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England, Germany play for third place tonight

EDMONTON, Alberta – Though Mark Sampson already knew what answer he would get, England’s coach felt obligated to ask defender Laura Bassett whether she was emotionally ready for one more game at the Women’s World Cup.

“She looked back in my eye, and said, ‘I’m in for the team,'” Sampson recalled Friday. “It was an easy answer, wasn’t it?”

Three days after Bassett left the field sobbing when her stoppage-time own goal gave Japan a 2-1 semifinal win, No. 6 England meets top-ranked Germany for third place this afternoon.

Sampson said Bassett will assuredly start at center back after encouragement from her entire team and support from fans back home.

“She’s in a good place now,” Sampson said. “I’m 100 percent certain it’s right for the team that Laura plays tomorrow.”

The Germans have their own motivations to bounce back following a 2-0 loss to the United States on Tuesday. With a chance to put Germany ahead, Celia Sasic sent a 59th-minute penalty kick wide. The Americans scored 10 minutes later on a penalty kick of their own.

“Of course, this particular experience was bitter. But she was able to digest it well. And she’s very strong,” Germany coach Silvia Neid said through a translator.

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