Womens 2007 World Cup; match 32

Final, 30/9/07 in Shanghai.

Germany v. Brazil

Germany: N.Angerer, K.Stegemann, A.Krahn, A.Hingst, L.Bresonik, R.Lingor, S.Smisek (F.Bajramaj 80), S.Laudehr, K.Garefrekes, B.Prinz, M.Behringer (M.Mueller 74).

Brazil: Andreia, Elaine, Aline (Katia 88), Tania (Pretinha 81), Renata Costa, Daniela, Formiga, Ester (Rosana 63), Maycon, Marta, Cristiane.

Brazil had reached this final playing the most expansive, exciting football of the tournament. Defending champions Germany would doubtless be striving to ensure that the Brazilian flair would be kept to a minimum and from the start their tackling was keen and persistent.

There were some obvious nerves in the opening minutes but those seemed to vanish after the sides traded attacks in the space of sixty seconds.

Marta tested Nadine Angerer in the Germany goal but there was a better chance moments later at the other end as Kerstin Garefrekes raced onto a telling through ball to thump a rising shot inches the wrong side of the post from the angle.

Chances remained fairly even although Brazil were enjoying more of the possession and territory. Formiga missed badly as she followed up a fumble by Angerer from Daniela's free kick but Germany were also wasteful when Sandra Smisek was sent clear of the defence but shot over.

The first half ended with Brazil pressing and they were desperately unlucky not to take the lead when Daniela struck a stunning left footed volley against the inside of the post from the edge of the penalty area.

The ball was quickly crossed back into the area from the right hand side and Daniela had a far better chance at the far post but her diving header flew too high.

Other teams had spurned first half chances against the Germans and ended up rueing the fact and Brazil would be no different. Early in the second half Smisek burst into the box before squaring back into the path of Birgit Prinz who sent in a weak shot that Andreia should have saved easily but the Brazilian keeper ended up diving over the ball and Germany had the lead.

It should have been game over when Renate Lingor's corner found the head of Annike Krahn just four yards out in front of goal but the defender somehow headed wide and this allowed Brazil to regroup.

The German defence remained aggressively resilient but never looked entirely convincing and when Cristiane went racing into the box Linda Bresonik's awkward challenge sent her crashing to the floor and Brazil had a penalty.

Up stepped Marta, the star of the tournament, but at the vital moment her nerve failed and Angerer was able to parry her dreadfully weak effort to safety.

Daniela came within inches of levelling with a fierce free kick but it was not to be Brazil's day, a fact confirmed four minutes from time when Simone Laudehr came storming onto another Lingor corner to head low past Andreia.

So the powerful German side had successfully kept the Brazilian flair in check and become the first team to retain the Womens World Cup.

Full Time: Germany 2 Brazil 0