U.S., GERMANY HAVE SOCCER HISTORY

The United States and Germany have met three times in Women’s World Cup play and the winner has always gone to capture the championship.

The fourth meeting is Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET in Montreal in the semifinals. Germany is ranked No. 1 in the world by FIFA, the U.S. No. 2. Whichever team comes out on top will likely be favored against the winner of Wednesday night’s England-Japan match.

 
So, some history.

The United States defeated Germany 5-1 in the semifinals of the first women’s tournament in 1991 and then beat Norway in the final.

The U.S. beat Germany 3-2 in the 1999 quarterfinals and went on to edge Japan on penalty kicks in the final at the Rose Bowl.

The Germans beat the United States 3-0 in Portland, Oregon, in the semifinals then beat Sweden 2-1 in Carson, California, for their first championship in 2003.

 
The U.S. has advanced to the semifinals of this competition every year it has participated (1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015). No other nation can claim that.

The U.S. also gets back midfielders Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday, who sat out the 1-0 victory over China due to yellow cards.

Germany has outscored opponents 20-3 in this year’s World Cup, while the USA has shut out its opponents for 423 straight minutes.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .