The typhoon-delayed matches were well worth the wait on THU 20 SEP 2007. more...

The two matches for WED 19 SEP 2007, Australia-Canada and China PR-New Zealand, have now been pushed back one day to THU 20 SEP 2007 at the same times. The Norway-Ghana and Brazil-Denmark matches had already been postponed to that date due to Typhoon Wipha. As a result, the final matches in Groups C and D are again scheduled for simultaneous kickoffs.

With Typhoon Wipha bearing down on Shanghai and Hangzhou, FIFA have decided to put back the matches of WED 19 SEP 2007 that were to be played in those cities. The Group C clash between Norway and Ghana will move from Shanghai to nearby Hangzhou, whilst the Group D match between Brazil and Denmark will remain in Hangzhou. Both matches will be played a day later, on THU 20 SEP 2007. This means that the final matches in both groups will not be played simultaneously.

O jogo bonito and a Big Red machine were on display in the matches of SAT 15 SEP 2007. more...

Denmark coach Kenneth HEINER-MØLLER, whose side is apparently at the victim’s end of a spying scandal, has himself been punished. He has been suspended for Denmark’s last two Group C matches, against New Zealand and Brazil, and will be on probation for six months, following what FIFA described as “unsporting behaviour towards a match official” at the end of his side’s 3-2 loss to China PR. The day before that match, his coaching staff had discovered two men with cameras behind a one-way mirror in the team meeting room; FIFA decided to take no action.

The other two groups began in frantic fashion on WED 12 SEP 2007. more...

For the third straight time, the United States, Korea DPR, and Nigeria were all drawn into the same Women's World Cup group. And amazingly, Sweden also landed in Group B to make the exact same list as Group A of the 2003 Women's World Cup. It is the first time in World Cup history, men's or women's, that the same four teams have been in a group together for two consecutive tournaments. Other teams who are already familiar with one another include Germany, Japan, and Argentina, all of whom were together in Group C in 2003; this time they are in Group A. Interestingly, this represents the first Women's World Cup that contains no first time qualifiers. more...

UEFA's last four places at China 2007 were decided in each respective team's last qualifying match. Sweden qualified with a 2-0 win over the Czech Rep as Hanna LJUNGBERG's two goals secured first place in Group 2. In Group 3, Denmark fought off a strong challenge from Finland and took first place with a 1-0 win. Germany held on to win 3-2 against Russia to win Group 4. And in Rennes, France needed a win to qualify from Group 5 and in fact got a late equaliser from Ludivine DIGUELMAN. But Les Bleues couldn't find net again, and England escaped with a 1-1 draw and a ticket to their second Women's World Cup.

The twenty European nations vying for places at China 2007 are in their winter break, with the UEFA group phase due to resume SAT 25 MAR 2006. Norway, Germany, and England are leading their respective groups with nine points from three matches each. But there are three groups with ties at the top, as Sweden and the Czech Rep are level atop Group 2, Denmark and Spain are tied for the Group 3 lead, and Russia equal Germany's nine points in Group 4. Sweden's Hanna LJUNGBERG leads the individual scoring list with seven goals.

England blew a 2-0 lead in their first match at Women's Euro 2005 but recovered to defeat Finland 3-2 on Karen CARNEY's late goal. Anna-Kaisa RANTANEN pulled one back for the Finns early in the second half, and Laura KALMARI equalised in the 89th minute. Only two minutes later, though, Carney collected an earlier save off Satu KUNNAS and lobbed over the Finland defense to delight the Manchester crowd. The other Group A match on opening day saw Sweden and Denmark draw 1-1.

The draw for UEFA's 2007 Women's World Cup qualifiers was made on FRI 18 MAR 2005, putting twenty five hopefuls into five groups. The highlight is Group 4, where defending champions Germany must face Russia; both teams topped their respective groups at USA 2003. France and England are partners in Group 5, after les Bleues eliminated England for UEFA's last place at the 2003 Women's World Cup. The five group winners qualify, with play beginning in AUG 2005. more...