FOX Sports FIFA Women’s World Cup Morning Highlights – Monday, June 15

FOX Sports’ coverage of the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ continues with four games on Monday, June 15. Pregame coverage begins at 3:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1 and local FOX stations. The day wraps up with FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT at 10:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.

See below for the full schedule and for highlights from last night’s FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE
3:00 PM ET – FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TODAY, FOX & FOX Sports 1
4:00 PM ET – Thailand vs. Germany, FOX
(Group B, Winnipeg – JP Dellacamera, Tony DiCicco and Cat Whitehill)
4:00 PM ET – Ivory Coast vs. Norway, FOX Sports 1
(Group B, Moncton – Jenn Hildreth, Kyndra de St. Aubin)
6:00 PM ET – FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TODAY, FOX Sports 1 & FOX Sports 2
7:30 PM ET – Netherlands vs. Canada, FOX Sports 1
(Group A, Montreal – John Strong, Danielle Slaton)
7:30 PM ET – China vs. New Zealand, FOX Sports 2
(Group A, Winnipeg – Glenn Davis, Christine Latham)
10:00 PM ET – FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT, FOX Sports 1

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT Highlights:

Leslie Osborne on Abby Wambach’s comments suggesting that the U.S. would score more goals if their matches were played on grass rather than turf:
“I was surprised when I heard those comments, so I reached out to her for clarification, and she did say that she would have scored those goals if they had played on grass. However, she did say that she takes full responsibility and will do better in the games to come and will finish those chances. It’s a mental thing for her right now, and she said it to me today that she needs to get over [it].”

Alexi Lalas addresses Wambach’s comments:
“It’s weak. It’s completely weak and irritating to be quite honest … To blame the turf for her not scoring goals is ridiculous … If she is pulling punches, that is a problem. That is a problem for the United States. And if the United States does not win the World Cup, I hate to break it to you Abby, but it’s not going to be because of artificial surface.”

Angela Hucles adds her thoughts:
“You don’t want to be in a position to be concentrating on the turf. It becomes a mental issue. Abby is used to scoring goals and what this says to me is that Abby is feeling a little bit of the pressure.”

USWNT star midfielder Megan Rapinoe joined the show and answered questions from the panel:

Is the team satisfied so far?
“I think so. We’re taking a little bigger picture look. After the game, we don’t like to lose, and sometimes when we tie we feel like it’s a loss. Looking back, by far, I think we have the toughest group… Coming out of there [with] four points, we’re in the driver’s seat, and looking forward to Nigeria.”

How are you feeling after getting a couple of goals?
“Someone’s got to do it. Right? Might as well be me.”

How has it been for you playing on turf?
“It’s tough. I don’t think anyone can say it’s easier to play on turf than grass. It’s tough. The game’s played a little differently, but that’s what it is now, and everyone is playing on it and everyone has to deal with it.”

Rapinoe on Megan Klingenberg’s header to deny Sweden a goal in their last match
“Kling, little Mini Me getting up there, she’s such a warrior. She’s so intense.”

The Women’s World Cup Tonight crew gave updated power rankings of their top 10 teams in the tournament so far:
1. Germany
2. Brazil
3. Japan
4. USA
5. France
6. Norway
7. Sweden
8. Australia
9. Switzerland
10. Colombia/Canada