The 2007 Women's World Cup proved one of unimaginable excitement for Australia. Having qualified for all previous World Cups and yet to win a match, Australia were primed to turn it around. After a slow start against Ghana, they finally unleashed a flurry of goals to win 4-1. Nice to finally get the win, even if against mediocre opposition, and even more excitement came in the remaining two games where late goals were the order of the day. After being dominated by Norway in the first half, Australia turned it around to score with 10 minutes left and unlucky not to win the match. They left it even later against Canada when twice going behind - the first goal after just 30 seconds and the second with only 5 minutes left. A draw was required to ensure qualification for the second phase.
The quarter final saw a repeat of the group games with sloppy defense again seeing the girls go behind. This time, not by just one goal, but by two. With Brazil having not conceded during the entire tournament, the writing was on the wall. However, an opportunistic strike just before half-time by Lisa De Vanna after a under-hit backpass, and then a glancing header by Lauren Colthorpe on 68 minutes, provided hope. Unfortunately, Brazil's Christiane scored just 7 minutes later after wrong-footing a couple of defenders and launching a cracking shot from the edge of the box.
While the result was close, truth is that Australia saved their worse performance for the quarter final, constantly losing possession and bombing the ball long. A bit more composure and confidence, even if difficult against the majestic Brazil, could have seen a different result.
Overall the tournament proved very exciting, especially with Australia's trait of conceding early and having to respond. De Vanna was a superstar, while Collette McCallum excelled in midfield, adding a cracking goal with a direct free kick against Canada.
It's obviously not as technical as the men's game, but the open spaces means much more action. To think this tournament could have been in Australia when Australia proved the only bidder for it. Fifa then asked China to bid for it, and then (as expected given the dodgy situation) award it the tournament.
The final saw Germany deservedly defend their title after defeating Brazil 2-0.
12 Sep - 17:00 HANGZHOU Ghana 1:4 (0:1) Australia
12 Sep - 20:00 HANGZHOU Norway 2:1 (0:1) Canada
15 Sep - 17:00 HANGZHOU Canada 4:0 (1:0) Ghana
15 Sep - 20:00 HANGZHOU Australia 1:1 (0:1) Norway
20 Sep - 17:00 HANGZHOU Norway 7:2 (3:0) Ghana
20 Sep - 17:00 CHENGDU Australia 2:2 (0:1) Canada
Norway finished unbeaten at the top of Group C with Ragnhild Gulbrandsen registering five goals - the best return of any player in the group stage - yet arguably the bigger story was Australia's success in advancing to the knockout rounds for the first time. They did so at the expense of a Canada side who lost out in the most dramatic circumstances to the Matildas. As for bottom-placed Ghana they returned home with a first-round record inferior to every team save for Argentina.
1. Norway, 7 pts
2. Australia, 5 pts
3. Canada, 4 pts
4. Ghana, 0 pts
Runners-up when the FIFA Women's World Cup was first staged in China, Bjarne Bernsten's Norway offered an impressive statement of intent this time round by topping their group with the tournament's second-highest goals tally. Their slick passing game is a departure from the Norwegian style of old and they are benefiting from a striker at the top of her game in Ragnhild Gulbrandsen, who scored in all three matches, including a hat-trick in the 7-2 win over Ghana that confirmed Norway as group winners.
Australia had taken just two points from nine previous FIFA Women's World Cup matches but, like the Socceroos in Germany last year, the Matildas have finally come of age on the world stage. With the playmaking skills of Colette McCallum and the pace and goal threat of Sarah Walsh and supersub Lisa De Vanna, Tom Sermanni's team built on a winning start against Ghana, their famed Aussie grit serving them well as they grabbed vital points against Norway and Canada with late goals.
Semi-finalists in 2003, the Canucks were let down by late goals that cost them a draw with Norway in their opening match and, crucially, a decisive win over Australia in their final fixture. Those dropped points undid the best efforts of Even Pellerud's close-knit group of players who were led magnificently by captain and centre-forward Christine Sinclair.
Statistically this was Ghana's poorest performance at the FIFA Women's World Cup as for the first time they failed to register a single point. Whereas in 2003 they defeated Australia, this time they crashed to a 4-1 defeat. The defeats only got heavier with their 4-0 reverse by Canada typical of their efforts: plenty of possession but they rarely threatened to score. However, coach Isaac Paha insists his young charges will have learned from the experience.
Ragnhild Gulbrandsen completing her first-ever international hat-trick against Ghana
and confirming that, after all her injury problems, she has returned more potent than
ever.
Cheryl Salisbury's goal two minutes into added time in Chengdu, and the ecstatic Aussie
celebrations which followed.
The roar from the crowd as Norway and Canada entered the Hangzhou Dragon Stadium for the
group's first evening match. It set a noisy standard that the boisterous local fans
maintained throughout.
Christine Sinclair's part-shocked, part-thrilled reaction to discovering that she had
broken yet another Canadian scoring record: for FIFA Women's World Cup goals.
The sight of Solveig Gulbrandsen's one-year-old son Theodor and Mia, Camilla Huse's
daughter (aged six) playing together in their matching Norway shirts at the team's
training session.
500 - Ragnhild Gulbrandsen recorded goal number 500 in the history of the FIFA Women's World Cup when she netted Norway's second in their victory over Ghana.
"We are a completely different proposition to the Australian sides you have seen at previous Women's World Cups. I don't think you see overnight improvement in football but there has been a gradual development over the last couple of years and that has been a combination of our young players maturing and going into the AFC and getting some tough matches." Tom Sermanni, Australia's coach.
| Group A | P | W | D | L | GF | GD | Pts |
| Germany | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 7 |
| England | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| Japan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Argentina | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 0 |
| Group B | P | W | D | L | GF | GD | Pts |
| USA | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Korea DPR | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Sweden | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Nigeria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Group C | P | W | D | L | GF | GD | Pts |
| Norway | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 7 |
| Australia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| Canada | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| Ghana | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 0 |
| Group D | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Brazil | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 9 |
| China | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Denmark | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
22/09 17:00 WUHAN Germany 3:0 (1:0) Korea DPR
22/09 20:00 TIANJIN USA 3:0 (0:0) England
23/09 17:00 WUHAN Norway 1:0 (1:0) China PR
23/09 20:00 TIANJIN Brazil 3:2 (2:1) Australia
26/09 20:00 TIANJIN Germany 3:0 (1:0) Norway
27/09 20:00 HANGZHOU USA 0:4 (0:2) Brazil
30/09 17:00 SHANGHAI Norway 1:4 (0:1) USA
30/09 20:00 SHANGHAI Germany 2:0 (0:0) Brazil