The pressure was high for both sides, with Guy Ferrier's side creating several chances from early on in the match, while DPR Korea struggled to register a shot on goal.

But France's fortunes turned around in the 33rd minute, when Lea Declercq found the back of the net to give her side a deserved 1-0 lead.

Although France looked the dominant side, Korea came out firing after the break, with Kim Phyong Hwa unleashing a shot on goal five minutes into the second half.

Yong Bong Hwang's side almost levelled the score again, with an effort from Ri Hyang Sim hitting the crossbar.

France wasn't without its chances to secure victory, but Korea was hungry and found its equaliser when Ri Un Sim converted in the 79th minute.

Both sides squandered opportunities to secure victory late in the match, forcing a penalty shootout.

After a long shootout, which saw misses from both sides, it was France who was celebrating, after Korea's Ri Un Yong failed to convert her chance.

France becomes the first European side to win the tournament.

Meanwhile, a ten-woman Ghana side has edged out Germany to finish third in the tournament.

Disaster struck in the 30th minute, when Ghana's Fatima Alhassan picked up her second yellow card and was sent-off.

But the side bounced back just before the break, when Priscilla Okyere converted a cross from Sherifatu Sumaila.

Although Germany dominated possession, it struggled to find an equaliser as Ghana held on to secure third place.

The five players were suspended from the game for periods of 14 to 18 months, the FIFA disciplinary committee said on Thursday.

"Pok Sim Jong, Myong Hui Hong, Un Byol Ho, Un Hyang Ri have been declared ineligible for 18 months and Jong Sun Song for 14 months," said the statement.

"Furthermore, the North Korea Football Association's women's A representative team has been excluded from participating in the next FIFA Women's World Cup (Canada 2015), including any preliminary competitions related thereto."

The team doctor, Jong Ae Nam, who claimed she had used a 'Chinese remedy' based on musk deer glands to aid players who had been struck by lightning, was handed a six-year ban from the game as the five players all tested positive for steroids.

The North Korean federation was also fined US$400,000 ($382,476), which corresponds to the prize money it would have received for its 13th place.

The Colombian reserve goalkeeper, Yineth Varon, who also tested positive, was given a two-year ban.

The 21-member squad, who last month beat United States, were named recipients of the "People's Honour Award", previously won by the likes of baseball home-run king Sadaharu Oh and film director Akira Kurosawa.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan spoke at a ceremony to recognise their victory over the two-time champion to win Asia's first football world title.

The victory by the team, nicknamed "Nadeshiko" after a pink flower seen in Japan as a symbol of beauty, was a rare moment of brightness for the nation following the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

"You gave courage to and reinvigorated all of the people who are trying to recover from the devastation of the Great East Japan Earthquake," Kan told the ceremony.

Afterwards coach Norio Sasaki told reporters: "We want to further devote ourselves to giving people inspiration and courage."

The award, created in 1977 to honour figures who have given "bright hope" to the public, has been presented to 18 individuals in the sporting and entertainment worlds, but never before to a group.

The squad were also given commemorative "Kumano fude", traditional cosmetic brushes crafted in Kumano, Hiroshima prefecture. The "Kumano" brush is a favourite among Hollywood stars and make-up artists.

"I'll unlikely be using (the brush) ahead of football games, but I would like to use it on other occasions," vice captain and midfielder Aya Miyama told reporters.

The Nadeshiko upset holder and host Germany and swept aside Sweden on their way to a penalty shootout win over United States in July.

The team, which defeated the United States in a dramatic final last month, will receive the People's Honor Award at a ceremony on 18 August.

The players have already become national heroes for the success, providing an inspiration for a nation still reeling from the 11 March earthquake and tsunami, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said.

It is the first time a team has been selected for the award, which was also given to baseball legend Sadaharu Oh and director Akira Kurosawa.

The award, created in 1977, is generally given to athletes, artists or performers.

Nearly 18,000 supporters flocked to a Japan Women's Football League match on Sunday, a week after the national team beat the United States on penalties in the Women's World Cup final in Germany.

Two other games attracted more than 3,000 each, easily outstripping last season's average draw of 912 spectators.

"The atmosphere resembled the World Cup although the climate is different because of the heat and the high humidity," Japan captain Homare Sawa said after her table-topping side INAC Kobe beat JEF United China 2-0.

"We want to improve our quality much more."

The match came after a week of intense media interest in the 21-strong international squad - nicknamed Nadeshiko after a pink flower seen in male-dominated Japan as a symbol of feminine beauty and fidelity.

The side, which won the affections of their compatriots - still recovering after the 11 March earthquake, tsunami and ensuing nuclear crisis - with its never-say-die attitude, includes three players with European clubs and two others now moving abroad.

Advertisers and talk shows are keen to cash-in on the Nadeshiko's glory, according to media reports.

Six internationals including Sawa will appear in a commercial for the league's main sponsor, while national team sponsor Kirin Brewery is to give a bonus of one million yen ($11,779) to each player.

"I will work so hard as to get the gold medal at the Olympics as well," Sawa, 32, who scored five goals to win the World Cup's golden boot and most valuable player's title, said.

Japan has never won a medal in women's Olympic football, finishing fourth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Asian qualifying round for next year's London Games starts in September.

The World Cup victory has spawned economic spin-off effects worth more than one trillion yen ($11.78 billion), 'including sales of uniforms, accessories, books and other related goods', said a media analyst at the CM Research Centre of Tokyo.

It is a boon to the 220 players in the financially struggling league where most players can not get by on club salaries alone.

Sawa earns an annual salary estimated at a modest four million yen ($47,115).

"The league's new found popularity may be temporary," Waseda University professor Munehiko Harada, an expert on sports marketing, told AFP.

"But the attendance may end some 50 percent more than the last season. The league needs to promote itself continuously."

After a strong showing at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany, where it reached the quarter-finals, the Matildas moved up two places from equal 11th (with Italy) to 9th.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup winner is the second highest ranked Asian team, five spots behind World Cup finalist Japan.

FIFA Women's World Ranking Top 10

1. USA - 2162 pts
2. Germany - 2146 pts
3. Brazil - 2121 pts
4. Japan - 2101 pts
5. Sweden - 2085 pts
6. England - 1997 pts
7. France - 1981 pts
8. Canada - 1953 pts
9. Australia - 1946 pts
10. Norway - 1940 pts

Among the top 10, England made the biggest rise moving up four spots, Canada dropped two places while for the first time since the rankings began in 2003, DPR Korea dropped out of the top 10, to 12th.

Australia’s road to the Olympics begins in September in Jinan, China, in a gruelling six team, 11 day round-robin tournament with the top two teams progressing to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The organisation committee said in Frankfurt that projected income from the June 26-July 17 tournament was 50.6 million euros ($67.7 million). Around half was from the sale of 782,000 tickets.

German football federation president Theo Zwanziger said spending had been lower and ticket sales higher than planned, contributing to the tournament's "tremendous financial success".

About 5 million euros ($6.7 million) of the profit will be spent on promoting women's football, and 1 million euros will go to German sport, including the Olympic organisation, sport for the disabled and a sports aid foundation.

Stadium operators will also receive an additional 20,000 euros ($26,750) per match played at their venues.

Matches at the 16-team tournament were played at nine stadiums.

Japan won the final against United States in a penalty shoot-out following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.

"It's human nature to want more," Sawa, with a gold medal hanging from her neck, told a packed news conference at a hotel in Tokyo after the team arrived at the capital's Narita airport, thronged by 400 fans and 250 media.

The gutsy 32-year-old playmaker added: "With this gold medal in front of me, I really feel that my next goal is to grab the Olympic gold medal as we have yet to get any medal at the Olympics."

Japan, which finished fourth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, came from behind twice to beat world-number one and twice champion the United States 3-1 on penalties in the final of the World Cup in Frankfurt.

It was the first football World Cup title for any Asian country and lifted spirits in Japan, which has been recovering from the 11 March earthquake and tsunami which left 21,000 people dead or missing and sparked a crisis at a nuclear power plant.

With its teamwork, crisp passing and never-say-die attitude more than offsetting its physical shortcomings, Japan upset host and holder Germany and Sweden on the way to glory.

"I've come a long way as a member of the Japanese national team over 18 years. I never thought I would get the gold medal," said Sawa, whose career included a stint with US side Washington Freedom.

"The Asian Olympic qualifying round will start this year with other tournaments and matches coming up soon," she said. "I want to condition myself for the battles ahead."

Asian qualifying will be held in China in September with six nations - Australia, China, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic and Thailand - vying for two Olympic berths.

"We still lag behind the United States and Germany in many aspects," admitted Sawa, who won the golden boot with five goals and was named the most valuable player at Germany 2011. "We must improve individual skills much more."

Japan coach Norio Sasaki said: "We were gutted when we finished fourth in Beijing. We will really want a medal at the next London Olympics.

"We need to reinforce our basics and stay on our guard."

Both Sawa and Sasaki believe the World Cup victory will boost women's football at home, where many players are less privileged in wages and conditions than their counterparts in the west, especially the United States.

"I really think Japanese women are fit for football. I want them to feel like kicking a football because it's fun," the coach said.

Sawa added: "I want to tell children to have a dream - and never give up."

"We were kind of moved to tears by watching the DVDs," captain Homare Sawa said as the team returned to a hero's welcome in Tokyo on Tuesday.

