2007 Womens World Cup Team Of The Tournament

The 2007 Womens World Cup is over, Germany are the champions, England made it to the quarter finals and seemed content to leave it at that, Ghana were a shambles.
Which players from the 16 competing nations impressed us the most in each position and therby earned the ultimate honour of a place in Football England's team of the tournament?
As virtually all the competing teams employed a 4-3-3 formation we will bow to that and select our line up in the same style.

Manager: Tom Sermanni (Australia)

Nadine Angerer (Germany)

How could we pick anyone else? She didn't let a goal in during the entire competition, she saved a penalty from the world's greatest player in the final and she looks like she'd come round and eat us for breakfast if we left her out.
Angerer was the most confident, dominant goalkeeper out there and showed herself to be a capable shot stopper when anyone got close enough to have a pop at goal.
Made a fantastic save a minute before her side went two goals up against Korea in the quarter finals and stopped Marta's penalty in the final with the score at 1-0.
She also Schumachered at least four opponents during the competition which is basically what you want from your keeper.

Kerstin Stegemann (Germany)

Epitomised the German team. Big, strong, confident, sound on the ball and full of running.
Nobody found any defensive weaknesses and she improved her attacking play as the tournament progressed forming an imposing partnership with Garefrekes down the right hand side.

Ane Stangeland Horpestad (Norway)

Was the mainstay of the Norway defence and was vital to her teams' progress to the semi finals. Up against the might of Germany and America in the last two games she was the one player in her side capable of standing up to the challenge.
Also has genuine quality on the ball, is a good organiser and plays the game in the correct way at all times.

Anita Asante (England)

Don't think we're being unduly patriotic. Asante faced the Germans and the Americans and was a rock like presence at the back. In the game she missed through injury England managed to concede two goals to Japan.
Asante is quick, reads the game well, tackles like a rhino and cannot be knocked off the ball. She also has good ability in possession as she showed late on in the quarter final with America when she came out of defence in confident style to set up a couple of attacks.
This showed the kind of confidence, belief and ability which England need to display from the start against this type of opponent if we are to become genuine contenders.

Mia Olsen (Denmark)

Left back was something of a problem position but Olsen impressed even though her side failed to make it out of the group stages.
Quick, sound defensively and comfortable coming forward she scarcely put a foot wrong.
Reminiscent of Everton's Becky Easton.

Daniela (Brazil)

Several Brazilians stepped forward to offer Marta support and this adventurous midfielder really stood out.
Quick, strong and a dangerous dribbler who also used the ball astutely. You couldn't really ask for anything more. Daniela also revealed a strong shot in either foot and was a constant menace at set pieces.

Ingvild Stensland (Norway)

Perhaps my favourite player of the entire tournament. Was not as flambouyant as the likes of Marta but played with a real elegance in the Norway midfield.
Always seemed to be strolling yet got through prodigious work and was always willing and able to accept possession from her teammates anywhere on the pitch.
Rarely wasted possession but was not afraid to play the killer pass.

Renate Lingor (Germany)

Came to the tournament with a massive reputation and had just about justified it by the end. Didn't over complicate things but made sure Germany kept ticking over right the way through to the final.
Another player who was never far from the action at either end of the field.

Kerstin Garefrekes (Germany)

One of the players who really made sure the 4-3-3 formation was a success for her team.
Was a willing runner who asked consistent questions of her full back but was also capable of providing a goal threat herself, either cutting inside to shoot or getting on the end of centres into the box.
Tall, strong, quick, a threat in the air and on the floor. A defenders' nightmare really (although Casey Stoney played her pretty well).

Birgit Prinz (Germany)

Legendary centre forward who was powerfully effective without really taking all before her.
Prinz earned her place in this side mainly through her outstanding semi final display when she tormented Norway and did most to carry her side into the final where, predictably, she scored.
Now holds the record for most goals in the World Cup finals.

Marta (Brazil)

Although her tournament ended on a massive low as she missed a crucial penalty in the final Marta had already done more than enough to justify her tag as World Player of the Year.
Ended the tournament as leading scorer with seven goals and displayed so many virtuoso moments that they could hardly still be counted as virtuoso moments.
Her mesmerising display against the United States in the semi finals will live especially long in the memory.

Subs:

Hope Sole (USA)
Maycon (Brazil)
Lori Chalupny (USA)
Kelly Smith (England)
Lisa De Vanna (Australia)

Manager: Tom Sermanni (Australia)

Football England always like recognising a manager who gets an underdog to punch above its' weight and Australia were the obvious choice in this tournament.
Not only did they surprise people by edging out Canada in the group stage they gave Brazil an almighty fright in the last eight before losing 3-2 after an epic encounter.
Sermanni used his squad intelligently and helped make a star out of Lisa De Vanna but, above all else, he allowed his team to play with real freedom and adventure which must have given his players massive confidence and, even in defeat, genuine satisfaction.
There would have been obvious disappointment for the Matildas when they went out but surely no regrets after a wonderful effort.
What a pity we can't say the same about England.
Obviously a mention has to go to Germany's Silvia Neid who led her side to becoming the first ever to retain this trophy and also provided any fashion conscious observers with some snazzy ensembles.

Goal of the Tournament:
Adjoa Bayor (Ghana v. Norway)

Her side might have been seven goals down at the time but when Bayor stood over the ball, with her back to goal, at a free kick 25 yards out and suddenly turned to clip an unstoppable shot into the top corner before anyone knew what was going on she provided one of the highlights of the tournament.
Unlike Marta's memorable solo goal against the States this effort was actually unstoppable as well.

Kit of the Tournament:
New Zealand

This is not a category I would have included other than for the fact that Lucy Ward, commentating for the BBC, told us that it was her favourite just minutes after I had come to the conclusion that it was mine as well.
Low cut and clingy I would be quite happy to see Ward modelling one herself.
The keepers' top looked alright too but that might have just been cos Jenny Bindon was wearing it.