Womens 2007 World Cup; match 17

Group A, 17/9/07 in Hangzhou.

Germany v. Japan

Germany: N.Angerer, K.Stegemann, A.Krahne, A.Hingst, L.Bresonik, R.Lingor, S.Smisek (M.Mueller 78), M.Behringer (F.Bajramaj 57), K.Garefrekes, B.Prinz, P.Wimbersky.

Japan: M.Fukumoto, Y.Kinga, H.Isozaki, R.Utsugi, A.Iwashimizu, A.Hara, M.Yanagita, T.Sakai, H.Sawa, A.Miyama (E.Arakawa 45, S.Ohno 63), Y.Nagasato (T.Miyamoto 76).

With England likely to beat Argentina with something to spare Japan were facing the prospect of probably having to beat the Germans to progress, soemthing which never looked likely as the defending champions controlled the game from the start.

Birgit Prinz and Sandra Smisek combined in slick fashion to send Petra Wimbersky running free inside the box but her rising shot was tipped over by Miho Fukumoto. It would not be the last clear cut chance the big forward would spurn.

Another flowing move ended with Smisek feeding Kerstin Garefrekes for a cross shot that deflected just over the bar off a Japanese defender.

Japan made their way forward down the right on one occasion but although Homare Sawa lunged forward to meet Yukari Kinga's cross she was unable to get a proper contact and the ball bounced harmlessly through to Nadine Angerer.

Germany were soon pressing again and Wimbersky found herself bearing down on goal again when Smisek returned an instant pass to her cutting in from the right hand side.

Again her shot was too close to Fukumoto who clawed the effort behind for a corner.

Japan made a meal of defending Renate Lingor's set piece, however, and when the ball reached Prinz at the far post she had all the time and space she needed to get the ball out of her feet and thump her shot into the roof of the net.

This goal not only gave Germany the lead it made Prinz the leading all time scorer at World Cup finals with thirteen goals.

Another Lingor corner had the Japan defence struggling and when Prinz headed back across goal Smisek was unlucky to see her effort come back off the bar.

The pressure continued almost continuously and when the Japanese defence made a meal of clearing their lines from a Melanie Behringer centre Prinz was on hand to send in a low drive that forced a scrambling save from Fukumoto.

Japan, knowing England to be leading Argentina comfortably at the break, responded to their predicament by throwing on a second striker in Eriko Arakawa but it was not long before the substitute had to give way herself after being poleaxed by the German keeper.

Tomore Sakai found Sawa in space and she looked for Arakawa over the top. Nadine Angerer was alert to the situation and claimed ahead of the forward before slamming into her opponent with her knee raised.

Not quite as bad as Schumacher but reminiscent.

The game remained largely confined to the Japan half with Germany somehow unable to find a killer, second goal.

Linda Bresonik started another fine move from left back in which Smisek's first time pass had the substitute Fatmire Bajramaj racing through but again Fukumoto was able to turn the ball behind high at her near post.

When Prinz produced a slide rule ball to release the excellent Smisek a goal looked certain as she squared it back across goal but with the net gaping Wimbersky could only send the ball wide of the post as she lunged in.

Martine Mueller entered the fray in place of Smisek and took up where she had left off with a clever turn inside the area before clipping a centre straight onto Prinz's head who should have done better than nod wide of the target.

Finally Germany sealed their win when Mueller was brought down in the box by Hiromi Isozaki and Lingor confidently despatched the penalty into the bottom corner with Fukumoto flinging herself the wrong way.

So despite their hiccup against England the group favourites confirmed their place in the quarter finals and will obviously take some beating.

Full Time: Germany 2 Japan 0