"While we were privileged to play football, we really felt like bringing smiles and spirits back to Japan," added the 32-year-old playmaker, saying the squad watched the videos between training sessions.

The team, nicknamed Nadeshiko after a pink flower seen in Japan as a symbol of feminine beauty and grace, came from behind twice to beat the two-time champion United States on penalties in the final in Frankfurt.

"We had support from many people. We thought we should bring power and energy back to those disaster-hit people in return," said Sawa, who won the golden boot with five goals and was named most valuable player at the tournament.

"What Japan needs now is the power of solidarity. We need to stay strong together. Nadeshiko managed to hang on and never gave up to the last minute this time."

The March disaster left 21,000 people dead or missing and sparked a crisis at a nuclear power plant on the country's northeastern coast.

A nation reeling from months of tragedy united in joyous celebration on Monday after its women's football team - nicknamed 'Nadeshiko' for a pink mountain flower - won the Women's World Cup by beating the United States.

Fans decked out in the team's dark blue colours hugged and sang in Tokyo as they watched the players lift the World Cup on live TV broadcasts from Germany.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan called the victory the 'greatest gift' to the nation, especially to the residents of the northeast coast most devastated by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. The twin disasters left nearly 23,000 people dead or missing and caused partial meltdowns at a nuclear power plant that added to the tragedy.

The 'Nadeshiko' mountain flower is believed to be a symbol of femininity in traditional Japanese culture. But some fans said the players defied the traditional feminine role with their tough playing style.

The team, which had to come back twice from one-goal deficits, demonstrated courage by playing 'a diehard match even when they were on the back foot', Kan said in the statement carried by Kyodo news agency.

Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said the victory will encourage those working to help Japan bounce back.

"I'm delighted. The team showed great perseverance and sent a good message toward recovery from the major disaster," Kyodo quoted Kitazawa as telling reporters in Aomori.

The team is expected to return to Japan on Tuesday to a hero's welcome.

Japan's players used the disasters as motivation throughout the tournament, watching pictures of the devastation from their homeland before some matches.

The team displayed a banner reading 'To our Friends Around the World - Thank You for Your Support' before the final.

Added Toru Komatsu, 22: "This is a chance to forget the nuclear disaster and everything else, to just to unite and celebrate."

Several members of the national squad played for the former professional team sponsored by Tokyo Electric Power Co., owner of the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant.

Japan became the first Asian nation to win the women's World Cup, beating the US 3-1 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.

Bars and restaurants that showed the game live in central Tokyo were packed for the kickoff at 3.45am local time on Monday - a national holiday. At some venues, dozens of fans stood in the street and watched through the windows of crowded establishments.

After the victory, chanting fans spilled into Tokyo's streets. In Shibuya, a neighbourhood known for its youth pop culture, dozens of police kept a small group of boisterous fans from wandering out into traffic.

Special edition newspapers proclaiming the victory were printed by the national papers and handed out to pedestrians on Monday morning, while scenes from the game were replayed constantly on television.

"It has been so scary with the earthquake and everything," said 22-year-old Miaki Tomiyama. "The team has given us happiness."

Then came Sunday's final to bring the party to a fitting and emotional climax.

Japan became the first Asian nation to win the title, coming from behind twice with quick, nimble passing moves to force a 2-2 draw in extra-time and then triumphing in a penalty shootout.

The previous weekend, Japan used the same intricate tactics to outlast a big, lumbering Germany in the quarter-finals.

"They are comfortable with the ball," US coach Pia Sundhage said. "They believe in their technique. It is good for women's football."

All through the tournament, Japan was carrying the burden of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami which left some 23,000 dead or missing back home. Coach Norio Sasaki showed pictures to his players right before the match against Germany to motivate them. After that win, he didn't have to anymore.

And the Americans?

Twice within eight days they were involved in matches so intense and enthralling they could easily rank among the best in the men's game as well. In the quarter-finals, they came from behind with a last-minute goal and beat Brazil in a shootout.

Japan's win also spread the reach of the World Cup beyond the traditional women's powers of Europe and the United States for the first time.

Any snide comments on how it all compared to men's football were an afterthought as fans revelled in the women's game.

"You should never compare such matches with those by men, even if it is the same game," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said. "There was great atmosphere and it continued even after the Germans were eliminated."

The Commerzbank Arena had a sellout crowd of 48,817 for the final, which set a new record for tweets per second on the social networking website Twitter.

Many other matches were sellouts too, including the opening game at Berlin's 73,680-capacity Olympic Stadium which was watched by a peak television audience of 18 million in the host country.

The players rewarded the fans with a great many standout games and goals.

Most of the games were tight, and gone were the days when one-sided results showed how unevenly spread the quality of the game around the world still was.

"There were no weak teams anymore," Blatter said of the 15 nations that joined the host in Germany. The competition moves to 24 nations when Canada hosts the tournament in 2015.

So even if the goal average slumped to 2.65 a game from 3.47 four years ago, many of the games and goals were outstanding.

The bronze medal game between Sweden and France was a case in point. Late in the game, down to 10 players, Sweden's Marie Hammarstrom picked up a loose ball, beat two defenders and then struck a left left-footed shot into the top corner from just inside the box.

Many of the 32 games had moments like that.

Marta was supposed to be the player to define the tournament, and she did score four goals to lead Brazil to the brink of the semi-finals and equal Germany's Birgit Prinz as the all-time World Cup scorer with 14 goals.

The shootout loss against the United States stopped her run and shattered her aura. All through that match, she was petulant and didn't stop complaining to the referee, right up to the moment that the ref finally gave her a yellow card.

And despite Marta's stupendous talent, the German crowd started whistling and booing her, unlike any other player at the tournament. When the game's only superstar left, she wasn't missed for a moment.

The player to watch was Japan's captain Homare Sawa, playing in her fifth World Cup at age 32. She was resilient enough to lead Japan's midfield and end up as the tournament's top scorer with five goals, including a thrilling one in the 117th minute which set up Japan for the shootout.

Others stepped in to make Marta a footnote. The United States had Abby Wambach, whose headers and never-say-die attitude with late goals took the United States into the final. The Hollywood star appeal of Hope Solo was complemented by her clutch saves to make her one of the defining players of the event. She was a good goalkeeper in a tournament lacking many.

The tournament was not all positive. Refereeing standards often were poor. Never more so than when Equatorial Guinea defender Bruna picked up the ball in her penalty area, held it in both hands for a couple of seconds before dropping it, and the referee failed to spot it despite the outraged Australian protests.

"As far a refereeing is concerned, we still have some work to do. There is still a lot to do, actually," Blatter said.

And doping was a factor, with six positive cases.

Korea DPR blamed its five positive cases on medicine from musk deer glands to treat injuries from a lightning strike at a training camp.

Japan twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with the U.S. after extra-time before winning a penalty shootout in Frankfurt, Germany.

The exciting climax drew 7,196 tweets per second. Paraguay's penalty shootout win over Brazil in a Copa America quarter-final on Sunday came close to beating it with 7,166 and is now second on the list.

The previous record of 6,939 was set just after midnight in Japan on New Year's Day. Other spikes include Osama Bin Laden's death (5,106 per second) and the Super Bowl in February (4,064).

Spain's World Cup win over the Netherlands in July 2010 managed a high of 3,051.

The Americans were denied a third world title, after their victories in 1991 and 1999, despite dominating most of the final, which had ended 2-2 in extra-time, before Japan held its nerve with a 3-1 win in the shootout.

"I'm disappointed and, yes, we won silver. Hopefully, I can feel that in a few weeks," said Sundhage.

"We gave the crowd a good game. It will be a final to remember and a credit to both teams.

"Playing in the final at the highest level, you have to take your chances, and we weren't sharp enough with the two goals conceded and that is why we didn't win."

Japan fought back twice and captain Homare Sawa's header, three minutes from the end of extra-time, tied the scores at 2-2 to take the game to penalties after the Japanese were reduced to 10 players.

In the shoot-out, Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori saved twice before defender Saki Kumagai hit the winning spot-kick.

The Americans had taken the lead in the 69th minute through substitute striker Alex Morgan, only for Aya Miyama to poach an equaliser after a mix-up in the American defence in the 81st minute to force extra-time.

US striker Abby Wambach then put her side ahead early in extra-time, before Sawa, who won the golden boot as the tournament's top scorer, levelled.

The Japanese had defender Azusa Iwashimizu sent off in the 121st minute for a foul on Morgan.

This was Japan's first win over the Americans at the 26th time of trying and Sundhage praised the Asian side, which won its first World Cup title, by saying its fighting spirit could only benefit women's football.

"There is something to be said about the way Japan plays," she said.

"They are comfortable with the ball even when they are behind and that kind of thing is good for women's football."

This, it was certain, was its World Cup to win. Through every comeback, to every last second, it never doubted that, somehow, it would emerge as champion.

But the resilience that had carried it so far and captivated the country disappeared when it needed it most. Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd and Tobin Heath all failed to convert penalties as Japan stunned the Americans 3-1 in a shootout after the U.S. twice conceded a lead.

"There are really no words," Abby Wambach said. "We were so close."

