Women’s World Cup Semi-Finals: Germany 3-0 Norway, USA 0-4 Brazil

By: Jan | September 27th, 2007

Celebration Germany reached the final of this year’s Women’s World Cup and again the final scoreline is a bit misleading. The story of this match mirrored in some ways the quarter final against North Korea. The first half probably was more balanced than in the quarter final, but overall Norway had the better of it, but mostly failed to come up with clear good chances, while Germany really only needs half a chance to get a goal. And again it happened close to half time as a sharp cross by Birgit Prinz was headed into her own goal by Norway’s Trine Ronning. And just as in the quarter final the half time lead helped Germany take more control of the action and the defence looked way more solid as well. Kerstin Stegemann scored a rather flukey goal in the 72nd minute and Martina Müller made it three just a few minutes later, capitalising on a very shy backpass by a Norwegian defender. So, based on the North Korea game, Germany can count on goals coming from fine individual performances, and based on the Norway game, they can count on their ability to capitalise on the other’s bad defending and bad luck. That’s an OK basis for the final, and then they have yet to concede a goal, so the defence and goalkeeper must do some things right. And I think that the whole organisation of the team has really improved over the North Korea match. The build up play was better and more intricate, even though Norway usually did a very good job defending the attacks.

And while I write this, things aren’t looking good for the US at all. They gifted Brazil a two goal lead via an own goal by Osborne and some bad goalkeeping - at least I think that Marta’s shot should have been saved. And Briana Scurry generally looked a bit shaky. I guess the US coach will have some explaining to do, following his controversial decision to drop Hope Solo for one match. And close to half time they are down to ten women, as Shannon Box got an undeserved second yellow card. Apart from that I give it to Brazil for clearly being the better and more dominant side of the first half. One thing is clear, there will be more things to talk about this match once it’s finished than the Germany - Norway semi-final.

Post Match Update: This second half was all for Brazil, even more so than the first one, now that the US team was down to ten and had to try to come back from two goals down. Unsurprisingly that gave Brazil just the amount of space they needed to perform their brand of football. And when Cristiane made it 3-0 the US team fell apart completely. Brazil were now pulling off one trick after the other, but only added one more goal, following another fine individual effort by Marta. Makes it look like they will be going into the final as favourites to win it. Though, the US team also looked quite poor, which gives me hope that Germany can contain Brazil’s strikers a bit better.

Something else I only saw in the highlights after the match: Cristiane celebrated quite aggressively - a bit like Oliver Kahn during his best days - though it had nothing to do with her goal, but the red card for Osborne earlier. And it was apparently Cristiane who crashed into Osborne and not the other way round. Disgraceful behaviour.