Germany, USA continue quest for third title


Footballing giants Germany and the United States continue their quest for a record third title on Friday when they meet France and China respectively in the Women's World Cup quarter-finals. Top-ranked Germany, winners in 2003 and 2007, face an ambitious France in the largely French-speaking city of Montreal. The French seek their first major title after finishing fourth in Germany 2011 and the 2012 Olympics. Over in Ottawa, the United States will be up against a resilient Chinese side who are rekindling memories of their glory days, when they reached the 1999 final but lost to the Americans in a penalty shootout. The U.S. also won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1991. The Chinese failed to qualify for the 2011 tournament and the London Olympics, with their 1-0 last-16 win over Cameroon earning them a bonus of around 1 million yuan ($160,000) from the national football association. Champions Japan, the only team to have won all their matches in the tournament, move to Edmonton where they next play 10th-ranked Australia on Saturday, the same day that England tackle hosts Canada in Vancouver. Germany have won two titles, finished runner-up in 1995, and have won every Women's Euro title since 1995. But they were shocked in the 2011 World Cup at home, when they equaled their worst-ever showing - losing 1-0 in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Japan.