Women's World Cup 2007 Thread

[ARBUCKS]

German women hit 11 in Cup opener

Defending champions Germany began their Women's World Cup campaign in style as they set a new record score for the tournament by crushing Argentina 11-0.
Argentina keeper Vanina Correa fumbled in, before Kerstin Garefrekes' volley and Melanie Behringer's sidefoot.

Birgit Prinz scored with a header and a shot before half-time, Renate Lingor smashed in, Sandra Smisek tapped in and Prinz's header completed her hat-trick.

Smisek netted with a drive, then a tap-in, before Correa fumbled in again.

It was never a contest as Germany underlined their status as one of the tournament favourites against an Argentina side ranked 29th in the world.

But their ruthless display will have unnerved Germany's Group A rivals England and Japan who meet on Tuesday.

Highlights on BBC2 tonight at 11.50pm

[carlyluvsunited]

Very good reporting by this journalist - he/she describe all 11 goals in only 3 lines !!!!

Phewwwwwwwww...........:confused:

Now I worry how many thread we get on this subject, lol.....maybe we only have one !!!

[reddwarf]

That's an absolute joke of a scoreline. I know the Germans are one of the favourites for the tournament (I'm guessing either they or USA will win it) but the BBC were touting Argentina as the 'number 1 South American team'.

England are in this group and by the looks of things we're more than capable of beating Argentina, we should beat Japan and we'll probably get battered by Germany and qualify as runner-up in the group.

The biggest shock is Ghana qualifying for the tournament - they're ranked as number 47 in the World behind countries like Chinese Taipei and Vietnam. I dread to think what the scoreline would be if the Germans played them!

[Lawbreaker1944]

I have seen women's football only once so far...and I must say it was unforgettable. They fought really hard for every ball. And the best thing of it is their screaming:). They screamed all the time - when they were tackled, when they scored, when they shot, when they pursued each other, when...

[BALROG]

we'll this is the only excellent football team from america, our ladies should dominate tournament and win cup,if no critical injuries.

[carlyluvsunited]

we'll this is the only excellent football team from america, our ladies should dominate tournament and win cup,if no critical injuries.

USA ladies 6/4 favourite to win this - Germany 9/4.

I did not know USA have good team for ladies football - Good luck for you ok :)

[ARBUCKS]

USA have won the woman's World Cup two times already from four World Cup in 1991 and 1997. The two times they have not won it they have finished in 3rd past.

[reddwarf]

USA ladies 6/4 favourite to win this - Germany 9/4.

I did not know USA have good team for ladies football - Good luck for you ok :)

Football is seen as a predominantly female sport in the United States. England's best player (Kelly Smith) went over there to play at one point because they have the best female football league in the World.

[BALROG]

the u.s. womens national team has done a lot of good for soccer here in the states, these girls kick some major butt ,and i watch them all the time,started since the days of mia hamm. our ladies are on lots of commercials and this is sad to say but they are more recognized than our mens team.lol

[BALROG]

Football is seen as a predominantly female sport in the United States. England's best player (Kelly Smith) went over there to play at one point because they have the best female football league in the World.

i disagree that soccer is seen as predominantly female sport a little. fergie made
a comment on why soccer hasnt flurished well in america, it was smart, he felt
it doesnt do well because distance between clubs, no rivalries.

i think american NFL is just so huge that atheletes become bombarded with big
names that we get tunnel vision. the hope would be that with all the scandals
of drugs in the sport and bad decisions of players,soccer may become more attractive for the young? :) i played at high level in cali for 10 years in 70's when
best,pele and beckenbaur were there, soccer was pretty big in cali at that time and i wished more players from europe kept coming, but it slipped away.

[carlyluvsunited]

i disagree that soccer is seen as predominantly female sport a little. fergie made
a comment on why soccer hasnt flurished well in america, it was smart, he felt
it doesnt do well because distance between clubs, no rivalries.

i think american NFL is just so huge that atheletes become bombarded with big
names that we get tunnel vision. the hope would be that with all the scandals
of drugs in the sport and bad decisions of players,soccer may become more attractive for the young? :) i played at high level in cali for 10 years in 70's when
best,pele and beckenbaur were there, soccer was pretty big in cali at that time and i wished more players from europe kept coming, but it slipped away.Some of the USA states are very big - why don't they have a league for each State and then the winner of each league goes to a Super League play-off and the Champions of America are found from this..........???

I know, I know......good idea Carly :p

[BALROG]

carly, send some ideas to MLS,your young and attractive, you can save my fav. sport here in america!

[reddwarf]

i disagree that soccer is seen as predominantly female sport a little.

In schools do boys or girls play soccer in America? Over here we have very few girls teams and almost every public school has a boys team.

My understanding was that boys teams have only recently started to be formed at school level in America.

[BALROG]

In schools do boys or girls play soccer in America? Over here we have very few girls teams and almost every public school has a boys team.

My understanding was that boys teams have only recently started to be formed at school level in America.

when i went to school mostly boys teams in america, but thats a while ago!:)
honestly from watching local news here in florida , american football dominates,but
soccer is problable equal in elementary and highschool.

im guessing that maybe in college, girls have more teams?

but i still feel that the game is still recognized as tough here, more boy like.
i could be wrong?:)

[andycole9]

kelly smith is regarded as the best player on the planet, cmon on england! i think either germany or the usa will win.

[reddwarf]

when i went to school mostly boys teams in america, but thats a while ago!:)
honestly from watching local news here in florida , american football dominates,but
soccer is problable equal in elementary and highschool.

im guessing that maybe in college, girls have more teams?

but i still feel that the game is still recognized as tough here, more boy like.
i could be wrong?:)

I have to say I'm pleased to be wrong. If we could take the American approach and promote both the mens and womens game in Britain I think it would be of great benefit.

