If Group A is the Group of Death, this is the Group of Pain. Three key players are injured: Norway's Hege RIISE, who made her squad, and Brazil's SISSI and PRETINHA, who didn't. Riise and Pretinha were both deactivated with torn anterior cruciate ligaments, whilst a dislocated rib kept Sissi out of action. Of the players who were available, many had been honing their skills in the WUSA, so club rivalries were to resurface.

KOREA REPUBLIC
One of the best matches of the tournament was played in Washington, DC between the Korea Republic and France. PARK Eun Sun, the Korean high school star, demonstrated her aerial prowess with a pair of good headers that Celine MARTY did well to save. France, though, ran off 1-0 winners as Marinette PICHON caught them unawares five minutes from time. The Koreans did score their first Women's World Cup goal against Norway, from KIM Jin Hee, but by that point they had already conceded five of the seven goals they would let in that day.

FRANCE
They'd never escaped from the group phase of the UEFA Women's Championship, hadn't appeared at any previous Olympic football tournaments or Women's World Cups, and until this year had never been invited to the Algarve Cup. But when they qualified for USA 2003, the world took notice, largely due to the WUSA's Most Valuable Player of 2002, Pichon. The euphoria of that late win over Korea Rep took les Bleues into a showdown with group leaders Brazil. A win was needed, and though France fell short - another last second goal from Pichon only served to equalise - they certainly looked, for the first time, like they belonged amongst the world's best.

NORWAY
Norway showed why their track record includes one Women's World Cup and one Olympic gold as they defeated France 2-0. The French dictated the pace for large stretches of the match, but whenever they allowed counterattacks, Norway capitalised. Anita RAPP and Dagny MELLGREN tallied to give the Norwegians the win, and Norway went on to take second place in the group behind Brazil. Their bitter rivals, the US, loomed in the quarterfinals, the earliest these two teams have ever met in a Women's World Cup.

Abby WAMBACH's headed goal midway through the first half put the Norwegians on their back heel. But Norway simply could not challenge Briana SCURRY's goal, and with frustrations mounting, goalkeeper Bente NORDBY clipped Wambach on a chase for a loose ball. Nordby was booked, and a penalty given; though Mia HAMM missed the spot kick, the match already appeared over. Norway drew three further yellow cards and exited with an alarming whimper.

BRAZIL
Norway's elimination was presaged in their group encounter with Brazil. The Samba Queens spent the day toying with their opponents, winning in style as the fans in their country demand. It was a 4-1 result, with each goal coming from a different player. The 1-1 draw with France put them into the quarterfinals, where the match played out in opposite fashion to Brazil's previous Scandinavian game. This time it was Sweden who stepped up and dominated. Whenever Brazil took possession and tried to take the ball forward, the swarming defense ripped the ball away like a gamma ray ionising hydrogen. The 2-1 loss was kind to the Brazilians. The squad selection may have been subpar: the tournament's youngest team [average age 22] could have used some experienced guidance.

"Brazil and Norway will move through thanks to their deep rosters, which allow them to shrug off their injury problems." For once we make an accurate guess. Although neither of these teams was quite good enough for the semifinals, all four teams in this group should be much improved next time.