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Womens 2007 World Cup; match 10 Group A, 14/9/07 in Shanghai. England v. Germany England: R.Brown, M.Phillip, F.White, A.Asante, C.Stoney, K.Chapman, J.Scott, F.Williams, A.Scott, K.Smith, K.Carney (R.Yankey 56). Germany: N.Angerer, K.Stegemann, A.Krahn, A.Hingst, L.Bresonik, R.Lingor, S.Smisek, S.Laudehr, K.Garefrekes, B.Prinz, M.Behringer (F.Bajramaj 63). England's acid test in Group A came in their meeting with reigning world champions Germany. Having conceded a last minute equaliser to Japan in their opening game the pressure was really on to try and get something from opponents they had never beaten. Hope Powell's selection gave England a solid, competitive look with Anita Asante coming back into the defence, Jill Scott getting a shirt in the midfield and Alex Scott pushed forward into attack. Wisely the first priority of the England coach was to subdue opponents who had scored eleven goals in their first game. England's first test came after three minutes when Kerstin Garefrekes dug out a fine centre from tight to the corner flag but Rachel Brown came out to claim confidently and no doubt boost the spirits of her teammates. This set the tone for a totally assured display from England's goalkeeper. Germany won a corner from which Annike Krahn was allowed room but the ball was just too high and she could only manage a skidding contact. The England defence would not be so generous on many occasions. The Germans had had plenty to say about England's chances in this game and Kelly Smith's prospects of scoring. The first real action in the German half suggested Smith did worry them, however. Faye White pumped a long ball forward that Smith had no real chance of reaching but Nadine Angerer lost her bearings and went to head clear even though she was still within her penalty area. The ball skimmed the top of her head and bounced just wide of the post with Smith not far from pouncing. From the corner White rose well to meet Karen Carney's centre but her effort flashed a few yards wide of the far post. Without causing the Germans many problems England had every reason to be pleased with their start. Their defence looked on top of the German attack and possession was retained for long spells, albeit in areas that did not threaten the opposition. Katie Chapman gave away a silly free kick for tugging Birgit Prinz but Melanie Behringer's fierce drive was always too high. England responded with a neat, patient move which ended with Carney breaking a challenge to send in an excellent ball from the left which split the German defence but Chapman, furthest forward for once, did not read the bounce and the chance was lost. The first real spell of German pressure saw Anita Asante make a vital interception inside the penalty area and when the ball was half cleared Chapman left a foot in a challenge and collected a booking that will rule her out of the Argentina game. Renate Lingor's free kick was woeful and presented no problems for Rachel Brown. England were soon being tested again with Mary Phillip having to turn quickly to hold up Berlinger racing onto a good ball by Sandra Smisek and when the ball was laid back to Linda Bresonik her fierce drive was not too far away from the angle of post and bar. For the next twenty minutes, however, Brown would be a virtual spectator as England controlled possession and the German attack almost completely. Carney lofted an excellent pass over the last German defender but Jill Scott could not turn on the dreadful playing surface after a decent first touch on her chest. Another teasing pass from Carney was booted clear at the last moment by Angerer after hesitation between keeper and centre half with Alex Scott in close attendance. Garefrekes was able to test Faye White on one occasion running into the box but as the German turned back on herself the England captain produced a perfectly timed challenge to halt the advance. Fara Williams, struggling to impose herself again, played a smart one two with the more influential Chapman before knocking a good ball through for Alex Scott who went for a lob volley as the ball sat up nicely but from 25 yards her radar was slightly askew. Good idea though. Then came England's best chance. Kelly Smith, isolated as England cleared a corner, set off running straight at the German defence and looked likely to go clear until Krahn blocked her off cynically to earn a booking. Williams drove the free kick low into the penalty area and Smith was only a fraction away from making decisive contact seven yards out. England's first half effort was summed up when Asante left Smisek in an untidy heap behind the goalline as she shepherded the ball out for a goal kick and the German then felt the full force of bone jarring challenge from the same player as she was lining up a shot. Brown needed two attemts to gather a testing Lingor centre but always looked in control of the situation and, tellingly, the player reacting quickest to any possible spill was her teammate Katie Chapman. The half ended with Germany pressing and Kerstin Stegemann got forward to cross for Garefrekes who might have done better than send in a weak header that Brown saved easily. Then the England keeper had to react sharply low down by her near post after White had