Germany crowned champions again

SHANGHAI, 30 September 2007

Germany created history by becoming the first team ever to retain the FIFA Women’s World Cup as they defeated Brazil 2-0 in Shanghai on Sunday evening. Birgit Prinz and Simone Luadehr were the goalscoring heroes, while goalkeeper Nadine Angerer maintained her incredible 100% clean sheet record with a brilliant penalty save from top scorer Marta.

Brazil gave the defending champions a tough time and had by far the better share of possession, but in the end could not find a way through a strong German defence expertly marshaled by Ariane Hingst.

The contrasting styles of play made for an exciting encounter. Brazil used their pace and close control to try and get behind the backline, while Germany’s build up was often more patient and deliberate, looking to carve a path their way through. Both sides had their chances in a fiercely contested first half.

For Brazil, Formiga could only manage to stab the ball wide after a Daniela free kick caused a scramble in the box, while Daniela herself saw a spectacular volley hit the post with the goalkeeper well beaten. As the half wore on, Brazil were left to try their luck from distance as Germany continued to deny them that final yard of space they needed to get a clear chance on goal.

Despite this Brazilian pressure, Germany had the better clear-cut chances, with Garefrekes and Smisek failing to find the target when given time and space in the penalty area.

They came out in the second half with renewed pace and decisiveness. This pressure took only seven minutes to pay off when Sandra Smisek got through the right channel and laid the ball back for Prinz, whose first-time shot had enough pace to go under Brazilian keeper Andreia.

The Germans were in front and everything about their body language said they had the strength and drive to remain so.

It was not without scares, however. Despite having timed countless tackles to perfection, on 64 minutes Linda Bresonik tripped Cristiane, giving the referee no option but to point to the spot. Marta’s spot kick lacked the power to get past Angerer, who was able to save to her right.

Obviously disappointed, Brazil refused to give up. Cristiane and Marta in particular ran themselves into the ground for the cause, but there was always a German body in the way.

As a final throw of the dice, Pretinha, scorer of the late, late winner against Denmark came on in place of Tania. But it was German substitute Fatmire Baramaj who won the corner from which Laudehr headed in their second and etched Germany’s on the trophy once more.

Brazil stun the US to book place in final

HANGZHOU, 27 September 2007

A sparkling individual show from Marta and yet another strong team performance gave Brazil an emphatic victory over the 10 women of the USA. After a fortunate early own goal put them ahead, the Brazilians combined strength and finesse to storm into Sunday’s final against Germany.

Right from the outset Brazil were intent on showing they were not afraid of being aggressive against the strong, tough tackling Americans. The US gameplan was the same as in previous games: direct balls to the front and aggressive defending at the back. With the Brazilians quicker on the turn, if not in a straight sprint, the US defence was reduced to American football-style block tackling.

Brazil took the lead on 20 minutes when Leslie Osborne, under no pressure, stooped low to head into her own net. Similar gasps of surprise greeted replays of the sublime Marta walzing past two defenders to beat tournament debutant Briana Scurry at the near post just seven minutes later.

As US coach Greg Ryan noted after the match, at 2-0 Brazil had only had one shot on goal. But their superiority on the ball was clear and the likelihood of them emerging victorious was increased two minutes into injury time when Shannon Boxx was sent off for a second bookable offence. Caught out again by delightfully fast footwork as Daniella and Marta played a quick one-two, the referee had no option but to produce the second yellow for a deliberate body-check.

Brazil took complete control in the second half as Marta, Maycon, Daniella and Cristiane found more and more space in a stretched US defence. At times they seemed almost surprised to find themselves in such open positions and wasted some excellent chances.

On 56 minutes, Cristiane made no mistake, sliding the ball past a helpless Scurry from Marta’s cross. Marta continued to give Tina Ellertson a torrid time down the left wing, turning her inside out on numerous occasions. Her second and Brazil’s fourth goal was worthy of any game of football at any level. Flicking the ball with the back of her heel, she span around Ellertson, collected the ball, dashed past Cat Whitehill and drove the ball into the back of the net.

It is hard to say whether the US would have crumbled so definitively had they had 11 players on the field. However, their tactics against such a fluid Brazil side made it more likely that one of their players might get sent off. This devasting defeat – their biggest ever – brings to an end an astonishing 51-match unbeaten streak. There can be no complaints.

Brazilian coach Jorge Barcellos was naturally pleased with the win, but insisted 1-0 would have been just as good as 4-0. He cautioned against complacency, saying “We still haven’t won anything. This was the semi-final. We have a lot of work to do before the game against Germany.”

It will take something special to derail the Germans, who brushed aside a strong Norway team 3-0 in the earlier semi final. But, as they proved again tonight, this Brazilian team is very special.