Wambach, whose vital contribution against Brazil and France was the reason the Americans were in the final, scored from another header in the 104th minute. But in the 117th, five minutes before extra-time was to expire, Homare Sawa flicked in a corner kick to equalise and send it to penalties. It was the fifth goal of the tournament for the 32-year-old, playing in her fifth World Cup.

The Americans had beaten Brazil on penalties in a quarter-final thriller, but they didn't have the same touch in the final.

"It's hard to do two rounds of penalties," Wambach said. "The keeper, in a way, knows which way we're going to go."

Though the U.S. is the two-time defending Olympic champion, it has been 12 years since that watershed team in 1999 won the World Cup. This squad was certain it could turn it around.

It was not a smooth ride. There was an upset in regional qualifying by Mexico, a team that had not beaten its neighbour to the north in its first 25 tries, forcing the two-time champ to beat Italy in a play-off to get the very last spot in Germany. It dropped its first game of the year, to Sweden, and lost to England for the first time in 22 years - so long ago Alex Morgan hadn't even been born yet.

It won its first two games in Germany easily - despite squandering dozens of chances. Then it lost to Sweden, its first defeat in group play at the World Cup.

But it rallied with one of the most riveting finishes ever in a World Cup game - men's or women's - against Brazil in the quarter-finals. Down a player for almost an hour and on the verge of making its earliest exit ever from a major tournament, Wambach's magnificent, leaping header in the 122nd minute tied the game.

It scratched out another gritty win against France to earn a spot in the finals.

"It's devastating," Megan Rapinoe said. "Just to get to the final and not win it is devastating."

Even when it went to penalty kicks, the Americans still never doubted themselves.

"This is sports. This is the way it goes," Wambach said. "Unfortunately, it didn't go our way tonight. All of us are devastated."

But the Americans lost this game as much as Japan won it. Their struggles to finish, a problem all year, cost them big.

"I don't blame anybody," Wambach said. "We had so many chances tonight."

The Americans finished the first half with a 12-5 shot advantage but had just one attempt on target. Lauren Cheney came up short three times, Wambach shook the crossbar and Rapinoe banged one off the near post. The Americans finally broke through in the second half, with Morgan scoring her second goal of the tournament in the 69th.

But with just nine minutes or so before they could claim the title, the Americans gifted Japan a goal. Rachel Buehler tied to clear the ball right in front of the goal and knocked it to Ali Krieger, who botched her clearance, too. The ball fell to Aya Miyama, who poked it in from five yards to tie it.

"There is such a little difference between success and not success," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. "Of course, it's disappointing."

Americans had rallied around this team like no other since 1999, impressed by its grit and charmed by its courage. Hollywood celebrities, fellow pro athletes and people who don't care about any sport, let alone football, adopted the players. Even President Barack Obama was a fan, taking to Twitter himself on Sunday morning to wish the team well.

"Sorry I can't be there to see you play, but I'll be cheering you on from here. Let's go. - BO."

The Empire State Building was bathed in red, white and blue this weekend, along with Japan's colours - red and white.

On Monday, those colours will shine again - without the blue.

"Deep down inside, I really thought it was our destiny to win it," Lloyd said. "But maybe it was Japan's."

Supporters watched the cliffhanger 3-1 shootout win over twice champion the United States live on television at home, in sports bars and in public places across the country.

Hundreds of fans, many of them clad in blue Japan jerseys, bundled out onto the streets of Shibuya, a hub of Tokyo's nightlife, chanting 'Nippon! Nippon!' after the match ended at around 6:20 am on Monday, local time.

"Nadeshiko, the world number-ones!" read the headlines in extra editions of the influential daily Asahi Shimbun and the mass-circulation Yomiuri Shimbun handed out in Tokyo.

The Nadeshiko is a neat pink flower cherished in Japan as a symbol of feminine beauty and grace, belying the squad's tough giant-killing run to its first World Cup final.

At one bar in Shibuya, fans roared and shrieked when defender Saki Kumagai sank the winning penalty after twice coming from behind to draw with the US side 2-2 after extra-time.

"Our players worked really hard and never gave up," 26-year-old female sales clerk Kana Mizuno told the Jiji Press news agency.

"They've given me courage."

"It's a dream come true for Nadeshiko Japan. They beat the United States for the first time ... Nadeshiko have triumphed and stood on the top of the world," cried an announcer on the Fuji TV network in live coverage.

"They played patiently and patiently to bathe themselves in glory."

"It all ended with a smile on the faces of Nadeshiko," the public broadcaster NHK said, noting that the national side had reached the top for the first time since it was formed 30 years ago.

The first Women's World Cup title for an Asian country would come as a big boost to the spirits of those still struggling to rebuild their lives after the 11 March earthquake and tsunami, it said.

"They have kept saying they would bring courage to the victims of the quake disaster."

Joyous fans decked out in the national team's dark blue uniforms hugged and sang in Tokyo as they watched their team lift the winner's trophy on live broadcasts from Germany.

It was a rare moment of joy for Japan, a nation still recovering from the 11 March earthquake and tsunami disasters which devastated its northeast coast. The disasters left almost 23,000 dead or missing and have caused an ongoing crisis at a nuclear power plant.

Japan became the first Asian nation to win the Women's World Cup, beating the United States 3-1 in a penalty shootout after coming from behind twice in a 2-2 draw.

The team, tiny in stature compared to the Americans, trailed twice but battled back to equalise both times, its final goal coming with just three minutes left in extra-time.

"This is a chance to forget the nuclear disaster and everything else, just to unite and celebrate," said Toru Komatsu, 22.

The bar where Komatsu watched the game with friends in central Tokyo was crammed throughout the match, with dozens peering in through the windows.

Restaurants and sports bars across the capital were full despite the early kickoff of 3:45am local time.

The women's team, long an afterthought to the men's side in Japan, had increasingly received attention from the national media as it climbed through the tournament, making up for the small size of its players with pinpoint passing and a swarming team defence.

Special newspaper editions proclaiming the victory were printed by the national papers and handed out to pedestrians in Tokyo on Monday morning, while scenes from the game were replayed constantly on television.

"It has been so scary with the earthquake and everything," said Miaki Tomiyama, 22. "The team has given us happiness."

The midfielder collected possession 30 yards out after a corner was half-cleared, and evaded challenges from Eugenie Le Sommer and Sonia Bompastor before bearing down on goal and driving a fierce shot high past Celine Deville.

Sweden had taken a 29th-minute lead when Lotta Schelin got behind the French defence to reach a long pass from Sara Larsson.

Schelin lifted the ball coolly over goalkeeper Berangere Sapowicz, who was injured in the process and had to be replaced by Deville.

Elodie Thomis fired an equaliser for France after 56 minutes, and Sweden had Josefine Oqvist sent off 12 minutes later, but Hammarstrom's 82nd-minute strike proved decisive.

Japan face the United States in the final in Frankfurt on Monday morning (AEST).

NOTE:: On The World Game tonight at 9.30pm on SBS TWO, highlights of the Women's World Cup final and semi-finals.

The United States led through Alex Morgan in normal time and Abby Wambach in extra-time, but Aya Miyama and Homare Sawa equalised - the latter taking the tournament golden boot from midfield.

A low-quality shoot-out saw Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath and Carli Lloyd miss for the favourite before defender Saki Kumagai settled it 3-1 in Japan's favour.

The USA had all the early pressure, Lloyd with the best effort as her drive from just inside the penalty area flashed narrowly over.

Leading striker Wambach then went closest to breaking the deadlock with a fierce right-footed drive which beat goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori's dive but thundered off the crossbar to safety.

Japan finally began to establish itself in the game but, after a training-ground corner to the edge of the box, Nahomi Kawasumi's wild finish over the bar summed up its lack of penetration.

Youngster Morgan, a half-time substitute for the injured Lauren Cheney, almost made an immediate impact when she poked Heather O'Reilly's cross against the post. The rebound struck Kaihori and bounced across goal, but captain Sawa cleared.

The breakthrough came in the 69th minute from Morgan, who ran on to Megan Rapinoe's long pass, held off Kumagai, took a touch and finished powerfully across Kaihori with her left foot.

But Japan equalised with 10 minutes remaining when Rachael Buehler and Alex Krieger got in a mess defending substitute Yuki Nagasato's cross and Miyama took full advantage to take the game into extra-time.

Morgan shot well wide after again beating Kumagai, who twice stood firm to prevent the powerful Wambach reaching dangerous crosses.

But Wambach was not to be denied and netted her fourth headed goal of the tournament, stooping to power home the impressive Morgan's cross.

Sawa and Nagasato were unable to profit after the American defence did its best to contrive another Japanese equaliser and United States captain Christie Rampone cleared as fullback Yukari Kinga's effort bobbled goalwards - but again Japan had something up its sleeve.

Miyama's corner to the near post was met by a leaping backheel from Sawa, which took a slight touch off Wambach and nestled in the net.

Wambach skied a glorious chance for a winner, again under pressure from Kumagai, before Japan's Azusa Iwashimizu was shown the first ever red card in a women's World Cup final for a foul on Morgan which denied a goalscoring chance and ensured penalties.

Boxx's poor spot-kick was saved by the trailing leg of Kaihori and, after Miyama put Japan ahead, Lloyd blazed over.

Hope Solo denied Nagasato but Kaihori saved well from substitute Heath and Mizuho Sakaguchi's effort squeezed under Solo's dive.

