Womens 2007 World Cup; match 1

Group A, 10/9/07 in Shanghai.

Argentina v. Germany

Argentina: V.Correa, E.Gonzalez, G.Chavez, M.Quinones, V.Cotelo, S.Barbitta, C.Huber (F.Mandrile 74), R.Gomez (M.Pereyra 66), F.Vallejos, A.Almeida (L.Manicler 53), M.Potassa.

Germany: N.Angerer, K.Stegemann, S.Minnert, A.Hingst, M.Behringer (P.Wimbersky 68), S.Smisek, S.Laudehr (S.Bartusiak 74), R.Lingor, B.Prinz, K.Garefrekes (A.Mittag 84).

Joint favourites Germany hammered out a warning to any potential challengers in the opening fixture with a record breaking 11-0 win over a sorry Argentina.

Stronger opponents await but the Germans completely outclassed and overpowered Argentina here to an almost frightening degree and will anticipate the rest of the competition with increased confidence.

The result looked inevitable as the two teams walked out. Everywhere on the pitch the German players were taller and stronger and it was impossible to see how the Argentinians would be able to compete over ninety minutes.

As it was the Argentinians were largely unable to compete at all and contributed to their own demise in no small measure.

It was Argentina who offered the first shot although Clarisa Huber was over 40 yards out when she sent it in and the effort presented no problem to Nadine Angerer in the German goal.

Shooting from this distance might have seemed pointless but the Argentinians would scarcely get closer to the German goal all night so it was probably worth the effort.

The Argentinians would continue their policy of shooting whenever they got over the halfway line but, not surprisingly, the tactic was not particularly effective.

Germany were soon pouring forward and the Argentinian defence showed itself to be fragile and disorganised under pressure. Chances presented themselves at regular intervals and it was a surprise that the game was goalless with ten minutes played. Vanina Correa in the Argentina goal made sure that this did not remain the case for much longer.

Melanie Behringer swung a corner in from the left and Correa somehow palmed the ball into her own net via the far post under no real pressure.

This goal started the expected avalanche with Argentinian spirit shattered more by the manner of the opening goal than anything else.

By the half hour the Germans were four ahead as any potential resistance from the South Americans disintegrated.

Rosana Gomez collected a yellow card for a rash challenge just inside the German half and the entire Argentinian defence stood and watched as the resulting free kick travelled 60 yards to the far post where Kerstin Garefrekes arrived to volley home from seven yards out.

The defenders might wonder why they had been so static but once again the major fault lay with Correa. The ball had been in the air an age and was volleyed home from the edge of the six yard box.

Correa then made a save although it was a hardly convincing tip over from a punt forward by Linda Bresonik and when the corner came across the ball ended up in the net again although this time an offside flag reprieved Argentina.

This scarcely mattered. Within moments Behringer was cutting in from the left beyond a flimsy challenge to slot the third past Correa. Then Garefrekes produced a superb centre that Birgit Prinz thumped home with her head.

Now came a period of respite for Argentina and Gomez produced their best effort, from only 35 yards out this time, but Angerer was still not unduly troubled.

Right on the stroke of half time the Germans went five in front when Simone Laudehr crossed from the right and Prinz came in late to profit from more static Argentinian defending.

It would not have been a happy Argentinian dressing room at half time and they could not have approached the second half with much enthusiasm. It was hardly surprising, therefore, that the goals kept coming at regular intervals and by the hour mark Germany led 8-0.

The Argentinians enjoyed a remarkable escape when Correa came for a corner but got absolutely nowhere near it leading to a goalline clearance and then another effort against the post before the ball was finally scrambled behind for another corner.

There would be no such luck shortly afterwards when Germany scored again. Correa did just about her best action of the night by plunging out to intercept a low centre in the middle of her box but before she could gather the ball properly one of her defenders hastily booted clear.

The ball only reached Renate Lingor some 30 yards out, however, and she had whipped the ball into the far corner before Correa could recover.

Correa was badly at fault again on Germany's seventh goal, diving all over a Lingor free kick, and although she managed the slightest touch which deflected the ball against the post Sandra Smisek was on hand to bang in the rebound.

When Prinz rose ahead of the keeper to head home Behringer's fine cross for her hat trick there was less blame to attach to the unhappy custodian.

Eva Gonzalez, Argentina's captain and outstanding performer by some distance, then sent in a dipping free kick from all of 45 yards that Angerer had to tip over and the Argies were unlucky to see a strong header cleared off the line from the resulting corner.

Argentina were actually enjoying their best spell of the game but without finding the net and, typically, when Germany attacked again the Argentinian defence was nowhere to be seen.

Smisek was able to stroll forward onto a through ball completely unchallenged but there was no denying the quality of her finish as she leathered home into the roof of the net.

After Germany had seen another goal chalked off for offside Smisek was able to tap in for her hat trick from Garefrekes' low centre but the last word, appropriately, went to Argentina's goalkeeper Correa.

Lingor sent in another corner from the left and Correa, strangely choosing to catch after her woeful performance, saw the ball slip through her fingers and into the net.

What odds would you have got on a first and last goalscorer double being the Argentina keeper?

Let's hope there aren't too many mis-matches in store and that this is the worst goalkeeping display we will see in the entire tournament.

Full Time: Argentina 0 Germany 11