Attendance: 47,818

USA 0

Brazil 4 (Osborne 20 og, Marta 27, 79, Cristiane 56)

Favourites march on

No shocks in the quarter finals. Tears for the hosts, bloodied disappointment for England, late despair for Australia and no luck for the hard-working North Koreans.

With all defeated teams promising to learn from their experiences and looking now to their Olympic challenge (and England left battling for the right to represent Great Britain), the victors have a short rest before the semi-finals.

Norway’s quiet competence continues – their 1-0 win over China was achieved despite their opponents recording more than 20 attempts on goal. Their ability to soak up pressure and to make the most of their opportunities becomes a great strength in the knock-out stages. They will face a German side that has progressed comfortably through the competition without hitting the fluid highs of their extraordinary first game. The scoreline against Korea may have flattered the Germans, but their ability to defend in strength while always looking dangerous in attack makes them favourites once more.

Brazil conceded their first goals of the tournament in the quarter final against Australia, but again showed their outstading attacking flair to rescue the game with 15 minutes to go. Of all the teams in the tournament they best typify the “Beautiful Games. Beautiful Goals” slogan (or, in direct translation of the Chinese: “Beautiful Women’s Football. Beautiful World Cup”). The USA, on the other hand, have been direct and almost brutal in their progress. Physically strong, imposing and hard-hitting, they have been a different side to the one that lit up the previous tournament, on home soil. No less effective, they have not been one of the more exciting teams to see. The margin of their quarter final win was harsh on England, but was characteristic of the USA’s tendency to take their chances and snuff out danger. This clash of styles has all the makings of a classic semi-final.

That ought to jinx it…

The knock-out stage begins

Only FIFA’s confused handling of typhoon Wipha threatened to overshadow the smooth progress of the Women’s World Cup.So many positives for the women’s game have followed the gruesome 11-goal thrashing of Argentina by Germany in the opening match. Brazil have turned on the style in a way beyond their men last year, North Korea embarrassed the US, England progressed beyond their group for the first time and all in front of near-capacity crowds and high viewing figures worldwide.

Germany’s demolition of Argentina was a false start for the tournament, which has witnessed a level of fitness, professionalism and sophistication beyond expectations. The list of truly excellent matches – including China v Denmark, England v Germany, USA v North Korea, Brazil v Denmark – has far outweighed the walk-overs. In fact, only three teams out of the sixteen could be labelled as significantly weaker.

Each of the teams in the quarter finals will fancy their chances. Top coaches Silvia Neid (Germany) and the USA’s Greg Ryan, have both confirmed the gaps between the top 10-15 teams in international women’s football are getting smaller and smaller. With increasing tactical sophistication and physical strength and stamina, even the teams lower down that ranking are able to effectively challenge the big names.

A passionate round of games on the re-scheduled final day – where Australia knocked Canada out in the last minutes and Brazil and Denmark played an epic – went a long way to divert attention from the confused response to typhoon Wipha. In the event, both Hangzhou and Shanghai were largely spared the typhoon’s wrath, so all games could have safely been played when are where they were supposed to be. That doesn’t matter now, but it was most unfortunate that at a time when on the pitch the women’s game was proving itself a serious, professional, entertaining and enthralling sport to match almost any worldwide, the organisation was drifting close to amateurism.

As the quarter finals get underway, the USA and Germany remain favourites, but Brazil have won the hearts and minds of many with their lightning fast, exuberant attacking flair. They will be tough for anyone to stop. Norway have been quietly efficient – dominating their group without attracting a large amount of attention. If they can hold their nerve with tens of thousands of home fans jeering their every move whilst creating a deafening noise for their own team, China, they should progress.

North Korea have now shown at the top international level what Asia and the under-20s tournament have known for some time – they are a very effective combination of power and pace and passing. As to where a “shock” may be likely to come, they may be one of the leading contenders. Germany have yet to be severely tested and they cannot afford to miss chances as they did against Japan. The suspicion remains, however, that Germany will be able to move up a gear as and when the situation demands.

For all their promise and progress, it would take something very special for England to get past the USA. The Americans have not been on top of their game, and England may see a chance to use a similar gameplan to the one that worked so effectively against Germany. But they will need others to share the burden of expectation placed on Kelly Smith. A first tournament goal from Aluko (if she starts) could be priceless.

Australia will do well to contain Marta, Christiane and Daniela of Brazil. In the South Americans’ last two games they have faced very different sides – China played higher up the pitch, Brazil destroyed them; Denmark played deep and defended excellently and Brazil still won.

