Birgit PRINZ and Simone LAUDEHR scored in the second half to lead Germany to a 2-0 win over Brazil in the final of the 2007 Women’s World Cup. The first half was a finely balanced battle in which Brazil had the majority of possession but could not score. Seven minutes into the second half, Prinz scored on a low cross from Sandra SMISEK. Brazil had a golden opportunity to equalise in the 64th minute when CRISTIANE was fouled in the area by Linda BRESONIK, but Nadine ANGERER saved MARTA’s penalty to maintain her clean sheet for the entire tournament. Laudehr added the second in the late stages of the match. The United States won 4-1 against Norway in the third place match.

MARTA left the Hangzhou crowd chanting her name with two goals in Brazil’s stunning 4-0 semifinal win over the United States. The US started badly as Leslie OSBORNE headed past her own keeper. Briana SCURRY, a surprise to start in the US’s goal instead of Hope SOLO, then conceded a second to Marta. Late in the first half, an egregious error by referee Nicole PETIGNAT led to Shannon BOXX’s second yellow. Brazil made their player advantage count in the second half with a goal from CRISTIANE, followed by Marta’s second. The US will try to save face in the third place match against Norway, whilst the final match looks to be an epic clash between Brazil and Germany.

Despite a slow start, Germany powered past Norway for a 3-0 win in their semifinal match. In a match that viewers of the Germany-Korea DPR quarterfinal would have found familiar, Norway had much of the early attacking opportunities and were left to rue their missed chances. Late in the first half, Trine RØNNING deflected a Birgit PRINZ cross into her own net. Two more goals, from Kerstin STEGEMANN and Martina MÜLLER, sealed it midway through the second half. Germany await the winner of the other semifinal between the United States and Brazil.

Two teams were eliminated in crushing fashion on SUN 23 SEP 2007. more...

The favourites’ potential opponents may begin quaking in their boots on SAT 22 SEP 2007. more...

The last matches of the Group of Death lived up to their billing on TUE 18 SEP 2007. more...

Records – desirable and otherwise – fell in China PR on MON 17 SEP 2007. more...

The Group of Death began to gain clarity on FRI 14 SEP 2007. more...

Germany stormed to a 11-0 win over Argentina in the first match of the 2007 Women’s World Cup, a game that looked to be much closer early. Argentina had the better chances in the first ten minutes, but in the twelfth minute, Argentina keeper Vanina CORREA tipped a German corner into her own net. From then on it was a captivating attacking performance from the defending champions. Birgit PRINZ and Sandra SMISEK both collected hat tricks – Prinz’s three took her career Women’s World Cup total to twelve goals, equalling the record set by Michelle AKERS of the United States.

Longtime Women’s World Cup fans will see one extremely familiar face at this year’s tournament: Kristine LILLY of the United States. Of the players on the sixteen team rosters, she is the only one who has appeared at every tournament to date. She will look to guide the US to a third title against such stars as Germany’s Birgit PRINZ, Brazil’s MARTA, Sweden’s Hanna LJUNGBERG, and Canada’s Christine SINCLAIR. Teams are permitted to make injury replacements until 24 hours before their first match.

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.

Germany won their first Algarve Cup 4-3 on penalties after the final against the United States ended goalless through 120 minutes. German keeper Silke ROTTENBERG maintained her four match clean sheet, as well as saving Shannon BOXX's attempt during the shootout. Sweden defeated France 1-0 in the third place match of the annual invitational tournament in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.

The FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award has gone to Germany's Birgit PRINZ for the third straight year. At Women's Euro 2005, Prinz scored three goals to tie for second place as her team won their fourth consecutive European title. She has added an additional three in Germany's first three matches in UEFA Group 4 qualifying for China 2007, taking her international total to 90 goals in 144 matches. Brazil's MARTA was second, collecting 429 points in the voting to Prinz's 513, and Shannon BOXX of the United States was third [235 points].

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.

An emphatic 5-1 win over Ireland Rep was the perfect start to Russia's qualifying campaign for the 2007 Women's World Cup. The win in Moscow on SAT 09 JUL 2005 is the world's first qualifying match for China 2007 and gives Russia the early lead in UEFA Group 4, from which only one of Russia, Ireland Rep, Germany, Scotland, or Switzerland will qualify.