Germany's Angerer out to silence critics

Germany's veteran goalkeeper Nadine Angerer says she wants to bow out of the women's World Cup by beating England on Sunday to finish third and silence the critics back home.

Silvia Neid's Germany squad were denied a place in Sunday's final after a 2-0 semi-final defeat to the USA as striker Celia Sasic failed to convert a penalty before the Americans netted two second-half goals to reach the final against Japan.

Angerer, 36, will retire from international football after Saturday's third-place play-off in Edmonton against England's Lionesses and wants to leave Canada with a bronze medal to silence Germany's critics.

The Germans have drawn criticism with Colin Bell, coach of women's Champions League winners Frankfurt, saying there was no evidence of a gameplan against the US, while VfL Wolfsburg coach Ralf Kellermann has called for Germany to improve technically.

"Something like this makes me really angry, when people from outside the camp, who have no idea about the background, say such things," said Angerer, who has won 145 caps and was part of Germany's 2007 World Cup-winning team.

"He (Bell) has the fortune to be a coach himself, so he can now show how he'd do things better.

"I see statements like that as a weakness."

Neid will stand down as Germany coach next year with a phenomenal record having helped steer Germany to women's World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007, as well as winning the 2009 and 2013 European Championship titles.

Germany international Saskia Bartusiak, who plays under Bell at Frankfurt, dismissed the criticism.

"I have no idea exactly what my coach meant with his comments. I believe we played well against the USA," she said.