Fifa Women's World Cup :Sept 20- Oct 12

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
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Oct 2nd - QuaterFinals Result

Germany(7) vs. Russia(1)
China(0) vs. Canada(1)

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Hooper and teammate celebrates goal against China

Ah - this is first time i have seen unpredictable result every day of the Women’s World Cup - tonight Canada defeated China and secured its place in the Semi-Final - Canada who never qualified for QF now see themselves in the Semi-Final - and possibily a little pushed for the Final?

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Canadian Neil(Left), Goal scorer Hooper(Center) and Christien Sinclair(Right) celebrates their match winning goal against China

Canada made an early goal from veteran Charmaine Hooper stand up despite constant pressure to shock China 0-1 book their first-ever spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-finals - Canada will now face Sweden - China turned their 65% of possession into 16 shots but as was the case in their group matches - they disappointed up front despite their immense skill on the ball - Canada came out the brighter side at the opening whistle and quickly pressed China back on their heels with their hard running and long balls - Hooper surprised the Chinese when she beat Han Wenxia to a long cross to give Canada an early lead - give a lot of credit to the Canadians who have come this far by kicking out well-experienced Chinese team.

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German’s striker Birgit Prinz celebrates her goal

In other QF - Germany easily rolled over Russia 7–1 - always looking the better side - second-half braces from Kerstin Garefrekes(3rd top goal scorer in the tournament so far) and Birgit Prinz(top goal scorer in the tournament so far) see the European Champions through to a mouth-watering semi-final showdown with defending World Champions, the United States - despite a late fight back and a goal from the finals’ youngest player Elena Danilova of Russia - the Russians never looked like giving fellow Europeans much trouble - and after a second-half goal avalanche - the Germans confirmed their status as European powerhouse supreme here at USA 2003 - and also secured their place at next year’s Olympic Women’s Football Tournament in Athens - why? Funny you should ask - the Germans continued to up the tempo - controlling midfield and the majority of first-half possession - not allowing Russians to move the ball freely in the midfield.

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German Goalie Silke Rottenberg directs her teammate for tough defense

But i think the player of the moment was German goalie Silke Rottenberg - she directed her teammates whole game - she has done in the league match too but today she was on top - this is a very positive sign for the German side.

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Germans celebrates their victory over Russians

I expected this match to be a much closer encounter because I saw the Russians play well against China - But later in the match Germans played in a way that took the air out of the Russians - at the end everything worked out well - Germans had in the previous round a bit of luck with the draw but today they played very impressive.

As for Germany vs. USA match - i think so far The Untied States are performing as good as they did in 1999 - and they are the top favourite to win the tournament - the Germans have to play physically very robust against (USA) - i reckon it’s going to be a match of the World Cup event.

Go USA!!!

:smokin2:

22

Oct 5th - Semi-Finals

Four teams have qualified for the Semi-Final.

1st Semi-Final: Germany vs. USA

2nd Semi-Final: Canada vs. Sweden

:smokin2:

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wohoo, USA is out of the WC. germany beat them tonight in the semis. 3-0 :k: :slight_smile:

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^ oh thats so sad... so many people were counting on them..

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:crying: :crying: :crying:

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Oct. 5th - Semi-Finals Result

Germany(3) vs. USA(0)

Sweden(2) vs. Canada(1)

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German players celebrate their 3-0 win against the USA

sigh - this is tough loss - i’ am in a state of shock - today we missed so many chances that i actually lost counting - our finishing had trouble from the beginning to the end - the Americans attacked German defense constantly but lacked the final touch - Germany did all they needed to in a solid & giant-killing performance - Avenging their quarter-final loss to the U.S. four years earlier - goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg’s heroics went a long to way to seeing the Germans into their second-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup final.

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German main striker Kerstin celebrate her goal against the USA

The match began with both sides battling physically in the middle of the pitch. All of the early pressure was coming Germany’s way. But with Mia Hamm in control of midfield, and towering Abby Wambach up front wreaking havoc, the Europeans slowly began to assert their own pressure and grabbed the first goal - Shocked by the early goal, the Americans came out of their tentative shell and surged into attack. Cindy Parlow, Wambach and Hamm began to look tremendously impressive, but for all of their possession and attack - they rarely forced Rottenberg into a save.

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Joy Fawcett and Mia Hamm reacts after the loss.

Kristine Lilly had the U.S.’ first real chance of the half, after taking advantage of a mistake at the German back - Turning and firing with her left foot from 20 yards, Rottenberg dove well to her right to pull off a fine save - and Abby Wambach too nearly grabbed the crucial equaliser - flicking a well-placed Mia Hamm corner just inches wide of the post - Then Mia Hamm had a chance to pull level with what must have been the opportunity of the half - Getting on the end of a fine through ball from Abby Wambach, she tried to go around Rottenberg when she might have shot, but was denied in the end by the brave keeper - in the dying moments of the half - Cindy Parlow got on the end of a flicked pass on the left side, but her clumsy shot barely troubled Rottenberg.

