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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Three wild draws helped start the tournament on TUE 11 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.