Women's World Cup: Quarter-finals

Germany 3-0 Korea DPR
Norway 1-0 China
USA 3-0 England
Brazil 3-2 Australia

All the results in this round were pretty much as you'd expect. North Korea worked hard but were eventually dispatched with stereotypical Germany efficiency, with goals from Kerstin Garefrekes, Renate Lingor and Annike Krahn. Hosts China were knocked out by Norway thanks to Isabell Herlovsen's first-half goal, with the Chinese squandering too many chances.

England held the USA to a scoreless draw at halftime and must have been hoping for a repeat of their first-round result against Germany, but the Americans took over after the break, with Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx and Kristine Lilly all scoring.

In the last of the quarter-finals, Brazil dominated the game and took a 2-0 lead over Australia midway through the first half. But the Matildas fought back and equalized, before Cristiane scored in the 75th minute to take Brazil into the semis.


I also want to go back to the draw between Canada and Australia that ended up with the Canadians being knocked out. Canada took the lead within about 30 seconds, but I think that early goal actually hurt them, because it meant that Australia came at them hard, while Canada just tried to defend. They held out until halftime but Australia equalized soon after, and Canada played much better after that, knowing that they needed a win to progress. It looked like they'd done it when Christine Sinclair headed home in a corner in the 85th minute, but then Cheryl Salisbury scored late in stoppage time to put Australia through.

A dramatic way to go out, but so disappointing for the Canadians, especially after they reached the semi-finals in 2003. I think that maybe they overachieved last time around, and this time they just weren't quite good enough. Although the battle between them and Australia was very close, I didn't see enough to suggest that they would have gone on to beat one of the other teams in the quarter-finals.

Women's World Cup: Day 4

The most notable result from this round of games was England holding Germany to a scoreless draw. It was a thoroughly disciplined performance by England, as the defence stifled the German attack while Kelly Smith, leading the line on her own, harried them at the other end. England allowed Germany very few clear chances at goal, and keeper Rachel Brown was equal to those they did have, including an excellent save late in the game.

Argentina were Germany's victims in their first match, but they put on a much better show against Japan -- possibly heartened by goalkeeper Romina Ferro replacing the unfortunate Vanina Correa. Japan thoroughly dominated in terms of both possession and shots but couldn't seem to score, while Argentina could only muster up one shot on target. The one and only goal came late in the game, Yuki Nagasato pouncing on a rebound in stoppage time to give Japan the win.

That leaves Germany and Japan level with four points atop Group A, although Germany have a far superior goal differential. England trail with two points, but they still have a chance to move on to the next round if they win their next game and beat Argentina by more goals than Japan did.

In Group B, the USA bounced back from the disappointment of their draw against North Korea to defeat Sweden 2-0. Once again it was Abby Wambach (in this case, her presence rather than her absence) who made all the difference as she scored both goals for the USA, from a coolly taken penalty in the first half and a super half-volley in the second.

North Korea also won their second match 2-0, beating Nigeria thanks to two goals in the first half from Kim Kyong Hwa and Ri Kum Suk. Both goals came from set-pieces, the first directly from a corner that looped into the net over keeper Precious Dede (best. name. EVER). The Koreans and the USA are tied and lead the group with four points each; they face Sweden and Nigeria, respectively, in their third game, with both teams knowing that a draw will be enough to see them through to the quarter-finals.

Group A
Argentina 0-1 Japan
England 0-0 Germany

Group B
Sweden 0-2 USA
Korea DPR 2-0 Nigeria

Women's World Cup: Day 1-2

Last summer in the men's World Cup, Germany v. Argentina was one of the best games of the tournament. Not so much with the women's version. This was a blowout. A score you'd usually associate more with, say, Germany v. San Marino. The Germans were helped by some terrible goalkeeping by Vanina Correa, who put the ball in her own net twice, as well as some equally atrocious defending by Argentina; the back line might as well have not even been there for all the good they were. I think they just kind of gave up after the first five goals or so. But even so, it takes a pretty good team to score eleven times in the space of 90 minutes, including hat tricks for both Birgit Prinz and Sandra Smisek. WIR SIND DEUTSCHLAND. WIR SCHTOMPEN ON DIE PUNY SOUTH AMERICANS MIT UNSERE BIG SCHTOMPY BOOTS.

Fortunately, the other matches so far have been much closer. In the other Group A match, Japan scored first with a free kick from Aya Miyama, before England equalized and then took the lead with two quick goals from Kelly Smith. But in injury time, Miyama scored from another free kick on the edge of the box, leaving both teams with a share of the points.

(I'm not going to do the bad hair awards for this tournament, because most of the players just have ponytails, which is boring. But I have to mention Japan's Eriko Arakawa, who has a truly spectacular fro. How do you even head the ball with that?)

