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 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...

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...

With a 1-1 draw at Ukraine on SUN 27 AUG 2006, Norway became the fourth nation, and first from UEFA, to qualify for the 2007 Women's World Cup. The match broke Norway's perfect record of six wins in their previous six Group 1 matches, but their nineteen points are nonetheless enough to take the group. Unni LEHN scored Norway's all important goal just before halftime, neutralising Teciana VEREAZUBOVA's earlier goal.

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.

Tina THEUNE-MEYER's tenure as head coach of Germany ended with a third consecutive UEFA Women's Championship title as the Germans defeated Norway 3-1 on SUN 19 JUN 2005. Before a crowd of 21,105 in Blackburn, England - the largest ever at an UEFA Women's Championship final - Inka GRINGS and Renate LINGOR staked Germany to a two goal lead before Dagny MELLGREN pulled one back just before halftime. But player of the match Birgit PRINZ scored in the second half to ensure that the defending Women's World Cup champions continue to reign over Europe.

Norway withstood Sweden's comeback to win their 2005 European Women's Championship semifinal 3-2 in overtime, Solveig GULBRANDSEN scoring the winner. The extra period was forced after Hanna LJUNGBERG equalised in the 89th minute. In the final in Blackburn, England on SUN 19 JUN 2005, Norway will meet Germany, who defeated Finland 4-1 in the other semifinal.

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...