The most interesting game could be China vs Norway. The hosts have not had an easy time. The drubbing their received at the hands of Brazil seemed to shake their confidence and they made harder work of defeating New Zealand than they might have hoped. The Norwegians are better organised and more clinical in attack. If they can hold their nerve and shape with tens of thousands of raucous Chinese fans shouting, screaming and singing against them, they should get through.

Brazil and Norway storm into the quarter-finals, joined by Australia and China

HANGZHOU, 20 September 2007

The combined forces of Daniela, Pretinha and 40,000 screaming Chinese fans were enough for Brazil to snatch a late win against a determined Danish side in Hangzhou. The win, combined with China’s 2-0 victory over New Zealand in Tianjin means China join Brazil in the quarterfinals.

In Group C earlier in the day, Norway made light work of Ghana, topping the group with a 7-2 victory, while Australia broke Canadian hearts at the death to grab a 2-2 draw and the coveted 2nd spot. Norway will face China, while Australia will have to think of ways to cope with Brazil’s blistering forwards.

The Danish game-plan was clear from the outset – their defensive 4-5-1 was designed to keep Brazil at bay while hoping to spring counter-attacks with pacy wingers. As a defensive plan it worked brilliantly for almost 91 minutes.

In the first half Brazil didn’t have a single chance on goal from inside the Danish area. In fact, it was Denmark who first threatened the breakthrough. After only seven minutes Brazilian goalkeeper Andreia had to be at full stretch to keep out Maiken Pape’s header.

The Brazilians became frustrated – all their speed and skill in thrilling approach work floundered at the 18 yard box. They began snatching at long shots and not coming close. For all Marta’s undoubted skill, too many times she held onto the ball for too long and promising opportunities were spurned. At half-time, Denmark were in second place as China vs New Zealand also stood at 0-0.

The majority Chinese fans in the Hangzhou Dragon Stadium were cheering every forward move of Brazil’s to the rooftops. Some went so far as to jeer and boo when Denmark had free kicks and corners. But the biggest roar of the night so far, the one that threatened to lift the roof from its impressive suspensions, came when the stadium PA announced that Li Jie had scored to make it China 1 New Zealand 0.

Chinese joy was complete on 79 minutes when Xie Caixia made sure of China’s qualification with a second goal. Petrinha’s cool finish from player of the match Daniela’s cut back was the icing on the cake, confirming both Brazil’s dominance and China’s qualification.

It was hard not to feel for the Danish team – they had given so much to yet another fantastic game in this Women’s World Cup and yet, as in their earlier epic against China, had come out narrow losers. Hopefully these matches will serve as both the enduring memory of this year’s first round (rather than the farcical opening game) and the blueprint for a future of increasingly sophisticated, competitive and exciting women’s football.

More to come on the fans (including Ghana’s infectious and tireless dance troupe) and Group C…

Brazil stun China; Canada crush Ghana

15 September, 2007 – ROUNDUP

Brazil thrashed hosts China 4-0 in the Wuhan Sports Center on Saturday evening in a result that leaves them all but assured of a place in the quarter finals. China will have to win in their last game against New Zealand and hope for the right result in the Brazil vs Denmark match. After beating New Zealand 2-0, Denmark themselves will almost certainly qualify if they get a draw in the final group match.

China started the game brightly with Song Xiaoli coming close to replicating her stunning strike against Denmark. It was Brazil who took the lead, however. Just before the break, Marta was able to lift the ball over the weak challenge of Chinese goalkeeper, Han Wenxia, and tap the ball into an empty net.

Whatever was said at half-time, it seemed to have little effect on the Chinese team, who were 3-0 down within three minutes. Marta set up Christiane for an easy finish, then just a minute later the combination bore fruit again after a disastrously poor throw out from China’s Han.

Brazil relaxed and the show-boating began. Their confidence is soaring, and rightly so. Marta and Christiane have gone through two defences like hot knives through butter. China’s fans gave their team a standing ovation regardless, but the hosts will be hoping Brazil keep their standards as high when they face Denmark.

Back in Group C, Canada crushed Ghana 4-0 to give themselves hope of possibly qualifying for the next round. After Australia and Norway drew 1-1, only Ghana have nothing left to play for in the final round of games.

Canada’s strength in the air was the deciding factor as Chrstine Sinclair opened the scoring with a looping header after a quarter of an hour. Ghana again appeared unable of raising their game to the necessary standard, but with more composure, Anita Amankwa could have levelled rather than smashing the ball against the woodwork.

Throughout the second half, Canada continued to press their dominance, two more headers with no serious challening jumps from the Ghanaian defence and a second for Sinclair wrapped up the points and gave Canada what could be a useful goal difference boost.

NB – I can’t pretend to have seen any of the Australia-Norway game, so any comments on that will have to wait.