FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 Group A

Germany, as holders were drawn in Group A. Under FIFA's rules, they still had to qualify for this tournament and had done so by winning all their eight group games so still appeared to be a formidable team, first in FIFA's rankings. England had topped a group that included 2003 finalists, France. Japan had come through a play-off against Mexico. Most remarkably perhaps, Argentina had beaten Brazil in the final round of the 2006 Sudamericano Femenino to top the final group table and win their first title.

Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Knock Out Stages

2007 Overview

Germany

Argentina

Germany 11 Argentina 0

Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai (28,098)
10 September

The world champions got off to the best possible start, demolishing the unfortunate Argentina team and sending a clear message to the other participants. Birgit Prinz and Sandra Smisek both scored hat-tricks.

England

Japan

England 2 Japan 2

Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai (27,146)
11 September

Both teams had decent chances but failed to put them away in the first half. Ten minutes after the break Aya Miyama struck a long range free-kick that travelled through the wall of defenders leaving England's goalkeeper helpless. In a dramatic turnaround, Kelly Smith then scored twice in two minutes (81', 83') but there was another twist in the tail of this dramatic match. In the fifth minute of added time Miyama took another free kick from an almost identical position to her earlier effort and again beat the defensive wall to level the scores.

Argentina

Japan

Argentina 0 Japan 1

Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai (27,730)
14 September

Although Japan dominated the match they could not quite get the ball in the net despite some very close things. In added time, however, Romina Fero, the Argentinian goalkeeper, fumbled a shot and Yuki Nagasato pounced to thump the ball home from close range.

Germany

England

Germany 0 England 0

Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai (27,730)
14 September

The Lionesses put up a determined display to deny Germany a win.

Argentina

England

Argentina 1 England 6

Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu (30,730)
17 September

England were gifted their opening goal in the ninth minute by González who misheaded a deep cross into her own goal despite there being no-one else near her. Jill Scott made it 2-0 with a long range shot that bounced under the 'keeper a minute later. Argentina lost their defender, Pérez, in the second half when she was sent off after conceding a penalty and it was one-way traffic after that. The win ensured England would advance to the next round.

Japan

Germany

Japan 0 Germany 2

Yellow Dragon Stadium, Hangzhou (39,817)
17 September

Germany had plenty of early chances and it was no surprise when Prinz opened the scoring after the ball broke to her from a corner. The Germans missed more chances in the second half and there was some anxiety on the bench until Müller was brought down in the box. Lingor converted the penalty with three minutes of normal time remaining.