deflected a driven cross by Prinz. The interval came with England deservedly on terms and looking fairly comfortable, however. Half Time: England 0 Germany 0 It was almost inevitable that Germany would come out in positive mood and put England under more severe pressure. Encouraged by a ridiculous free kick decision in the first few seconds of the half they did so but England's defence was not going to wilt at the first sign of pressure and Rachel Brown remained largely undisturbed. Unlike in the first half, however, England did begin to get over-anxious with their attempted passes forward and surrendered possession more readily than they had done before the break. Fara Williams collected a caution for taking out Prinz but still the Germans were unable to test Brown. Angerer booted clear again somewhat hesitantly with Kelly Smith harassing the last defender before England replaced Karen Carney with Rachel Yankey just before the hour mark. Space suddenly opened up for the Germans as Prinz made a determined crossfield run and her reversed ball into the area looked dangerous but Asante was alive to the danger once again and slid in to clear. Almost ten more minutes had elapsed before Germany could threaten again. Garefrekes was able to run from deep and backed Casey Stoney into the England penalty area before feeding the ball back to Fatmire Bujramaj who speared in a low drive that Brown collected with complete authority. The next German attack was more threatening. Simone Laudehr combined well with Prinz and the powerful striker ended up driving into the England box with Faye White desperately looking to apply pressure. Although Prinz got her shot away the England captain had done enough and the effort was tamely into Brown's waiting arms. The battle between White and Prinz had been a heavyweight one from the word go and both players needed lengthy treatment after this clash. Not surprisingly both carried on, however. England were looking stretched for the first time in the game and Bujramaj broke a challenge of Asante's to set up another dangerous situation. It looked as though there might be room for the substitute to go on and shoot but Chapman raced back to force her to pass and when Garefrekes unleashed a drive towards the England goal Chapman was lunging across to make a superb block. The incident typified an outstanding effort from the England midfielder. Fara Williams was happy to see a sliced clearance from a Germany free kick fly well over her own crossbar but with ten minutes remaining the worst of the German storm had been weathered. There was a great counter attacking opportunity for England after Chapman had won a crunching tackle in midfield and bodies quickly raced forward but Kelly Smith could not pierce the German defence with her attempted pass and when the ball came back to Jill Scott her shot was weak. Both players had overlooked far better options. Then came the chance of the night. Lingor belted a hopeful ball into the England penalty area which seemed to spit up at Casey Stoney at the last moment. The ball appeared to strike the England player on the arm but dropped perfectly into Garefreke's path ten yards out to the right of goal. The low drive was struck sweetly but Brown stuck out a foot to save with instinctive brilliance before Williams, Jill and Alex Scott stepped in to make sure England survived the rebound. From the corner Stoney had to clear from the line although there was no real danger as the ball dropped slowly out of an aerial challenge. Jill and Alex Scott then combined neatly further up the field to start an England attack which saw Smith set off on another purposeful run. This one was also stopped by a crude German foul for which Laudehr was cautioned. The free kick was 30 yards out and Smith drilled a shot goalwards only to see Jill Scott, supposedly disrupting the wall with Faye White, get in the way of the effort. Bajramaj had encroached, to earn a booking of her own, so Smith got another go but amazingly Scott managed to get in the way of the next one too. Stegemann got forward to smash in another low drive but once again, in awful conditions, Rachel Brown's handling was perfect and England were able to keep the Germans at arms length for the final five minutes. Kelly Smith had one last chance to test the German defence but shot ambitiously from 35 yards with players in support and the effort was way over. Fittingly one of the final pieces of action saw Birgit Prinz desperately trying to shake off Faye White who would not be moved and cleared into touch with a vigorous challenge. This summed up a tremendous England defensive effort that was the backbone of a superb overall effort. Victory over Argentina will now almost certainly guarantee England qualification for the quarter finals and another chance to test their skills against the best teams in the world. Come on England! Full Time: England 0 Germany 0 England: R.Brown 9, M.Phillip 7, F.White 9, A.Asante 9, C.Stoney 8, K.Chapman 9, J.Scott 7, F.Williams 6, A.Scott 7, K.Smith 7, K.Carney 6 (R.Yankey 5). Star Player: Hope Powell I've questioned plenty of Powell's selections and tactics in the past, and no doubt I will do again, but she deserves massive credit for masterminding this superb effort.
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