WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2007

As compensation for having to give up the hosting rights in 2003, the 2007 Women's World Cup was hosted by China. Defending champions Germany opened the tournament in Group A, and immediately set a record score for the competition with an 11-0 thrashing of Argentina. Germany won the group without conceding a goal, although they were held 0-0 by England. The other quarter final place was between England and Japan, who had drawn their first game 2-2, and when England beat Argentina 6-1 in their last group game second place was theirs.

Group B matched four teams who had also been in a group together in 2003. The USA were favourites, but surprisingly had to come from behind to force a 2-2 draw with North Korea in their opening game. They went on to win their remaining matches to win the group, leaving Sweden and North Korea to fight for second. Sweden's failure to beat Nigeria in their opening game meant they needed to win by three goals to finish ahead of North Korea, so their 2-1 victory was not enough and the Koreans went through.

Group C was tightly contested by Norway, Canada and Australia. All three beat Ghana, and Norway's opening game win over Canada ultimately gave them first place. The final group game between Australia and Canada would decide second place in the most dramatic fashion. Australia only needed a draw, and once they had cancelled out Canada's early lead looked comfortable at 1-1. However, five minutes from time Canada took the lead again and were heading for the last eight before an equaliser with almost the last kick of the game gave the Australians the point they needed.

As expected, Brazil cruised through Group D, winning all three games without conceding a goal. China and Denmark's meeting in their first match would ultimately decide second place, with China edging home 3-2 thanks to a goal two minutes from time, after Denmark had hit back from 2-0 down. As in their previous appearance sixteen years earlier, New Zealand lost all three games.

In the first quarter final, North Korea held out until a minute from half-time against holders Germany, before conceding twice more in the second half to lose 3-0. England held out slightly longer against the USA, not conceding until early in the second half but ultimately losing by the same margin. In the lowest scoring quarter final, Norway ended the hopes of the host nation with a 1-0 win over China, before Brazil withstood an Australian fightback from 2-0 down to eventually edge through to the semi final by three goals to two.

In the semi final, Germany again took until nearly half-time to make a breakthrough, this time an own goal ending Norway's resistance. The eventual outcome was the same as the quarter final, a 3-0 win for the holders. An own goal also broke the deadlock between Brazil and the USA in the second match, Brazil taking the lead midway through the first half before going on to complete a comprehensive 4-0 win against an American side who played the entire second half a player short.

For the second tournament in a row the Americans eased their disappointment by winning the third place match, this time 4-1 over Norway. In the final, Germany and Brazil could not be separated in the first half but a goal early in the second period from Birgit Prinz turned the game in the favour of the defending champions. With Brazil looking for an equaliser, Simone Laudehr added a second goal four minutes from the end to ensure that Germany would be the first team to successfully retain the Women's World Cup.