Wambach converted confidently but Kumagai hammered a superb last penalty into the top corner to secure the trophy for the underdog.

The Japanese have yet to record a win against the Americans but the match promises to be a tight encounter as both teams have impressed on the way to the final.

Led by its 32-year-old midfield maestro Homare Sawa, Japan has produced some high quality football in Germany including a quarter-final win over the host and victory in the semi-final over Australia's conquerors, Sweden.

USA qualified second from its group but has gone from strength to strength with successive wins over Brazil and France in the quarters and semis respectively.

The two sides have met three times the past 12 months, with USA victorious on each occasion. The overall record is not any better for the Asian side, only managing to draw three times in the 25 meetings prior to the last three.

USA striker Abby Wambach, scorer of three goals in this tournament, will be after at least two goals to achieve the personal milestone of equal all time World Cup record scorer, held jointly by Germany’s Birgit Prinz and Marta of Brazil on 14 goals.

The entire North Korean team was targeted for testing after their match against Colombia following the provisional suspensions Song Jong-Sun Song and Jong Pok-Sim.

And a FIFA statement read: "As the proceedings are still in progress, FIFA will not disclose the names of the three players whose test results have produced adverse analytical findings, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code."

A sixth player, Colombian goalkeeper Yineth Varon, also tested positive following an out-of-competition test which was carried out before the start of the tournament on June 25.

FIFA has not identified the substance involved in any of the positive tests.

The 24-year-old Philadelphia Independence forward has started all five games of Germany 2011 for the Stars and Stripes but failed to hit the back of the net to add to the 17 goals she has scored for the US in 70 appearances.

With the USA bidding for a third World Cup crown to add to their triumphs at the 1991 and 1999 tournaments, Sundhage says she has no plans to drop Rodriguez from her attack, even with youngster Alex Morgan in form.

Alongside veteran Abby Wambach, who scored against Brazil in the quarter-finals and France in the semis, Rodriguez has forged a key partnership for the US and Sundhage says she will keep the pair together.

Sundhage has brought Morgan off the bench in all bar one of the five games at the competition so far and the 22-year-old striker scored the final goal in the 3-1 win over the French.

"Amy Rodriguez played well before the World Cup and played well together with Abby Wambach," said Sundhage.

"I think they have been OK and she (Rodriguez) will score a goal sooner or later.

"I try to avoid looking (negatively) at any one player, there is a reason she hasn't had a breakthrough, it's not only her, it is the team."

The Stars and Stripes have never lost to Japan in 25 meetings since 1986 with 22 wins and three draws.

The Americans have already beaten Japan three times this year, once at the Algarve Cup in March and twice in pre-World Cup friendlies.

But Japan coach Norio Sasaki says his players are ready to pull off another giant-killing feat.

Despite their nickname Nadeshiko - a flower symbolising grace and beauty - the Japanese knocked out the hosts in the quarter-finals and third-placed Sweden in the last four.

They face a formidable challenge in the USA - traditionally the super-power of women's football - who are bidding for a third World Cup title after their victories in 1991 and 1999.

Sasaki says his women have got stronger as the tournament has progressed and this is their time.

"We won against Germany and Sweden, that was empowering and it helped to let us know how strong we really are, the players have got stronger so why not tomorrow?," he said.

"As trainer of Japan, I have lost five times to America, so this is a good time for the gods of football to give me a victory over them."

Captain Homare Sawa is a contender for player of the tournament and says they are determined to make history.

"We don't feel the pressure, we just want to take our chance. We have to give 100 per cent and work together, we have to work hard to steal balls in defence."

Having played in five World Cup tournaments, the 32-year-old refused to say whether victory on Monday could lead to her retirement.

"I am not thinking about the future right now, just about tomorrow's match, nothing past that," she said.

Despite their flower-inspired nickname Nadeshiko, the Japanese are the giant-killers at Germany 2011 having shocked the host 1-0 in the quarter-finals and then dominating Sweden 3-1 in the semi-final.

The nation's previous best display at a World Cup was the quarter-finals at the 1995 tournament and Japan will make history if it beats two-time winner the Stars and Stripes on Sunday.

"It's definitely not impossible and it helped to win against Germany; it proved things like that are possible," Japan coach Norio Sasaki at training on Friday.

"It gave additional power to the team and it is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win this and beat the number one team in the world."

Under veteran captain Homare Sawa, Japan's all-action style, controlled passing, patient build-up and aggression in front of goal have carried it to the Frankfurt final, despite losing 2-0 to England in the group stages.

The local media waxed lyrically about the Japanese, comparing them to a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona.

Former US coach April Heinrichs, a member of FIFA's technical study group, said the comparisons were justified after watching the Japanese restrict Sweden to just four shots on goal in the semi-final.

"Every player is the master of the ball and good with both feet," Heinrichs said.

"Every player is hard to read and is moving off the ball, ready to receive it and is very confident.

"They are playing for each other; it is the most inspiring Japanese team I have ever seen."

Meanwhile, the Stars and Stripes are gunning for a third world crown, having never lost to Japan in 25 meetings since 1986 with 22 wins and three draws.

US showed fighting spirit to equalise against Brazil in the 122nd minute of its quarter-final, then held its nerve to beat the South Americans 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out, before beating France in the semi-final.

The Americans have beaten Japan three times this year, once at the Algarve Cup in March and twice in pre-World Cup friendlies.

Coach Pia Sundhage, who is not shy about singing to her players, blended Simon and Garfunkel's hit Feelin' Groovy into Friday's press conference as she told how she is trying to keep her players relaxed ahead of the Frankfurt final.

"You know, this life is about competition, there is a lot of pressure, a lot of stress," the 51-year-old from Sweden said.

"Of course, the players feel the same thing and while it's exciting, they have to do this, they have to do that.

"So I tell them: 'Slow down, you move too fast, you gotta make the morning last, kicking down the cobbled stones looking for fun and feelin' groovy.'"

Having beaten France 3-1 in Wednesday's semi-final in Moenchengladbach, Sundhage says regeneration is important as her team prepares to take on all-action Japan.

"We need to get our legs back, we played a phenomenal game against Brazil, extra time, one man down and then a lot of defending against France," she said.

"We have talked about defending and keeping possession is the best method of defence and to not rush in."

Sweden went down 3-1 to Japan in Frankfurt on the same night France was humbled at the hands of two-time winner the USA in Monchengladbach by an identical margin.

While Japan and the Stars and Stripes march on to the final, the French and Swedes will clash having both already secured the two available places at the London 2012 Olympic Games by reaching the semi-finals.

After his side was dominated by Japan, Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby explained why he pulled his squad together on the pitch in Frankfurt to demand it focuses on finishing its campaign with another victory.

"This third-place play-off is very important for us, it is the reason why we got back together on the pitch," said Dennerby.

"I told the players we win and lose together, I said they have to enjoy the next match as we will be fighting for a medal in a few days. We need to recover and not be depressed."

Although Sweden striker Josefine Oqvist opened the scoring with the opening goal after 10 minutes, Japan hit back as striker Nahomi Kawasumi netted goals either side of half-time while captain Homare Sawa poached a header.

France suffered a similar fate.

After Lauren Cheney put the US ahead in Moenchengladbach, Sonia Bompastor equalised for the French before American forwards Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan put the result beyond doubt.

But the French are also determined to finish their campaign on a high with forward Gaetane Thiney insisting: "I think it's important to show that we are the third best team in the world."

France coach Bruno Bini said his side has done exceptionally well to reach the play-off.

"I'm proud of my players. Life's still beautiful because we have earned the right to fight for third place, which is amazing when you consider nobody was talking about us two months ago."

France had only previously played in one World Cup in 2003 where it failed to get out of the group stages.

For Sweden, the prize is bronze and the chance to perform its dance routine - inspired by French rapper Moussier Tombola's hit Logobitombo - one more time for its fans in Germany.

"Thomas said that we could be disappointed, but wanted us to be proud of what we have achieved here and stressed that we have to come together for the game against France," said Sweden defender Charlotte Rohlin.

"We want to be dancing again at the final whistle, knowing that we are the third-best team in the world.

"I want to win that game and every single member of the team wants to win. We are going to fight until the end."

As a result, Japa is in its first Women's World Cup final and its quick passing play - which has earned it praise as the female version of Barcelona - could well pose a stiff test for the favoured United States.

Japan coach Norio Sasaki has been planning the team's rise since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"In Beijing, we finished fourth and, at the time, it was our intention," Sasaki said. "This time we said, let's go to the final."

Despite all the planning in the world, he knows how unpredictable life can be.

When the earthquake and tsunami struck on 11 March and left nearly 23,000 dead or missing, it touched Japan to the core, far beyond Fukushima's nuclear plant, destroyed homes and industries, and right down to the simple pleasures of life.

TEPCO Mareeze, the club of Aya Sameshima, withdrew from the Japanese league for the season, and the national team defender eventually signed on with the Boston Breakers in the United States as a free agent, half a world away.

The Japanese league was delayed by a month at a time when the national team preparations were getting intense. But Sasaki knew the fundamentals of his players were good, drilled into them by the years of the hard training he is known for. He had no doubt the tragedy back home would not wreck the team.

It has focused his players even more.

Japan felt it when the team faced two-time defending champion Germany in the quarter-finals, boosted by a sellout home crowd. The challenge felt like playing a final, Sasaki said.

