The ladies played a fine game with lots of hustle and emotions, but the day seemed to favor the team from Sylvia Neid, who managed to keep Brazil off from scoring.

Brazil created plenty of great chances and hit the post twice. Marta got a chance to score on a penalty but the world’s best player missed the chance to tie the game on the second half. Brazil kept attacking and trying to score, while Germany was getting very physical. Marta was neutralized and the referee had poor calls against Brazil.

5 minutes to the end, Germany scored the second, killing all chances of a Brazilian recovery. It seemed like a revenge against the men’s Brazilian World Cup title against Germany, in 2002.

In Marta’s own words: “But that’s football. Sometimes, however good you are you don’t get what you want and today just wasn’t our day.”

It was a good game, worthy of a World Cup Final.

Brazil marked well, created great plays and was able to keep calm during most of the match. After scoring on their own goal, the American ladies got very nervous and could not bring their game up. On top of that, the referee did not help by giving a (unfair) red card to Shannon Boxx.

But the greatest winning factor was the way Brazil played as a unified team. The 11 women in the pitch played their best when most needed.

Marta showed why she is the best player in the world. Her second goal was a piece of art, something hard to accomplish in a World Cup semi-final.

Brazil has a great squad. Now is the time to change history and conquer the first World title for Brazilian Women’s Football.

Brazil started an easy game against Australia but complicated things with poor defense choices. Brazil let Australia tie after scoring 2 goals. The winning goal came from Cristiane, who managed to put the ball in the net in front of 5 Australian defenders.

The US had no big issues qualifying. They beat England 3×0 and will now face Brazil in the semis on September 27th.

Germany faces Norway on September 26th.

Not only for the fact that Typhoon Wipha’s stopped by for a visit, but some reults did not came out as expected.

Canada, who finished in 4th place in 2003, tied with Australia and went home earlier than planned. The Aussies seem to have the same good game as their men’s team in Germany 2006. Australian ladies will now face the strong Brazilian team on the quarter-finals. Brazil has the best campaign so far, with zero goals suffered.

The other games are as follows:

Germany vs. Korea on Sep. 22nd.
Norway vs. China on Sep. 23rd.
England vs. USA on Sep. 22nd
Brazil vs. Australia on Sep.23rd.

Some comments from the fans at fifa.com:

“I simply don’t want the Germans to go to sleep. Anytime a strong team kicks off a competetion with a much weaker team, and they score many goals,it always works against the winning team. The just concluded U17 world cup is another example. Brazil had it too easy against NZ. At the 2006 Fifa world cup, Argentina had a cruise control over S&M. We all know what eventually happened along the way. Credits to the German women for doing what the game is all about, score goals.”

“Kerstin Garefrekes’ goal might candidate for the most beautiful goal of the tournament while Argentinians seemed weak and overwhelmed even before the 12th minute. The Germans were too strong.”

Agreed. Agreed.

See the match schedule HERE.