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup Germany 2011. Canada created chances early, went down by a brace before the half, but held tight and cut the lead in half b\u2026",
    "slug": "strong-opening-match-for-canada",
    "body": "<p>For more information on this match, please read the <a href=\"http://canadasoccer.com/tourney/FIFA_WWC/game_profile.asp?gameId=1923&amp;tab=\">Canada-Germany match report</a>.<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200bGermany showed that it is still the best in the world, although Canada proved it has narrowed the gap in a hard-fought battle in the opening match of the FIFA Women&rsquo;s World Cup Germany 2011. Canada created chances early, went down by a brace before the half, but held tight and cut the lead in half before falling 1:2 to the host nation. Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi scored for Germany before Christine Sinclair countered for Canada.<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200b&ldquo;We are more confident today than we were yesterday,&rdquo; said national head coach Carolina Morace. &ldquo;We played a good game.We are not so arrogant to come here and say we are the best team in the world; absolutely not.&rdquo;<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200bGermany is the two-time reigning FIFA Women&rsquo;s World Cup champion. Today&rsquo;s 26 June 2011 opening match drew 73,860 fans to the Olympiastadion in Berlin.<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200b&ldquo;If Christine Sinclair had scored on that first chance, we may have been talking about a different result,&rdquo; said Morace.<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200bAlso on the opening day, France won 1:0 over Nigeria to gain three points and hold second place in the group standings behind Germany. Marie-Laure Delie scored the lone goal for France.<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200bThe FIFA Women&rsquo;s World Cup Germany 2011 runs 26 June to 17 July in nine cities. Canada&rsquo;s next two match are 30 June against France (in Bochum) and 5 July against Nigeria (in Dresden).<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200b<br>\u200bCanada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will leave for Bochum on 27 June.</p>",
    "author": {
        "first_name": "Integration",
        "last_name": "Integration"
    },
    "format_version": 5
}