Football: Women’s World Cup

The 2007 Women's World Cup is well underway and here at TDL we thought we'd give a little attention to a side of football that's sadly often over looked.

Group A

Out of the home nations only England qualified for the trip to China and were placed in Group A along with Germany who are favourites (Boo!), Argentina and Japan.  The first match of the group was a very embarressing drubbing of Argentina by Germany who walked away 11-0 winners. As you can tell from the video the Argentinian goalie makes even England mens goalie Paul Robinson look world class!

Englands first oppenents were Japan and although they mainly dominated the game Japan scored from a free kick late in the first half from Aya Miyama.  England bounced back in the second half scoring two goals, both by Arsenals brilliant striking veteran Kelly Smith.  Knowing the previous result between Germany and Argentina both teams knew whoever won was virtually guaranteed to go through to the next round on goal difference alone but sadly (and very much in the usual style of the England mens team) England threw it away when Japan scored deep into injury time from another free kick in an identical postion.

Whoever qualifies now will probably depend on who can put the most past Argentina and concede the least (as bad as it sounds) against Germany…..

Group B

Group B certainly has to be the Group of Death featuring three strong teams, Sweden, USA, North Korea where womens football is thriving, well funded and supported just as much as the mens game.  The other team making up Group B is Nigeria.

Sweden scored early on in their first match against Nigeria and had probably hoped for a similar scoreline of 3-0 when the teams last met in the 2003 World Cup but Nigeria's Cynthia Uwak quickly fired in a failed clearance with just 8 minute to go and the game ended 1-1.

USA (joint favourites with Germany) and North Korea also only managed to draw though a number of shots either hit the bar or came close from both sides in a very hard fought game that ended 2-2 and left Group B wide open.

Group C

Group C is made up of Australia (favourites to win the group), Norway (who should easily qualify to), Canada and Ghana.

Australia stamped their authority hard on Ghana with a convincing 4-1 victory with four different players getting on the score sheet though Lisa De Vanna scored one and set up two of the other goals.  This is Australia's 4th World Cup appearance and they are expected to go quite far.

Norway who are former World Champions went a goal down against Canada but came back strongly in the second half scoring with a powerful headers from Ragnhild Gulbrandsen and Ane Stangeland to take the three points with a 2-1 victory.

Group D

Group D is going to be another very close group and consists of Brazil, China, Denmark and New Zealand.

Brazil got off to a flyer with a 5-0 sound thrashing of a hapless New Zealand and should top the group with ease and stroll into the next round.

Who joins Brazil is going to be a tough choice between China and Denmak who both have strong teams.  Although China won the game 3-2 and are in the driving seat Denmark are more than capable of racking up a good score against New Zealand and holding Brazil to a draw.  This group is going to be an interesting one to watch.

If you want to catch any of the games the BBC is screening all of Englands games Live and showing highlights of all the other matches on BBC2.

Now…..COME ON ENGLAND…LADIES!!!!!