Brazil were the South American champions (their fifth title) while Australia had won the Asian title, beating North Korea on penalties in the final. Equatorial Guinea were making their first finals appearance after finishing as runners-up in the African Women's Championship. Norway had qualified for every finals competition since 1991.
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Knock Out Stages
Norway
Equatorial Guinea
The African team, nicknamed Nzalang Nacional, gave as good as they got and there were chances at both ends. Haavi scored the decisive goal in the 84th minute.
Brazil
Australia
Australia were impressive, pushing forward at every opportunity while Brazil sat deep when not in possession. The deadlock was broken nin minutes into the second half by Rosana. The Australian defence failed to deal with a bouncing ball on the edge of the box and the Brazilian forward pounced to thrash it into the net. Australia threw everything they had at the South American champions who held on until the final whistle.
Australia
Equatorial Guinea
In the eighth minute the Equatoguinean goalkeeper, Mirian failed to hold a shot and Khamis was on hand to thump the ball into the net. Shortly afterwards Khamis flicked the ball past Mirian but it struck the post and, unbelievably, was caught by a defender who took a step with the ball in her hands before hastily dropping it. The Australians appealed for the penalty but the referee claimed that she had not seen the handball. In the 21st minute the Australian defence got into a tangle allowing Genoveva Añonma to steal the ball and dance round the goalkeeper for the equaliser. The Matildas scored twice early in the second half but the African team were not finished. In the 83rd minute Añonma again dispossesed a defender and scored.
Brazil
Norway
Both sides struggled to keep their feet in drizzly condition and the first half was disappointing although five times FIFA World Player of the Year, Marta, scored a fine goal midway through the half. Brazil then hit Norway with two hammer blows immediately after half-time. First of Marta burst down the right, drawing several defenders towards her, allowing her to play a square ball for Rosana to run on to and score. Two minutes later Norway's defence lost the ball allowing Cristiane to shoot. Her effort was blocked but Marta was on hand to steer the ball past the goalkeeper.
Equatorial Guinea
Brazil
Wayward passing let Brazil down in the first half and prevented them turning their overwhelming possession into goals. Four minutes after the restart Mirian beat away a cross-cum-shot into the path of Erika who flicked the ball up and over a defender before volleying home. Five minutes later Cristiane turned in a low cross at the near post. She also scored from a penalty in injury time.
Australia
Norway
With Brazil already through, this match would determine who would join them. After a goal-leass first half Thorsnes put Norway into the lead eleven minutes after the break. The Australian defence hesitated as the goalkeeper came to collect on the edge of her area allowing Thorsnes to nip in and crash the ball into an undefended net. Within a minute another defensive error, this time by the Norwegians, allowed De Vanna to pinch the ball and pass it to Simon who side footed it into the net. Norway's Ronning hit the bar from a free-kick (70') but it was Simon who won the game for Australia in the 87th minute with a header.