Group B, meanwhile, is wide open, as both of those games also ended in a draw. North Korea surprised the favoured Americans with two goals in the space of five minutes, both scored with the USA down to 10 players while Abby Wambach was off having a nasty head wound stitched up. I'm not quite sure why that took the team up so much, though -- if you're going to be missing a player, wouldn't you want it to be a striker?

And finally, Nigeria's Cynthia Uwak scored a late equalizer to give her team a deserved point against Sweden, who'd taken the lead early in the second half with a goal from captain Victoria Svensson.


Group A
Germany 11-0 Argentina
Japan 2-2 England

Group B
USA 2-2 Korea DPR
Nigeria 1-1 Sweden

Women's World Cup Previews: Group B

SWEDEN
Nickname: Blågult (the blue-yellow)
Current world ranking: 3
Coach: Thomas Dennerby, who took over from Marika Domanski-Lyfors in 2005 after being named Sweden's coach of the year in 2004.
How they qualified: Won their UEFA qualifying group, with a 7-1-0 record.
Past record: Have qualified for every tournament and are perennial contenders. Their best showing was as runners-up to Germany in 2003, when they lost in extra time.
Other results: European runners-up in 2001; 4th place at the 2004 Olympics.
Why they could win: Dennerby has instilled a new tactical flexibility in the team, as well as bringing in some new blood, and it seems to have worked, as they racked up an impressive 32 goals in qualifying. But the team has been since hit by a string of injuries.
Key players: Strikers Hanna Ljungberg (no relation to Freddie) and Victoria Svensson led the line for Sweden in 2003, but with Ljungberg struggling with injuries, newcomer Lotta Schelin will have to step up and fill her boots.
Predicted finish: Quarter-finals

USA
Nickname: USWNT (wow, just as boring as the men's side)
Current world ranking: 1
Coach: Greg Ryan, who took over from April Heinrichs in 2005 and has a virtually flawless record with the team since then.
How they qualified: Won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in November 2006.
Past record: Have won the world title twice, in 1991 and 1999, but were knocked out by eventual winners Germany in the semi-finals in 2003.
Other results: They've won just about everything you can win in women's football, including the Olympics (twice) and the Gold Cup (three times).
Why they could win: Let's face it, they probably will. The USA recently regained their #1 world ranking, and they'll be out to avenge the loss to Germany in the 1999 World Cup. They've brought up a new generation of players who are probably even better than the squad that won the title before.
Key players: Striker Abby Wambach has 77 goals in 96 games; she's tall and strong, sort of like a female version of Didier Drogba, except blonde and less inclined to falling over. She'll be teamed up front with veteran Kristine Lilly, appearing in her fifth World Cup.
Predicted finish: Winners (much as I hate to say it)

NIGERIA
Nickname: Super Falcons
Current world ranking: 24
Coach: Effiom Ntiero, who took charge in 2006 after coaching the U19s at the world championship in 2002.
How they qualified: Won the African championship in November 2006.
Past record: Have qualified for all four previous tournaments; their best finish was reaching the quarter-finals in 1999.
Other results: Five-time African champions.
Why they could win: Nigeria has monopolized women's football in Africa, and they've got plenty of talent in the team. The core of the squad from 2003 has returned, plus some stars from the U20 team.
Key players: Young striker Cynthia Uwak, who has great pace and skill on the ball, and fellow centre-forward Perpetua Nkwocha, the 2006 CAF Women's Footballer of the Year.
Predicted finish: First-round elimination

KOREA DPR (NORTH KOREA)
Nickname: None that I could find, but the men's team are known as the Taeguk Warriors
Current world ranking: 5
Coach: Kim Kwang-Min, an experienced coach who took over in 2005.
How they qualified: Finished third at the Asian championship in July 2006, but earned the region's second spot at the World Cup because winners China had qualified automatically.
Past record: Qualified twice before, in 1999 and 2003, but failed to progress past the group stage both times.
Other results: Won the AFC title in 2001 and 2003. The U20 side also won the world championship last year.
Why they could win: The Koreans are well organized and work hard, with plenty of speed and stamina. But they've been going through a rebuilding phase recently, and I suspect that they're missing that spark they need to progress.
Key players: Striker Ri Kum Suk is the team's captain and best-known player. She won the golden boot in the 2003 AFC championship, with 15 goals, but her scoring record isn't quite so impressive at World Cup level.
Predicted finish: First-round elimination

Group Predictions
The USA should top the group easily, and I expect Nigeria to be at the bottom – although they're the best team in Africa, they usually disappoint at the World Cup. Second and third place, though, are a bit harder to predict. When I originally looked at the groups back in April, I picked Korea to go through, but now I might be leaning towards Sweden. Either way, the runners-up here will probably have to face the mighty Germany in the next round. Lucky them.