The awards given at the 2011 Women’s World Cup heavily favour the top two teams, Japan and the United States. Japan’s Homare SAWA scored the goal that not only sent the final to penalties but also earned her the Golden Boot, with five goals and an assist. She also earns the Golden Ball as the best overall player. Abby WAMBACH of the US was awarded the Silver Ball and, with four goals and an assist, the Bronze Boot, just behind the four goals and two assists of Brazil’s MARTA. Hope SOLO of the US won the Golden Glove, the best goalkeeper award, as well as the Bronze Ball. Caitlin FOORD of Australia, a sixteen year old defensive power, won the award for the best young player, and the Japanese squad took away the Fair Play award.

In addition to the usual suspects from Japan and the United States, the All Star team for the 2011 Women’s World Cup features three players from début semifinalists France and a young star from Equatorial Guinea. Homare SAWA leads the Japanese contingent, including fellow midfielders Aya MIYAMA and Shinobu OHNO, plus goalkeeper Ayumi KAIHORI. Other stars include top goalkeeper Hope SOLO of the US, France’s midfield powerhouse Louisa NÉCIB, Sweden’s inspirational captain Caroline SEGER, and Eq Guinea’s starlet striker AÑONMAN. more...

There are a number of players who could come away with the Golden Boot at the 2011 Women’s World Cup going into the third place and final matches. The current leader, MARTA of Brazil, has four goals and two assists, but her team is now out. Homare SAWA of Japan has four goals and one assist, Abby WAMBACH of the United States has three goals and an assist, and Lisa DAHLKVIST of Sweden has three goals and no assists. These three players are all expected to participate in the last weekend. A few other active players could also threaten: the US’s Lauren CHENEY, Japan’s Nahomi KAWASUMI, and France’s Marie-Laure DELIE and Gaëtane THINEY each have two goals. Ties are resolved by the greater assist total, and then by fewer minutes played.

On the anniversary of the epic final of the 1999 Women’s World Cup, the day’s quarterfinals had much to live up to – and may have exceeded that standard. more...

The elimination phase of the Women’s World Cup opened with two tense quarterfinals and one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history. more...

One Nordic side goes home, while another records a historic victory, on WED 06 JUL 2011. more...

Open, attacking football was on show on SUN 03 JUL 2011. Pity that nobody will be talking about it. more...

WED 29 JUN 2011 came close to seeing an upset bigger than any in Women’s World Cup history. more...