Ottawa--The banter has been lighthearted but awkward when they cross paths in their team hotel but on Saturday the battle between coaching icons Siliva Neid and Pia Sundhage will be intense.
Germany's Neid and Sweden's Sundhage clash for the first quarter-final spot in the Women's World Cup, a tie between two European heavyweights ranked one and five in the world respectively.
The match between two former FIFA world coaches of the year in Ottawa's Lansdowne Stadium will be even more dramatic as it could be the final for one on the world stage.
Neid, 51, has already said she will be leaving the German team after the World Cup, while 55-year-old Sundhage has indicated she may not renew her contract after 2016.
"We know the Swedish players, Pia Sundhage and the players know us," said Neid on Friday.
"We meet in the elevator. It's nice that FIFA have put us in the same hotel so we run into each other the whole time.
"There's small talk, you hug each other, I know exactly how she thinks. She wants to win this match just like us. But when things get going tomorrow it's of no consequence how much you know each other, you want your team to be victorious."
Both Neid and Sundhage are icons in their home countries.
A former forward, Sundhage won 146 caps between 1975 and 1996, scoring 71 goals. Ex-midfielder Neid scored 48 in 111 appearances from 1982 to 1996.
There is mutual admiration and respect.
"I'm very impressed with her as both a player and head coach," said Sundhage.
The 51-year-old Neid has either coached or co-coached Germany to World Cup wins in 2003 and 2007, as well as the European title in 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013.
"It's incredible how forward thinking she's been, I know it took a lot of time but it's impressive what she has achieved," said the Sweden coach.
"It's too bad she is finishing because she is good for women's football.
"I have a contract until 2016 but at the moment I'm thinking goals and the match tomorrow."
Sundhage's achievements are equally impressive.
United States coach for five years she coached the 'Stars and Stripes' to two Olympic golds in 2008 and 2012 as well as runner-up at the 2011 World Cup where they lost on penalties to Japan.
She also had a stint as the assistant coach of China at the 2007 World Cup where they reached the quarter-finals.
Sundhage was named coach of the year in 2012, with Neid taking the honour the following year.
She returned to coch her home country in 2013, and such is her popularity she was even touted as a possible candidate to coach the Swedish men's national team.
AFP