To improve focus and determination, he had the players look at slides of the devastation hours before kick-off, and Aya Miyama said they touched everyone deep in their souls.

Against the odds, Japan won 1-0, setting up a semi-final match against Sweden.

There was no more need for the shock treatment of photos before the match. Now the challenge was tactical, with the small Japanese facing the big Swedes.

In their 21-player squads, the Japanese only have one woman taller than 1.70 metres, while the Swedes have only five smaller than that height. And many thought the Swedes would exploit it to the hilt.

Instead, it finished 3-1 to Japan.

"We just paid a lot of attention and our coach told us to keep the ball low, not to play any high balls," Miyama said. "That is what we did."

The team also used a tried and tested strategy of Barcelona.

"(Our) focus is on ball control, on combinations, good passes, good team spirit. everyone has to be involved," Sasaki said.

Japan has showcased by far the most disciplined approach at the three-week tournament, and it specifically pays off when it is down. Sweden scored early and instead of panicking, nothing changed in Japan's approach. It had been facing such games for years.

"We stayed calm and we decided: we are just going to do what we practiced and if we do that, there will be a good result," Miyama said.

Three goals eventually came, giving the fans back home something to cheer about.

"Even little things, like a win, can give people courage and hope," Sasaki said. "And when we play the final, we are not going to think about the end result. We are just going to do what we can."

The last time the USA lifted the World Cup was in 1999.

But under coach Pia Sundhage it beat Brazil 5-3 in a dramatic quarter-final penalty shoot-out and then saw off France with an impressive 3-1 victory in the semi-finals.

Japan booked its berth in the Frankfurt final by dominating Sweden to seal a 3-1 win in their semi-final.

Having scored a dramatic goal in the 122nd minute against Brazil to take last weekend's quarter-final to penalties, Wambach insists the US can see off Japan with sheer willpower.

"We will approach the game like the last two," said Wambach, who scored her side's second goal against the French.

"Doesn't matter if it's about 90 minutes, 120 minutes or 122 minutes and it doesn't matter who we are playing against.

"A whole nation is behind us and cheering for us. We set the standards for other nations, who try and match us, and therefore invest more in women's football."

While women's football is popular in the United States, Japan comes into the final having also caught its country's imagination.

Women's football fever has gripped Japan, diverting fans from northern summer staples sumo and baseball, after its side - nicknamed after the Nadeshiko flower - has proved a giant-killer with victory over host Germany and now Sweden.

Even Prime Minister Naoto Kan is a firm fan of the team.

News of the Nadeshiko's success has brought welcome respite as the country struggles to recover from the 11 March earthquake and tsunami, which ravaged the northeast coast and triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

Likewise, the Stars and Stripes are causing a stir on the other side of the Atlantic as they bid to win their first World Cup title for 12 years.

Having won a last title in the previous century, Wambach said the team is desperate to write its own history.

"We want to make a name for ourselves, we want the next generation to follow us," said the 31-year-old.

"I really want them to win, so that the victory will encourage not only Tohoku, but also the entire country," said 38-year-old businessman Seiji Eizumi, referring to the region hit by the 11 March quake and tsunami.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan joined the cheering public, telling reporters, "I sure want to see them to win the championship."

Tougher than its name suggests - Nadeshiko is a pink flower symbolising beauty and grace - Japan became the giant-killer of Germany 2011 when it beat the host in the quarter-finals and Sweden in the semi-final.

Japan, ranked fourth in the world, now faces off with two-time World Cup winner the USA - the first time the Japanese side has reached the final.

Housewife Shinobu Makino, 54, said the news was a welcome respite as the country struggles to recover from the earthquake and tsunami, which ravaged the northeast coast and triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

"Since the quake, we've received nothing but dismal news," she said. "A victory against the United States would give Tohoku hope and encourage Japan.

"With the series of victories they have had, Nadeshiko Japan have proved that women can also play football."

Tokyo office worker Satoshi Suzuki, 34, was more cautious, saying winning the World Cup would not be easy.

"Though we have won against Germany and Sweden, playing against the United States, the world's best team, is a whole different story," he said.

"They are physically stronger and taller than Japan."

Despite the nickname Nadeshiko - a pink flower symbolising grace and beauty - Japan is the giant-killer of Germany 2011 having beaten the host in the quarter-finals and Sweden in the last four.

It is in a World Cup final for the first time in its history and takes on a buoyant USA team which brushed aside France 3-1 in its semi-final.

While host Germany would have received a bonus of 60,000 euros ($79,171) if it had won a third straight title, Sasaki said his Japan team cannot expect the same financial reward if it lifts the title.

Having conceded an early goal to Sweden in the semi-final, Japan roared back to dominate the Scandinavians with a 3-1 victory.

But Sasaki said Junji Ogura, the president of the Japan Football Association, has the final say on whether the Nadeshiko's heroic exploits at Germany 2011 will be rewarded.

"The president was there and I would have to ask him. For us it's not about money, it's about being part of this World Cup," Sasaki replied, when asked by a German journalist if his team would get the same bonus the Germans were offered.

"We haven't talked about money, but now we have reached the final, a watch would be a nice thing, that is what I would expect.

"The president may think about that, we will not, however, get what they would have got in Germany."

"Japan ends dream of Swedish gold," Stockholm daily Dagens Nyheter said on a front page headline after the Asian nation's 3-1 win.

"Japan crushed Sweden - The semi-final was one long nightmare despite a dream opening," wrote the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper, referring to Sweden's early goal through Josefine Oqvist.

"Blunders end World Cup dream," tabloid Aftonbladet bluntly summed up, noting a string of errors by, among others, goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.

The Goteborgs-Posten daily ran a similar headline, while Stockholm tabloid Expressen columnist Tomas Pettersson assessed that 'Japan was better on all counts'.

Lindahl and other players were quoted as saying a late of change of tactics contributed to uncertainty in the team. Others noted the absence of team captain Caroline Seger, who did not play because of a calf injury, and the poor passing.

Svenska Dagbladet sports editor Ola Billgren meanwhile urged the Swedish team to 'seize the opportunity - go for bronze' against France.

Josefine Oqvist's deflected strike gave Sweden the lead in the 10th minute, but Nahomi Kawasumi levelled nine minutes later.

Japan captain Homare Sawa headed her side into the lead on the hour mark and Kawasumi completed the scoring with a fine lob four minutes later.

Lauren Cheney (9), Abby Wambach (79), and Alex Morgan (82) kept the Americans' bid for an unprecedented third World Cup title after 1991 and 1999 on track, with Sonia Bompastor getting a goal back for France after 55 minutes.

The reigning Olympic champion will play Japan for the title in Frankfurt.

"I think France played very well. We lost our legs in the second half but then we picked it up," said US coach Pia Sundhage.

"Abby, she's just the best. I'm very happy to have her in our team."

Wambach added: "I'm just so proud of this team. Everyone believes in this team and we're all working for each other. We had to play nearly perfect, they got a goal back on us but in the end we're in the finals and that's all that matters."

France coach Bruno Bini lamented missed chances.

"We had a lot of chances and played a very good game except the first ten minutes," said Bini.

"We were as good as we could have been. It was very physical and we stood up to this. But they have a lot of experience. They know how to play at this level and that told today. I thought we could get back to 2-2 but at 3-1 it's over."

Despite the French having most chances at goal in the first half it was the United States which went in with a half-time advantage after Cheney picked up a Heather O'Reilly cross to tap effortlessly into goal after nine minutes.

France's Louisa Necib had a minute earlier seen her strike go over the bar.

A header from Carli Lloyd went over after 24 minutes, but thereafter France dominated but had little to show for its efforts.

Camille Abily missed a chance to level on 28 minutes from a Bompastor cross but the Lyon midfielder's half volley lacked power and was held by US goalkeeper Hope Solo.

Solo, playing her 100th international, proved solid again a minute later as she caught a Necib effort, and it was then the turn of Bompastor to miss after 33 minutes when she picked up a Necib cross but her left footed shot rattled the crossbar.

The US could have pulled further ahead five minutes before the break when Christie Rampone pushed forward to cross to Wambach at the far post with Wambach's header across the goal just grazing the crossbar.

But Bompastor grabbed the equaliser after 55 minutes as her pass flew past a waiting Gaetane Thiney in the box to curl in off the far post and into the net.

But Wambach claimed the second after 79 minutes as she headed in a Cheney corner past Berangere Sapowicz, with the French goalkeeper left helpless again three minutes later as Rapinoe played a little ball behind the defence for Morgan to send over the goalie.

As two-time defending champion Germany and Brazil, the 2007 finalist, have already been eliminated, the United States was the only remaining pre-tournament favourites in the running.

As well as being ranked No.1 in the world by FIFA the United States is also the reigning and three-time Olympic champion.

France, by contrast, failed to get past the group stages in its only previous appearance in 2003.

During a surrealist pre-match press conference ahead of its Women's World Cup semi-final, talk wasn't on tactics and line-ups but on the Dominique Strauss-Kahn affair, cooked meats and the health of the France coach.

"The 21 players are in form and fit to play, but the doctor has a sore calf and I was sick myself at midday because since I underwent surgery I have to eat lightly," Bini told reporters.

