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

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

Three wild draws helped start the tournament on TUE 11 SEP 2007. more...

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 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.

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.

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...