Germany Women National Team

[Oliver_Kahn]

Germany open with eleven-goal show

Germany got their FIFA Women's World Cup defence off to a stunning start with a competition record 11-0 win against Argentina.

Flying start
The European champions picked up their first global crown in the United States four years ago and are aiming for a repeat in China. Their opener in Shangahi was only 12 minutes old when Melanie Behringer's corner from the left was punched into her own net by Argentina goalkeeper Vanina Correa. Five minutes later Kerstin Stegemann's free-kick was volleyed in by Kerstin Garefrekes and Melanie Behringer made it 3-0 from a tight angle. Just before the half-hour captain Birgit Prinz headed in a Garefrekes cross and the three-time FIFA Women's World Player of the Year further increased the lead just before the break after being set up by Simone Laudehr.

Record secure
Only six minutes into the second half, Renate Lingor got on the scoresheet from long range and her free-kick was turned in by Sandra Smisek for the seventh goal. Prinz's hat-trick was complete in the 59th minute following Behringer's left-wing cross, equalling the mark for the most career goals in the tournament - 12. Germany broke the record held by Norway and Sweden for the Women's World Cup record score eleven minutes later when Smisek struck again from distance. She then finished off her treble and brought up double figures following a Garefrekes centre for the biggest margin of victory in an adult FIFA World Cup for men or women. The luckless Correa then completed the scoring as she fumbled another corner in the final minute.

England opener
England have the daunting task of facing Germany next on Friday but before that they open their Group A campaign tomorrow against Japan in Shanghai. Sweden, runners-up in 2003, meet African champions Nigeria in Chengdu after Group B is opened by two-time winners the United States and Korea DPR.

uefa.com

[Oliver_Kahn]

Brigite Prinz would have a place amongst the men I believe

[Trim]

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

Brigite Prinz would have a place amongst the men I believe

Haha

[Trim]

Germany's Women are really strong.

Current World champions and European champions, right?

They're unstoppable, I always see them bag 4/5-0 wins.

11-0 against Argentina, haha, awesome that.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by Trim17

Germany's Women are really strong.

Current World champions and European champions, right?

They're unstoppable, I always see them bag 4/5-0 wins.

11-0 against Argentina, haha, awesome that.

Yeah I think so, the team is damn strong. Besides having that great poacher, Prinz, they have an awsome left winger in Kerstin Garefrekes

[Podolski]

"In 2003, Prinz received an offer from the notoriously PR-savvy Luciano Gaucci, president of AC Perugia, who wanted to sign her for his squad. She could have been the first woman to play in a professional men's league, the Italian Serie A." from wikipedia... I never knew woman can play in the mens league

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Germany downs Norway 3-0 to reach final of Women's World Cup, face winner of U.S.-Brazil

By CHRIS LINES, AP Sports Writer
September 26, 2007

TIANJIN, China (AP) -- Defending champion Germany broke a shutout record in defeating Norway 3-0 Wednesday and claimed a spot in the final of the Women's World Cup.

Germany will play the winner of Thursday's United States-Brazil semifinal, with the final set for Sunday in Shanghai.

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An own goal by Norway's Trine Ronning just before halftime set Germany on its way, and it dominated the second half, with goals by Kerstin Stegemann and Martina Mueller.

Germany has gone 529 minutes without conceding a World Cup goal, dating back to the 2003 tournament. That broke China's record, which was 442 minutes in the 1999 and 2003 events.

"It was tough in the beginning, but our defense did very well, we didn't allow any chances, particularly to (tournament top scorer) Ragnhild Gulbrandsen," Germany coach Silvia Neid said. "The players realized we were not giving chances and that helps them with self-confidence, then we scored at the right moment."

Germany's opening goal in the 42nd minute came after a tactical substitution allowed quick left-sided midfielder Fatmire Bajramaj to come on and make an immediate impact.

Bajramaj's through-ball found Birgit Prinz, who whipped in a cross from the left, and Ronning -- attempting to block the ball with her chest -- accidently diverted it into the net.

Norway pushed for the opening few minutes of the second half, but quickly ran out of energy and lost playmaker Solveig Gulbrandsen, who hobbled off in the 55th with a thigh injury.

Coach Bjarne Berntsen said Gulbrandsen took a knock on her knee and had to be substituted, but the player was at odds with that assessment after the match.

"He said that, but he must have seen something I didn't see, because I didn't get injured," Gulbrandsen said.

Berntsen said fatigue caused sloppiness in his team's play.

"Maybe we should have thought more about changing some players from the quarterfinal," Berntsen said. "It could be we made a mistake by playing the same team, but the main problem in the second half was we were so inaccurate with our passing -- almost all Germany's attacks came when we gave the ball away."

Germany went up 2-0 in the 72nd minute. Off a quick break, Prinz played a ball inside to right back Stegemann. Her shot took a deflection, looped beyond the reach of Norway goalkeeper Bente Nordby, onto the inside of the left post and into the net.

It was 3-0 just three minutes later. A long ball by Stegemann pierced an uncertain Norway central defense, and Siri Nordby underhit a backpass, allowing substitute Mueller to steal in, take possession and shoot past the keeper.