Bini's reference to his surgery 18 months ago for a sleeping disorder which resulted in him losing 40kgs provoked laughter among journalists, and a quick retort from the France coach.

"I wouldn't wish it on anyone to be as sick as I was a year ago. And here I'm not joking any more."

An American journalist then asked Bini if the Strauss-Kahn affair would be giving the France players additional motivation against the Americans.

France's former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Strauss-Kahn is currently facing charges of trying to rape a hotel maid in New York

"We're here to talk about football, we won't answer this question. We play for the love of it," said Bini.

Asked to comment on a tribute played to the France team by its American counterpart which said that the French 'played with guts', Bini said: "I'm not really interested in what different people say. But it will be a story of football, not cooked meats."

A New York Times journalist asked Bini to explain his method of 'poetry and songs to lift the spirit of his team'.

A weary Bini started to laugh before saying: "I'm tired. Tired of saying the same things all the time. That's how I am, I use writing, literature and poetry to get my message across."

Bini then revealed his 'phrase for the day' for his players - "Real friends are for life, the Olympic Games is in a year, the final is Sunday, the semi-final is Wednesday. What should we think about today?"

France, which has been one of the revelations of the World Cup tournament, takes on world number one team the United States on Wednesday in a match that US striker Abby Wambach has said that 'defeat is not an option' for the former two-time champion.

"It's a question of will of wanting it more than the others. I can tell you that not one person in our staff of team is going to give up," she said.

"(France) are one of the nice surprises of the tournament. They are tough, they've showed that they have guts. But also a team which has produced some of the most beautiful football of the tournament."

"Right now I need some time off. In a couple of weeks when I've got myself back into everyday life I'll ask myself - what do I really want? Can I motivate myself to take part in the European tournament in two years' time? And then I'll find the answer," she told Bild newspaper's Tuesday edition.

The 47-year-old coach said she was deeply disappointed by her team's defeat when Japan scored a goal in extra-time to book a semi-final place against Sweden, wrecking the Germans' bid to win a third-straight World Cup title.

Asked whether she should resign, Neid said 'one can ask the question. But it's my employer, the German Football Federation (DFB), and myself who will decide'.

DFB boss Theo Zwanziger told her 'we have lost a game but not our skills', she added.

Neid extended her contract until 2016 - just before the start of the World Cup.

The 32 year old took a painful blow to the abdomen in Saturday's quarter-final, but the 1.64 metre midfielder pulled herself up to provide the crucial pass just moments later which helped put her side in the last four.

Her long-range pass in the 108th minute found substitute Karina Maruyama, who beat her defender and drilled her shot past goalkeeper Nadine Angerer to seal the 1-0 win which knocked the host out of Germany 2011.

Her performance earned Sawa the Player-of-the-Match award, but to Japan coach Norio Sasaki she is crucial to her team's chances against Sweden, with either France or two-time World Cup winner United States beckoning in Sunday's final.

"She is the undisputed leader of our team," Sasaki said of Sawa, competing at her fifth World Cup tournament.

"She symbolises exactly the style of football our team should play.

"For 15 years, she has been part of the national team and she symbolises the entire history of women's football in Japan."

At the age of 12, Sawa played her first league game and just three years later, she wore the jersey of the national team for the first time.

She has 171 caps for Japan and is a two-time winner of the women's Footballer of the Year title in Asia.

The midfielder is also a threat in front of goal, having netted a hat-trick in the 4-0 demolition of Mexico in the group stages, leading coach Leonardo Cuellar to insist "Japan will compete for the title".

The Japanese brushed off a 2-0 defeat to England in their final group game to inflict the first defeat on Germany since the 1999 World Cup, but they will have their work cut out against Sweden.

Traditionally, Japanese players are usually smaller and lighter than their European rivals, something which has hindered them on the pitch in the past, having often been brushed aside by more powerful teams.

"Physical contact is always a problem against European teams, which mostly leaves the Japanese players lying on the floor," Sasaki said.

"But Homare is a player with enormous capabilities in terms of her ability to win the ball and keep possession.

"She fights for the ball and can immediately counter-attack."

The Japanese have never reached the semi-final of a women's World Cup and Sawa sees it as her responsibility to help inspire her younger team-mates to win a place in Sunday's final in Frankfurt.

"As a captain, it is my task to encourage my players, so they never give up.

"And I want to teach the younger players something," she said.

Not only will the Americans, the oldest team in the tournament, be playing on one fewer day of rest than they've been getting, but France will have had three days off by the time they meet.

"It's a big difference I think," said US midfielder Heather O'Reilly, who played 108 minutes and showed no signs of the strained groin that kept her out of the final group game.

"Every hour counts in terms of recovery, but we have a fitness coach here, Dawn Scott, who's really encouraged us even outside the World Cup about recovery strategies.

"It's part of our culture now. Ice baths and massage ... we're just doing everything and anything to get our legs back and it's been working. I think that showed, obviously, in the game."

Down to 10 players for nearly an hour and on the verge of its earliest World Cup exit ever, the US packed an entire tournament's worth of theatrics into a 15-minute span by beating Brazil 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Abby Wambach equalised with a magnificent header in the 122nd minute, the deepest into a World Cup game a goal has ever been scored.

The Americans then buried their penalty kicks and goalkeeper Hope Solo denied the Brazilians again, batting away Daiane's attempt after Cristiane and Marta had converted theirs.

It was the first time in women's World Cup history that a team had come back to win after falling behind in extra-time, and only the fourth time overall.

Italy (1970 semi-finals), Germany (1982 semi-finals) and Sweden (1994 quarter-finals) did it in the men's World Cup.

"I think we're going to do everything possible to get our legs recovered," said Carli Lloyd, one of seven Americans to play the entire game.

"Yeah, I'd say it is a little bit of advantage to (France). But they also went into OT.

"It's not really about how many days, it's about how fast you can recover. And I think we are going to recover faster, and I think we're going to be ready to go.

"Even if your legs are a little bit tired, you're just going to dig deeper. We'll get that rest after the final."

France also won a penalty shootout, beating England.

The Americans had a light day on Monday before their afternoon flight to Dusseldorf. Those players who didn't see time in Sunday's game trained while those who did focused on recovery.

"It's just about recovery," said Shannon Boxx, who also played the entire game.

"Ice bath, pool, making sure we're getting fluids, making sure we're eating right. Last night, we have our staff walking around making sure, even though we're with our families.

"'Did you eat? Did you eat?' Little things like that which you don't really think are too important become very important when you only have two games left."

As two-time defending champion Germany and Brazil, the 2007 finalist, have already been eliminated, United States is the only remaining pre-tournament favourite in the running.

Despite struggling to reach Germany 2011 the Americans have never failed to qualify for the global tournament and was twice champion - winning the inaugural edition in 1991 and again in 1999.

As well as being ranked number one in the world by FIFA the United States is also the reigning and three-time Olympic champion.

France, by contrast, is a team on the rise after failing to get past the group stages in its only previous appearance on the world stage in 2003.

Comparing the two nations is impossible, Bini said.

"They are the number one nation in the FIFA rankings. They have 2.5 million club players. It's sure that it's easier to find 21 than when you have 55,000 club players to chose from," Bini said.

"But you're not under-19 European champions, European quarter-finalists and World Cup semi-finalists without being competent in some way."

Both sides have had very similar paths to the semi-finals, finishing second in their respective groups after losing one of their games.

France fell 4-2 to Germany in Group A, while the United States was shocked 2-0 by Sweden in Group C.

They are also both coming from bruising quarter-finals, needing dramatic penalty shoot-outs before advancing after a gruelling 120 minutes of play.

United States got past Brazil 5-3 on penalties after the match ended 2-2 after extra-time on Sunday, a day after France achieved a 4-3 penalty win over England after their tie had ended 1-1.

The extra day could prove important, Bini believes.

"We have an extra day to prepare for the next match at least," he said.

Defender Laura Georges, one of the French team's contingent of 10 players from UEFA Champions League winning side Lyon, believes France has a fighting chance in the most important game of the players' careers.

"They (the US) are solid, tactically very well organised and athletically very strong. We're going to really test ourselves on that level. They have a real athletics culture.

"But everything is to play for as it is in every match," Georges said.

US coach Pia Sundhage believes that her side's strong record has proved an enormous help when the team is in a tight corner.

"One of the advantages of the United States team is that we have been winning gold, silver and bronze medals since 1991," the Swedish-born coach said. "This is something when we're pushed into a corner we can look back at but be humble about as well."

Wednesday's second semi-final sees Sweden take on Japan, with the final taking place in Frankfurt on July 17, a day after the third-place play-off.

Sweden booked its place for the match in Frankfurt with a 3-1 win over Australia on Sunday and its trademark dance - performed after most goals - is rapidly becoming a feature of Germany 2011.

Japan made the last four by stunning defending champion and host Germany 1-0 in Wolfsburg as a goal from substitute Karina Maruyama in extra-time put her side in the last four.

Despite the nickname Nadeshiko - a pink flower symbolising grace and beauty - the Japanese are proving no pushovers at Germany 2011 and have already beaten Sweden this year with a 2-1 win at the Algarve Cup in March.

Dennerby says he is surprised his side will not be facing Germany, but says the Japanese deserve respect.

"Actually, I had counted on us playing Germany, but the Japanese are fast, technically savvy and we lost to them on the Algarve," said the 51-year-old.

