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.

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 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.

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...