Portland, OR (My Sportsbook) - For all intent and purpose, the 2003 Women's World Cup will be contested Sunday at PGE Park in Portland, Oregon.

Some may ask -- but isn't that one of the semifinal match-ups? -- Yes, but with all the intensity and air of the championship game.

It could be said that the powers at FIFA really botched this one up, placing the first, second and third-ranked teams on the same side of the bracket. With Norway's elimination at the hands of the host U.S. side Wednesday, number-one (the U.S.) and number-three Germany are left to battle it out for a coveted place in the final.

In forecasting the outcome of Sunday's tilt, one could almost be assured a ton of offense. The defending-champion Americans and Germany boast the highest team scoring average through four matches. The Germans have netted five goals per- game, while the States have sent home three for each contest.

Cast as the top two teams in the Cup, the U.S. and Germany carry a great amount of respect for each other. Just ask the players.

"What a team," U.S. striker Tiffeny Milbrett said. "Its a team that's very solid at every position out there on the field, a team that really knows how to play. Its going to be a tough game for us."

For as attack-minded as the Germans have been, they will no doubt run into a stingy U.S. defense, anchored by Joy Fawcett, which has only conceded one goal in its title campaign so far.

"They are performing as well as in 1999 and they are the top favorite to win the tournament," German coach Tina Theune-Meyer said. "We have to play physically very robust against them."

Former Cup champion Norway could only muster one shot on goal against Fawcett and company as the Americans sent the Scandinavians packing. The defeat also served to keep the Norwegians from next summer's Olympics as Europe, with two allotted spots for the 2004 Games, used the WWC as a qualifying tournament.

Ironically, Norway was the Olympic defending champion.

While striker Abby Wambach has been getting the majority of the media's attention for barnstorming through opposing back lines, it has been the U.S. rearguard which has perhaps turned in the best performances of the tournament.

With Brandi Chastain suffering a broken left foot in the opener against Sweden (another semifinalist), collegian Cat Reddick stepped in immediately and the Americans didn't miss a beat.

"We wanted to be the best defensive team," U.S. coach April Heinrichs said. "Our last two games in the back have been incredible. I couldn't be happier."

Despite those remarks, Heinrichs insists defense is not the team's specialty.

"That's not our mainstay. That's not our bread and butter," the U.S. coach told the AP. "Our bread and butter is the pride we've taken in attacking play, and personalities up top. Some of the world's most famous players have come through our system."

The German defense has been impacted by the loss of Steffi Jones, who suffered an ACL tear in the first round. However, Germany is a deep and experienced crew, giving Theune-Meyer a handful of personnel from which to choose in an attempt to slow up Wambach and Mia Hamm.

"She (Jones) can play in the front line. She can play in the midfield and now we don't have her," Theune-Meyer said.

Germany does, however, possess one of the top midfields on the planet, set in motion by Maren Meinert, who was called out of retirement to help the Germans to the heights.

Meinert said she believes the U.S. defense will hand Germany their toughest task yet.

"I have a lot of respect for the American team. I know how hard they work," Meinert said. "It will be an interesting match and I think it will be a good game for women's soccer."

Germany's high-powered offense has tussled with the U.S. before. In the 1999 World Cup, the Americans battled back twice before winning, 4-3. Last January, the Americans won again, 1-0.

Stalwart U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry was in net for both of those contests and left no doubt that she is up for Sunday's challenge.

"I try to play big. I try to be somewhat intimidating out there," Scurry said. "I love big games. Germany is an incredible team. We've had good competitions against them in the past."

Whoever survives Sunday's semifinal will have a date with either Sweden or Canada -- the opposing sides on the day's other final-four clash.