Japan also held Sweden to a 1-1 draw in a pre-World Cup friendly on the eve of the tournament and coach Norio Sasaki is expecting a tough match.

"We saw enough from the friendly against them to gain confidence and we have improved since then," he said.

"We have picked up some experience now by beating Germany and against Sweden now, well, only the gods of football knows who will win."

Having beaten two-time champion the USA 2-1 in its final group game, Sweden is riding a wave of confidence and veteran midfielder Therese Sjogran is promising more goals having scored against Australia with a crisp strike.

"Germany were frustrated that they didn't score (against Japan). But things will go differently for us," said Sjogran confidently.

After collecting the player-of-the-match award for the last two games, Swedish striker Lotta Schelin says her team is now just taking each game as it comes.

Having won the women's Champions League with Olympique Lyon, the 27-year-old brought the team dance - called Logobitombo - from France and the Swedes have improvised it into their own goal celebrations.

"I know a bit about Japan - we've played them twice this year," she said.

"We were confident about reaching the semi-finals but we've been taking small steps, talking about every game as it comes along."

Dennerby says his side has to improve against the Germany-slayer if it wants to face the USA or France in the final.

"We didn't defend so well against Australia and for me, we were missing the usual standards of pressure and ball possession," he said.

"Perhaps we were a bit tired after the USA game."

Stoney scored in the shoot-out against France before Claire Rafferty and Faye White, her colleagues in the back four, missed England's final two penalties as it was defeated 4-3 after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.

Powell told the Guardian: "Three times I had to ask [for volunteers] before anyone stepped forward. 'Where are you?' I was thinking, and then a young kid [Rafferty] is the first to put her hand up. And Kelly Smith was dying on her feet but she stepped up and took one.

"You've got to want to take a penalty, but other players should have come forward and they didn't. That's weak, it's cowardice."

Stoney, though, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I don't think any of the players are cowards to be honest.

"That's not the impression I got from Hope, she said (after the game) we should all be proud and keep our heads high so I'm not sure where that came from.

"Hope asked who wanted to take penalties and my hand did not go up. I didn't want to take one but my hand went up after Claire Rafferty, who's one of our youngest players. Once hers went up, other players got a bit braver.

"It's a situation we'd not been in before and I don't think anybody really wanted to take a penalty but five people did."

In addition to Rafferty, who had only stepped off the bench for her World Cup debut late in the second half, two players carrying injuries - Smith and White - were also among the spot-kick takers.

"Those two wanted to take penalties," Stoney continued. "Kelly's hand went up and she's confident on penalties, it was a good finish.

"Faye White, as captain, was great stepping up to take one and was devastated to miss. Claire's a young player and it's fantastic that she stepped up, it's just disappointing she missed."

Powell's future in her role is unclear, with speculation that she may move up into a performance director role, but Stoney is hopeful she will remain in her post to guide the team to the Olympics in London next year.

The Lincoln Ladies defender said: "I think Hope will continue, you've just got to look at how far she's taken women's football in the last 10 years and at her record to see how successful she's been.

"We've all found out we're going to have a team there next year and we'll put the World Cup behind us, it will make us a stronger unit and we'll move on and look to next year."

The host was knocked out when Japan poached a goal in extra-time to book a semi-final berth against Sweden in Frankfurt on Wednesday, wrecking host Germany's bid to win a third straight World Cup title.

Many German players were tearful on the Wolfsburg pitch after the final whistle.

Things went from bad to worse on Sunday when Sweden's win 3-1 over Australia meant Germany also misses out on a place at next year's Olympic tournament at London 2012.

France and Sweden have taken the two Olympic berths available to European teams, while Great Britain, as host, also qualifies.

Despite the double dose of bad news, Merkel contacted German coach Silvia Neid to thank her and her team for their efforts.

"I called Silvia Neid and thanked her and the team for all the joy they have given us," Merkel told Sport Bild.

"That is the way it goes sometimes in sport - hopefully after not too long a period of disappointment, they will set new targets and us fans will be there to support them."

Due to a state visit to Poland, Merkel was able to watch only the tense closing phase of the game against Japan on the internet.

"I'm very sorry for the players and the whole staff that it did not work out in the end," said Merkel.

There is a media backlash in Germany after the defeat and debate is raging about whether Neid should stay on and the 47-year-old is coming in for fierce criticism.

"She's the best coach that we can have," said Theo Zwanziger, president of the German Football Federation (DFB), by way of defence after extending Neid's contract until 2016 just before the tournament started.

Accusations of tactical mistakes, poor choice of substitutes and a lack of leadership have all been levelled at Neid.

But despite seeing their side knocked out, Germans are still tuning in to watch the tournament.

Just over six million watched USA beat Brazil 5-3 on penalties in Sunday's quarter-final, which made up nearly 30 percent of the market.

On average, 16.95 million Germans tuned in to the defeat against Japan and similar figures were recorded for Germany's three group matches.

It is not just Germany games that have been attracting viewers: 6.88 million fans saw England lose to France on penalties in the quarter-final.

"Schelin shines," the Svenska Dagbladet daily wrote while the Dagens Nyheter newspaper noted that the striker's goal drought had finally ended in the 3-1 quarter-final victory against Australia.

Schelin said it was a pity for the tournament that host Germany was knocked out by Japan but it was great for Sweden.

Upcoming opponent Japan was technical and fast, she observed.

Schelin, who plays for French side and Champions League winner Lyon, was also reported to have introduced the celebratory dance that the Swedish team performs after scoring a goal - or winning a game.

Meanwhile, the team is preparing for its semi-final.

The players are consuming special energy drinks and Monday's training included a workout in a pool to restore fitness, said team physiologist Helena Andersson.

An extra bonus was the fact that Sweden's quarter-final victory has secured the team a berth at the 2012 Olympics.

Veteran striker Abby Wambach kept the US in the tournament with a header in the 122nd minute which levelled the quarter-final after Brazil star Marta had netted twice to make it 2-1 to her team with extra-time almost up.

The USA had played almost 60 minutes with only 10 players after defender Rachel Buehler was sent off on 65 minutes.

In the penalty shoot-out, player-of-the-match Solo saved from Brazil defender Daiane, whose own goal after two minutes had put the US ahead, to give her side an advantage before US defender Alex Krieger hit the winning penalty.

It was no more than Solo deserved having saved a penalty during normal time just after Buehler was sent off, only for the referee to order a re-take which Marta fired home on 68 minutes.

"There is something special about this group, it's the energy, the vibe, the leadership," said Solo.

"Even when we went a player down and then a goal down in extra-time, we kept fighting. You can't coach that, it is a feeling."

The USA will now face France in Monchengladbach's semi-final and Wambach said her team is now focused on winning a third title in Frankfurt against either Sweden or Japan.

"This is the perfect example of what the United States is all about," said Wambach.

"We never give up. This is incredible, I am so happy. The path is now marked for us and we want to win this tournament."

USA coach Pia Sundhage said the victory was the best of her career and she heaped praise on her team for refusing to give up.

"There is something to be said about this team, the American attitude about pulling together and bringing out the best performance in each other, that is contagious," said the 51-year-old.

Brazil has still to win a women's World Cup and is on the way home despite dominating Group D.

"From an emotional point of view, everyone is really sad which is normal after a defeat like that where you lose in the last minute," said Brazil coach Kleiton Lima.

"The girls threw everything into trying to win, we have tried to console them, but it will take time to get over this.

"Our team plays a style which is a bit more creative, but at the end of the day, we couldn't dominate the US."

The 88th-minute equaliser struck by the 25-year-old primary school teacher from Sedan is the most important in French women's football as it ensured its quarter-final against England went into extra-time and a 4-3 penalty win.

As a result France, who failed to get past the group stages in its only previous appearance in 2003, next plays top-ranked United States in Wednesday's semi-final in Moenchengladbach, and will go to the 2012 Olympics.

Bussaglia has come a long way since playing football in the fields in her native Ardennes of eastern France.

"I started playing football in the school yard and in the fields in the Ardennes. I didn't think about one day playing in the World Cup," she said.

"Playing against boys helped toughen me up because if I didn't get my footwork right I would go flying."

The entire team mobbed Bussaglia, who had taken the captain's armband after Sandrine Soubeyrand was substituted, with Camille Abily shouting "I love you, I love you!" and striker Marie-Laure Delie pretending to wax her shoes.

As well as demonstrating the footballing skills which saw her being named the top player in the French top flight last season, Bussaglia also stepped up without nerves to convert her penalty in the shootout.

The dream of winning the World Cup is strong in the team, she says.

"We believe in ourselves, in our abilities. We can do great things with this will power. We want to achieve something," Bussaglia said.

Some of that spirit was on show when the 1.63metre, 53kg midfielder made a bone-crunching tackle that led to France's first goal in its 4-0 win over Canada.

"People talk about decisive passes, that was a decisive tackle. That reminds me of matches against boys when I was small," she said.

Football, however, isn't the only passion in Bussaglia's life.

She is also a primary school teacher, even if she is taking a career break next season to focus on football.

"Last season, I had class until 4.30pm and then afterwards there was more work. Training was mostly at 7.30pm, I was doing 8am to 10pm.

"I had a very good season but it was difficult and I don't think you can do a lot of seasons like that. It's too complicated physically and psychologically."

