Day Three

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Day Three

England Hold Champs To Overshadow “Group of Death”

by Jeremy Ruane

Decisive results in “The Group of Death” on Matchday Three at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup Finals were overshadowed by an absolutely fabulous clash between two countries with a fantastic rivalry in world football, as England held reigning world and European champions Germany to a scoreless draw in a real thriller in Shanghai.

The first game of the day at the tournament's foremost venue was a tad unimaginative bordering on sterile to begin with, as Argentina looked to restore a bit of pride and confidence after the Women's World Cup record hammering they copped from Germany.

Japan's methodical approach struggled to penetrate the South American combination's sweeper-enforced rearguard, which also sported a new goalkeeper - understandable, given the eleven goals conceded by Vanina Correa, two of which she contributed herself.

But for a few brief flashes of skill and inspiration from the likes of Homare Sawa - later named Player of the Match - and Shinobu Ohno, and Argentina's livewire midfield duo of Fabiana Vallejos and Analia Almeida … the half-time stats told the tale - eight shots, only three of which were on goal! Kozue Ando did hit the post, however.

Things livened up a bit in the second half once Japan introduced Eriko Awakawa to the fray, and livened up even more when Vallejos produced a moment of magic which deserved better fate - a thirty yard chip which beat Nadeshiko goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto all ends up, only to cannon back into play off the far post in the 72nd minute.

This stirred Japan into life, and efforts from substitute Yukari Kinga - with her first touch, Yuki Nagasoto, Sawa and Kinga again - a header across the face of goal at point-blank range following a Rumi Utsugi cross - had the Argentines desperate for the final whistle, and a treasured point.

They held out till stoppage time, when goalkeeper Romina Ferro failed to hold onto a rasping drive from Kinga, and Nagasoto gained due reward for following in. She also hit the post with a header during the additional four minutes, but her goal was enough to decide the contest in Japan's favour, and end Argentina's interests in this World Cup.

What a stark contrast the second encounter of the evening turned out to be! England versus Germany was riveting, compelling … everything you could wish for in a contest between these giants of the footballing world, gender regardless. The only thing it lacked was goals - it had everything else and then some!

A full match report appears separately, but the atmosphere was stunning - chants of “Deutschland, Deutschland” followed by “England, England”, then the Chinese version, specifically “Glock, Glock” then “Engerland, Engerland”! Brilliant!

Throw in a Mexican wave which involved both tiers of the superb Hongkou Football Stadium, all this while a pulsating match ebbed and flowed … Godfathers, we

It's hand on heart time for Japan's Homare Sawa and a couple of her team-mates on the screens in Shanghai, as Japan's national anthem rings around the ground

Germany have a final team huddle before the England encounter, while a packed Hongkou Football Stadium eagerly anticipates the action.

England's fans gathered at the gate, just before the English squad's impromptu meet-and-greet

My chariot to Wuhan awaits!!

miss out on so much that is good in world sport back home thanks to our myopic rugby-oriented media masters!

One thing which almost all the media missed out took place after the post-match media conferences, and was something special in itself. About 150 England fans were gathered at the gate to cheer off the squad as they headed back to the hotel after the match, flags flying, “England” chants all the rage.

Along comes the squad's bus, with the customary police escort, when it unexpectedly drew to a halt. The back door popped open, and to an enormous cheer and rapturous applause, out piled the England squad to share the moment with their loyal fans - a brilliant piece of PR to cap off a special night for English women's football.

In Chengdu, the USA struck a decisive blow in “The Group of Death” by downing Sweden 2-0 on the back of a brace of Abby Wambach goals, one in each half.

An even encounter swung the reigning Olympic champions' way when the prolific striker potted a penalty eleven minutes before half-time, then doubled their advantage just before the hour mark to effectively book the USA's place in the last eight.

“Anything you can do, we can do also”. That was North Korea's response to the USA's two-goal victory, because they overcame Nigeria by exactly the same scoreline in the later game in Chengdu.

Two goals in four minutes around the twenty minute mark did the damage, Kim Kyong Hwa - direct from a corner - and Ri Kum Suk, who headed home a Kim corner, leaving the African nation with a massive task ahead of them if they are to avoid a fourth first round exit in five Women's World Cup Finals.

It's back to Wuhan tomorrow, with the cherubs' encounter with Denmark top of the priority list. Also taking place is the far from insignificant clash of China and Brazil, while the first game in Hangzhou see Canada taking on Ghana in what is a must-win encounter for both teams.

As for the other match, it has taken the Matildas four successive Women's World Cup Finals to win a single game. Victory over Norway, who are also one win away from the next round, will see them secure their passage to the quarter-finals, and a match against one of the top two place-getters in New Zealand's group.

Give the Football Ferns time and frequent opportunities to further their development as a team, and they will, I've no doubt whatsoever, make even quicker progress than our trans-tasman rivals.

Proof? It's not that long ago that Germany were beating the English for fun. But parity in their last two encounters with the reigning world and European champions is evidence of England's improvement over time. It's not something which will happen overnight, but it will happen!

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