In the second-half substitute Tiffeny Milbrett then raced in on Rottenberg as the American attack began to develop a desperate edge but after the two collided heavily - the ball was cleared away to safety - and the list of missing chances goes on and on

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U.S. team received the standing ovation from fans

The Germans remained dangerous - and went on scoring two more goals in the dying moment of the game - eliminated U.S from the World Cup - despite the loss i think this was perhaps the greatest game ever played in women’s soccer - all credit to the Germans - in the end a standing ovation was given to the U.S team - Long Live the American Queens!

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***Josefin Oqvist’s team mates mob her after she scored the game-winning goal against Canada in Sweden’s 2-1 win in the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003 Sunday night in Portland, Oregon. ***

In other Semi-Final - Sweden beat Canada in a dramatic fashion - first half was level at 0-0 - Canada came out as expected and drove a long blast deep into the Swedish end right on the opening kick off and then it was a goal in the second half by Kara Lang - but in the last final 10 minutes of the game - tables turned around - Sweden got two goals from Malin Mostroem and substitute Josefine Oqvist to claim a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Canada - the main reason was that Canada did cause a few anxious moments for the Swedes as their booming long balls found their targets.

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***Sweden’s Victoria Svensson, left, Sara Johansson and Jane Törnqvist celebrate after Sweden defeated Canada 2-1 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003 semi-final game in Portland, Oregon October 5, 2003. REUTERS/Anthony Bolante ***

When Swedes were trailing by 1 goal - they slowly began to set the pace of the match as Svensson and Hanna Ljungberg darted around the Canadian defence - Canada - with their direct style fell into a somewhat predictable though still-dangerous mode relying on long balls aimed at Sinclair and Christine Latham - both teams had trouble in setting up shots - Canada had several throw-ins and a corner but they were unable to get off a shot while Sweden had problems clearing the ball - Canada had one final try after Therese Sjogran fouled Kristina Kiss who sailed the ball into the area - but Lang could not quite get her boot on the ball - and the Swedes were through to meet Germany in their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup final.

:smokin2:

27

Oct. 11th

*Canada vs. USA - for third place

Oct. 12th

*Germany vs. Sweden - World Cup Final

:smokin2:

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there there… :hug:

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Re: Fifa Women’s World Cup :Sept 20- Oct 12

World Cup third-place game result :

** USA 3: CANADA 1 **

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP SOCCER - FINAL MATCH
Sun October 12 12:30 pm ET on ABC

Germany vs. Sweden

should be a close one…sighz USA ..:crying:

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Final goodbye wave by Mia Hamm

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Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett had smile on their face…

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The U.S team applauded crowd after their win of 3-1 over Canada

The U.S. beaten Canada for thrid place but i think we lost our golden chance of winning the second World Cup this year - Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Kristine Lilly, Brandi Chastain and Tiffeny Milbrett have been the core of the team for a decade or more - All are now over 30 years old however - and they may never take the world’s greatest stage again.

:smokin2:

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Re: Re: Fifa Women’s World Cup :Sept 20- Oct 12

GERMANY 2 : SWEDEN 1

Yup, the Germans are the new World Cup champions! It was a very very very exciting game that went into extra time. Substitute Nia Kuenzer 's header in the 98th minute clinched the title for the unbeaten Germans. It was her first goal of the tournament :smokin:!!

Even though it was a well balanced game with both teams playing very well, the overtime session was noticably dominated by the Germans. Well done Germany :k:

:wave:

p.s. Birgit Prinz was given the golden boot for being voted the most valuable player of the tournament

pp.s. Mia Hamm :crying: :crying: :crying:

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World Champions 2003 - Germany

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**Golden Goal Moment **

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German players surrounded Nia Kuenzer

Oh my... the final was as thriller as it was back in the '99 World Cup - Germany deservedly claimed a golden goal 2-1 victory over brave Sweden - Substitute Nia Kuenzer was the golden-goal hero, heading in Renate Lingor’s free kick eight minutes into the first period of extra time. The shot looped over Swedish goalkeeper Caroline Joensson, delivering a body blow to the Swedes who had held off wave after wave of German attacks on the day - No player had more to do with that than Joensson, who lay stomach down with her face in her hands as the Germans streamed onto the pitch in celebration.

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Dejected Swedes Goalie Caroline and player Frida at the loss of World Cup Final

It was a typical end-of-tournament moment but one that was no-less cruel because of that - Sweden, who recovered so well after an opening-match defeat to the United States - were the Cinderella darlings of the event, and the stadium for the final was awash with blue and yellow supporters singing “Sverige!” - also on the ground dejectedly were the fantastically impressive Diminutive Duo of Sweden, Victoria Svensson and Hanna Ljungberg.

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**Germany's Bettina Weigmann holds the trophy up as the German team celebrates during the trophy ceremony of the 2003 Women's World Cup, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003, in Carson, Calif. germany beat Sweden, 2-1. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) **

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Most Valuable Player of the tournament - Queen Prinz

At the other end of the spectrum were the powerful - determined and confident Germans, who won their first FIFA Women’s World Cup - *they(Germans) also became the first nation to win both a men’s and women’s world championship, and their coach Tina Theune-Meyer became the first woman to lead a team to the FIFA Women’s World Cup - these are all significant developments for the German team and for women’s football - which has continued to get more and more exciting. *

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GROUP PICTURE

signs off