Sports like football, rugby, cricket etc are totally dominated by men over here although womens football is starting to get more coverage with the major tournaments and cup finals being televised. Although at the moment, if you want to watch a womens league game you have to go to the stadium because there is absolutely no TV/radio coverage of those matches.

[BALROG]

like i said before, our womens national team is great for the sport here and i hope they win for a long time!

[reddwarf]

Just finished watching England v Japan. Japan are actually seeded 2nd in our group (Germany 1st, Argentina 4th).

We played reasonably well and deserved to win. After a frustrating first half, we went 1-0 down in the second half before a Kelly Smith brace in the space of 3 minutes made it 2-1 to England. Unfortunately, Japan equalised from a free-kick with the last kick of the game.

Final score 2-2.

[ARBUCKS]

Did anyone see the Argentina goalkeeper on BBC2 from the highlights from the Germany game? She conseeded 11. LMAO she scored two O.G's worst bit of keeping i have EVER EVER seen!!!

It was so funny to watch : )

[reddwarf]

Did anyone see the Argentina goalkeeper on BBC2 from the highlights from the Germany game? She conseeded 11. LMAO she scored two O.G's worst bit of keeping i have EVER EVER seen!!!

It was so funny to watch : )

The quality of goalkeeping in the women's game is dreadful at times. I know some goalkeepers prefer to punch rather than catch but the Argentinian goalkeeper could do neither.

For the best female goalkeeper in Argentina to flap 2 corners into her own goal is ridiculous.

It shows a complete lack of hand-eye coordination and wrists far too weak for a goalkeeper.

[rhys_utd]

im nor reli bovard by this womens world like lol

[BALROG]

after watching most of the first round, i am impressed by the north korean team the most, they are extremely technical and passing looks like mens second division
team. they have good chance to take that group which is the toughest .

[Wazza1989]

nice one:))....the men teeam hit 13 or somethin like that..with san marino i think:))

[chiboygeorge]

Yea.. Watched the Ladies play and the US tied.. they good though..

someone is finee on that team..

[keane7]

im nor reli bovard by this womens world like lol


u should man.. i saw germany in action n the gals play great footy. some of the goals were awesome. yesterday i saw england play, and the arsenal gal was good. anyhow, i feel that the world should give woman footballers some highlights too. there no rule saying footy is only for the guys. i've neva seem man u ladies play?..
great gals.. keep up the good work..:) :)

[andycole9]

women's football can be quite ***** at times i watched the germany-argentina game, the argei keeper was told to clean every thing up in the box, so she started hoovering it.

[ARBUCKS]

Brazil 4 - 0 USA

Brazil caused a major surprise by earning a place in the Women's World Cup final at the expense of USA.

The US, who had not lost for 51 games, went a goal behind when Leslie Osborne inexplicably headed into her own net.

The superb Marta then cut inside and drilled in, before the US were reduced to 10 when Shannon Boxx was unlucky to be sent off for a second booking.

Christiane slotted in and Marta sealed it with a brilliant solo goal, cutting in from the left and rifling home.

The victory sets Brazil up for a final clash with Germany in Shanghai on Sunday, with live coverage on BBC Two at 1245 BST and live updates on this website.

The pre-game talk was almost all about USA's sensational decision to axe number one goalkeeper Hope Solo in favour of 36-year-old veteran Briana Scurry.

The spotlight was certainly on Scurry and she failed to come through her first test, flapping hopelessly at a free-kick punted into the box, only to be let off the hook when Elaine blazed over from six yards.

But when Brazil did take a surprise lead, there was not much Scurry could have done about it.

Formiga swung a corner in from the left and Osbourne, hesitating over how to clear her lines, unfathomably stooped to head the ball into her own net.

If Scurry was blameless for the first, she could - and perhaps should - have done something about the second goal.

Marta collected the ball and cut in from the right and drilled a shot towards the bottom corner, Scurry getting down to her near post but failing to get sufficient contact on the ball to prevent it going in.

By first-half stoppage time, USA's hopes lay in tatters. Boxx was ludicrously adjudged to have fouled Christiane and she was sent off for her second booking.

The second half was as one-sided as you could imagine the semi-finals of a World Cup to be.

Brazil tore US's 10 women to shreds, Maycon twice using her blistering pace to sprint clear, but twice drilling wide of Scurry's far post.

The third goal came when Formiga got away down the left and crossed to find Christiane on her own 12 yards out. She steadied herself and coolly slotted low into the corner.

Marta produced some magic down the left to set up Christiane again only for her shot to curl wide, before Marta scored a goal that will live long in the memory.

She magically flicked the ball around Tina Ellertson with the heel of her left boot, cut in past one defender from the left and drilled low under Scurry.

Christiane rifled against the post with the clock ticking down as the Brazilian bench began their celebrations in earnest.

[keane7]

i watched both the semis game n i have to say women do play good football. Germany has the composure n good finishing. Brazilian gals have the skills.. its gonna be a great final...

[andycole9]

let's hope they swap shirts and the end of the game

[Justice]

Brazil 4 - 0 USA

Brazil caused a major surprise by earning a place in the World Cup final at the expense of USA.

One word removed and it doesnt make sense.

[carlyluvsunited]

One word removed and it doesnt make sense.Uh ... ? :confused:

[ARBUCKS]

I was thinking the same thing Carly!! Have not got a clue what he meant