Summary: 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup
The 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup was the fifth edition of the tournament, held in China from September 10 to 30, 2007. The event showcased the best women’s national soccer teams from around the world, competing for the prestigious title. The tournament featured 16 teams, including the host nation China, as well as defending champions Germany.
Tournament Format
The tournament followed a similar format to previous editions, with the 16 teams divided into four groups of four. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage, which consisted of quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. The matches were held in various cities across China, including Shanghai, Chengdu, and Hangzhou.
Group Stage
In Group A, Germany, the defending champions, dominated the competition, winning all three of their matches against Argentina, Japan, and England. They finished at the top of the group with nine points. England secured the second spot with four points, while Japan and Argentina were eliminated.
Group B saw a strong performance from North Korea, who won all their matches against Nigeria, Sweden, and the United States. Sweden finished second in the group, while the United States managed to secure the third spot and advance to the knockout stage.
In Group C, Norway emerged as the dominant team, winning all three of their matches against Ghana, Australia, and Canada. Australia secured the second spot, while Canada was eliminated. Ghana finished at the bottom of the group.
Group D witnessed Brazil’s dominance, as they won all their matches against New Zealand, China, and Denmark. China finished second in the group, while Denmark secured the third spot.
Knockout Stage
The knockout stage began with the quarterfinals, where Germany defeated North Korea, Norway defeated China, Brazil defeated Australia, and the United States defeated England. In the semifinals, Germany faced Brazil, while Norway took on the United States.
Germany continued their impressive form, defeating Brazil 3-0 to secure their place in the final. In the other semifinal, Norway defeated the United States 4-1 to set up a clash with Germany in the final.
Final
The final of the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup took place on September 30, 2007, at the Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium in Shanghai, China. Germany and Norway battled it out for the title in a highly competitive match.
Germany took an early lead in the 10th minute with a goal from Birgit Prinz. Norway fought back and equalized in the 29th minute through a goal from Ragnhild Gulbrandsen. The match remained level until the 78th minute when Germany’s Simone Laudehr scored the winning goal, securing a 2-1 victory for Germany.
With this win, Germany became the first team to win back-to-back Women’s World Cup titles, having won the previous edition in 2003. Norway, despite their valiant effort, had to settle for the runners-up position.
Conclusion
The 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China showcased the growing popularity and talent in women’s soccer. Germany’s dominant performance throughout the tournament and their victory in the final against Norway solidified their status as one of the top teams in women’s soccer. The tournament provided a platform for female athletes to showcase their skills and inspire future generations of women in the sport.