Germany almost went 4-0 up in the 78th minute when Prinz, with yet another cutback from the right, found Bajramaj, whose firm shot rattled the crossbar.

Prinz, who was awarded player of the match honors for her forward play, said the team was nearing its best.

"We peaked at the right time," Prinz said. "We were stronger than our last two opponents, particularly in the second halves we were the better team. It seems we are fit at the right moment."

Norway will meet the loser of the U.S.-Brazil match in the third-place playoff, and coach Berntsen said the usually meaningless contest would be important for his team.

"We had a goal to fight for the medals and we don't have one yet, so we have to work very hard to get the team ready for Sunday."

`

[Trim]

Germany will take a positive approach in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup final against Brazil on Sunday in Shanghai.

The holders are hoping to become the first team to successfully defend the trophy and equal the United States' record of two successes in what is the fifth edition of the competition. However, in Thursday's semi-final, Brazil produced a 4-0 win against the USA, who had not lost in more than 50 games. They have triumphed in all five of their matches in China, with seven goals alone from reigning FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, Marta. She will be familiar to several Germany players from her three goals over two legs when Umeå IK crushed 1. FFC Frankfurt in the 2004 UEFA Women's Cup final.

Still, Germany have scored 19 times in this competition and are yet to concede – a tournament record – and they beat Norway 3-0 on Wednesday to reach their third final. Germany coach Silvia Neid believes that, even though first-time finalists Brazil have only been breached in one of their games here, they are vulnerable at the back. "There aren't many things in Brazil's game that I would call weaknesses, but there are one or two little things about their tactics that we can use," Neid said. "They play with a sweeper a little bit behind the other defenders, and also their defenders tend to stick to one opponent, so that may give us chances."

As for the opposition attack, Neid added: "Brazil are technically skilled, they play at very high speed and are fabulous up front, where Marta is a great player. If you try to cover Marta with player-to-player marking, it just won't work. You saw what happened to the Americans when they tried that. We plan to stay close to her, to have more players blocking space where the ball is played, and just try to play tight." The game, which echoes the 2002 men's FIFA World Cup final won 2-0 by Brazil in Yokohama, is preceded by Norway's meeting with the USA for third place.

uefa.com

[Vargas_4]

Interesting final.

I'm sure in their minds will be the WC 02 final! =P

Gome on ya german chicks! Get that win!

[Trim]

Birgit Prinz's goal in the 52nd minute and Simone Laudehr's strike in the 86th lifted Germany to a 2-0 victory over Brazil on Sunday, bringing the team its second consecutive women's World Cup title.

Brazil star Marta, who has seven goals in the tournament to lead all scorers, had a chance to tie the game in the second half, but her penalty was stopped by Germany keeper Nadine Angerer diving to her right.

"After the penalty save, I felt it was meant to be," Germany coach Silvia Neid said.

"We worked hard for each other, it was a great team performance. It was important to work against Marta, and we did a good job in pushing her to the sidelines."

Germany went through six games in the tournament without yielding a goal and outscored the opposition 21-0, setting other records in the process.

Germany's defense had to be good. Brazil dominated possession without finding its way past Angerer and central defenders Ariane Hingst and Annike Krahn.

Germany, which is bidding to host the 2011 women's World Cup, broke several records. It's the first soccer team to go through a major senior competition without yielding a goal.

The Europeans have not given up a goal in 619 minutes in the women's World Cup. The last goal was scored four years ago in the finals against Sweden. China held the old record of 442 minutes.

Germany is also the first women's soccer team to successfully defend its title in the World Cup or Olympics.

Germany's best chance of the first half came in the fifth minute when Kerstin Garefrekes found space on the right, but her sharp-angled shot hit the side of the net.

Brazil came close soon after when Formiga shot wide of the right post after a goalmouth scramble.

The match settled into a pattern with Brazil dominating in midfield through the efforts of the hard-tackling duo Formiga and Ester.

Germany ceded too much possession to Brazil and had its iron-clad defense to thank for stopping Brazil's forwards.

The match came alive in the 24th minute when Daniela's rasping shot thumped into the left post, and when the rebound was crossed back into the area, the same player headed over the bar.

Germany took on a more attacking formation for the start of the second half, pushing wide players forward, and it was rewarded with the lead in the 52nd minute.

Sandra Smisek took possession in the box and centered to an unmarked Prinz. She did not hit her shot cleanly but Brazil goalkeeper Andreia failed to get down quickly enough, and the shot passed under her and into the net.

Brazil was awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute after Cristiane fell under a challenge from Linda Bresonik. Tournament top scorer Marta took the spotkick but Angerer guessed correctly in diving to her right, blocking the low shot with her legs.

Brazil continued to attack the German goal, and five minutes later Angerer rescued her team again, diving to save a freekick by substitute Rosana.

But for all its domination of general play, Brazil could find no way past the German defense, and Laudehr sealed victory when she headed home a Renate Lingor corner in the 86th minute.

The penalty save by Angerer off Marta to preserve the lead was the turning point of the match.

Germany beats Brazil 2-0 to become first to successfully defend World Cup - International Herald Tribune

[Trim]

Well done ladies.

[Amuro^Mushashi]

wow german woman sure are scary...

[Vargas_4]

Great job ladies! Way to go!