Japan put brakes on Germany

Germany 0-0 Japan
Four days after a brilliant 6-0 defeat of fellow UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ finalists Netherlands, the reigning world and European champions were held to a goalless draw in front of 10,158 fans in Mannheim.

Olympic rematch
With coach Silvia Neid set to confirm her finals squad on Thursday, Germany's hopefuls had a chance to impress against the side they beat 2-0 last year for Olympic bronze. Japan had not played since then and were missing several key players and their coach Norio Sasaki, but still proved tough opposition.

Prinz close
Germany started the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation, deploying Inka Grings as the lone striker, and she had the first chance, shooting wide from the edge of the box. Japan soon settled and captain Shinobu Ohno forced Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer into a superb point-blank save in the 25th minute. Just past the half-hour, Germany captain Birgit Prinz hit the post.

Crossbar rattled
An improved second-half display almost brought an early reward when Grings hit the bar, but Japan continued to show resistance. Yuki Nagasato's shot narrowly missed the target and Kozue Ando struck the crossbar after 55 minutes. The bar was rattling again when Simone Laudehr let fly from 30 metres, but a rash of substitutions meant the game petered out.

Neid frustrated
Neid said: "We wasted too many chances today and Japan caused us a few problems. We need to improve our finishing, otherwise we might go out after the group stage in Finland. We have still two training camps and we have to continue working." Once her squad has been cut from 26 to 22, they face Russia in their last friendly in Bochum on 6 August, 13 days before departing for Finland. Germany begin their bid for a fifth straight title against Norway on 24 August in Tampere, with further Group B fixtures to follow against Iceland and France, who Japan visit on Saturday.

Germany: Angerer; Schmidt (Stegemann, 80), Hingst, Bartusiak (Krahn, 46), Peter (Fuss, 80); Bresonik, Laudehr; Garefrekes, Prinz (Mittag, 46), Bajramaj (Okoyino da Mbabi, 46); Grings (Kulig, 57).