Next year she will hold a position of sports instructor for young athletes in the French National Institute of Sport and Physical Education Institute (INSEP).

"I'll have a more flexible timetable. As well, training with PSG should be brought forward to 6.15pm, which is good news."

After her footballing career she wants to return to her teaching job.

"That's what interests me. I've worked hard to get there and that's what I want to do. Football isn't going to last forever.

"When you're living this you have to do your best because you won't get maybe more than one or two chances."

The performances of the French team has been keenly watched back home. French station Direct 8, who are broadcasting the matches live, registered a record 2.4 million spectators for Saturday night's penalty shootout.

More than 1.1 million people tuned in for the game and extra-time but the figures exploded once the match went to penalties.

Powell's side was beaten in the shoot-out and the defeat could mark her last game in charge as she hinted at taking on a new role within the Football Association.

Claire Rafferty, a 22-year-old full-back who had come on after 80 minutes to make her World Cup debut, and Faye White missed the fourth and fifth penalties respectively to seal England's exit and Powell was furious at the overall lack of courage shown by her players.

She told The Guardian: "Three times I had to ask before anyone stepped forward. 'Where are you?' I was thinking, and then a young kid (Rafferty) is the first to put her hand up.

"And Kelly Smith was dying on her feet but she stepped up and took one. You've got to want to take a penalty, but other players should have come forward and they didn't. That's weak, it's cowardice."

A 3-1 loss to Sweden in Germany ended the Matildas World Cup campaign after emulating the quarter-final performance of the 2007 team.

Australia failed to qualify for the 2008 Olympics and coach Tom Sermanni said it would be a difficult challenge this time around, with just two nations advancing from a six-team round robin tournament in China.

The Matildas will play five matches in 11 days against North Korea, Thailand, Japan, China and South Korea from September 1.

"We really don't have much time off and we've got to get back on track and get back in the mix for that tournament," Sermanni told AAP.

"It will be last team standing basically in the end."

Sermanni expected all of his World Cup squad to be available.

Despite his disappointment at elimination from the World Cup, Sermanni was bullish about the future after the rousing efforts of a youthful squad containing several teenagers and players in their early 20s.

"I think we've got the makings of a very good team here ... and we'll be trying to build on this World Cup," Sermanni said.

"Hopefully we'll qualify for the Olympics, that's going to be very difficult, but if we can do that, then that's another step forward and I think in many ways, we've taken a step forward in this tournament.

"It's a time-consuming thing rebuilding a team and we've come a long way in a short period of time.

"We've got some really promising talent and at the same time I think we've got some players who are at the prime of their career and will be for the next few years."

The loss to Sweden, who scored twice in the first 16 minutes, meant Australia was denied a crack at surprise semi-finalist Japan, who eliminated tournament host and defending champion Germany.

"A chance lost? That's hard to say, we're just disappointed we're going home," Sermanni said.

He acknowledged Australia needed to eradicate the defensive lapses responsible for all seven goals conceded at tournament.

"It's not inexperience, we're talking about players who have had an outstanding tournament and players who won the Asian Cup last year," Sermanni said.

"You cannot legislate for someone making a mistake, it just happens."

Sermanni nominated outstanding left back Elise Kellond-Knight and the squad's youngest member, 16-year-old utility Caitlin Foord, as his most consistent players in Germany.

The goalkeeper, US keeper Hope Solo - hands down.

Despite her goals - two during play and one in the penalty shootout - Brazil's superstar Marta lost a shot at the Women's World Cup title and the goodwill of the fans in one of the most memorable evenings of women's football.

And after the United States' quarter-final shootout victory over Brazil after a dramatic 2-2 draw, Solo walked away with the player of the match award. No questions asked.

In the end, Solo produced the final memorable moment in this most unforgettable match.

When Brazil's Daiane's lined up for her penalty, Solo stretched out to her right and batted it away, reading the shot perfectly, and having the agility to get there.

Of the nine penalties in the shootout, it was the only save. It gave the US a 5-3 shootout win. Marta of course, converted hers, but it didn't matter.

"Hope, amazing. She's the best goalkeeper in the world," said US captain Christie Rampone. "We kept saying, 'Hope's going to get one. Hope's going to get one. We just have to finish them off'."

Solo had the sellout crowd of 25,598 eating out of her gloved hands, a picture of cool on a hot afternoon with a low sun slanting into the stadium and temperatures reaching 26C.

There were heated exchanges on the pitch as well, where minute by minute - all 122 of them - tensions rose till the climatic shootout.

Marta found it hard to deal with and she turned into the villain of the match as her brilliant play was offset by constant whining.

It didn't help that she set up and converted Brazil's penalty to level the match in the 65th minute and seemingly secured the second with a delicate volley in the 92nd minute. The crowd still turned against her, with boos and whistles growing louder every time she touched the ball.

"They love me," Marta said about the crowd, in a remark dripping with irony. Even the referee had to intervene, giving her a yellow card for protesting on the verge of half-time.

"We will leave with our heads high," Marta said.

But leave, she will, two games ahead of the final, as Brazil's women again miss out on winning the big one. Brazil finished second in the last World Cup and last two Olympics and this time, Marta would surely show the way.

With two goals, Marta became the joint-best World Cup scorer with 14 overall, equalling Germany's Birgit Prinz on the all-time list. Marta, though, is just 25, while Prinz effectively retired from the World Cup with Germany's loss against Japan.

"Yes, she got the goal. It happens I guess," Solo said. "I don't think she was too much of a threat."

Emotions may get in the way of judgment.

Solo has crossed paths with Marta before. The Brazilian was on the verge of scoring the goal that would give Brazil's women the Olympic gold medal in Beijing. Then Solo got in the way with her most memorable save, up to today.

The World Cup quarter-finals was their first match since that 2008 Olympic final, and again, Solo came out on top. Instead of the cheers for Solo, a lasting memory from Germany for Marta will be the endless whistling and booing.

"I didn't understand why there were so many whistles," Brazil coach Kleiton Lima said. "She was a genius as always."

US coach Pia Sundhage agreed.

"Marta is the best player in the world hands down. However, this team is better than one player," she said.

Especially with Solo in goal.

Host and defending champion Germany crashed out of the women's World Cup when it was floored by an extra-time goal from Japan, which will now meet Sweden in the semi-final in Frankfurt.

Despite winning the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Germany's defeat to Japan at the women's World Cup will also cost it a ticket to the London Olympics.

Sweden's 3-1 win over Australia in Sunday's quarter-final means it joins France and Japan in the last four.

The Swedes and French now qualify to compete at the women's football tournament for London 2012 as the best two European teams from the women's World Cup, while England, which lost to France, qualifies automatically as the host.

But Germany coach Silvia Neid said the Germans' absence from London will give them more time to prepare for Euro 2013 to be hosted by Sweden.

"This means that we now have one-and-a-half years' time to prepare for the European championship in 2013," said Neid, with Germany as defending European champion.

"Our aim has to be to reach the European championships and the fact that we won't be at the Olympics won't harm the development of women's football here."

Japan is in the semi-finals for the first time in its history after beating the host in extra-time in the quarter-finals as captain Homare Sawa's pass found substitute Karina Maruyama who fired home in the 108th minute.

With his country still devastated by the earthquake and tsunami which hit north-east Japan in March, Sasaki said he is grateful for the support his side is getting at Germany 2011 and hopes the win inspires tsunami victims back home.

"Whether our motivation is influenced by it or not, we want to show the people of the world we are grateful for their support," he said.

"Hopefully our play is also encouragement for the victims of the disaster.

"We have seen pictures of those affected by the disaster and to see them toil in such adversity gives us strength."

Japan has now got beyond the quarter-finals for the first time at a World Cup as its previous best performance was a last-eight appearance in 1995 in Sweden.

The victory is all the more remarkable, because this is the first time Germany have lost at a women's World Cup since it was beaten 3-2 by host the USA in the quarter-finals of the 1999 tournament.

Japan will now face Sweden in the semi-final in Frankfurt on Wednesday.

With the game heading for a penalty shoot-out decider, Sasaki says he is glad his team did not have to take on the Germans at high-pressure spot-kicks.

"We knew the German goalkeeper (Nadine Angerer) is excellent and you need to shoot very hard against her and even then your chances are only 50/50," he said.

"I think maybe Germany would have done better than us, so thank god we didn't have to have a penalty shoot-out.

"We wanted the players to show intuition, they are short little ladies, but they achieved a lot and I am very proud of my girls."

Sawa, who is playing her fifth World Cup, admitted she wept at the final whistle.

"We have never beaten Germany, so to do that at the World Cup is something special. I am very happy about, I cried with all the emotions at the final whistle," said the 32-year-old.

With many of her players in tears at the final whistle, Germany coach Silvia Neid herself was consoled by Theo Zwanziger, the president of the German Football Federation (DFB), who gave her words of comfort.

"He said it was a pity, but these things happen and life goes on," said Neid.

"We can be sad for a few days, but there are lots more tournaments waiting for us."

The No.1 ranked team in the world led after just two minutes when Brazil defender Daiane directed the ball into her own net from a Shannon Boxx cross.

The match swung Brazil's way on 65 minutes when Australian referee Jacqui Melksham awarded a penalty for a foul on Marta, and sent-off Rachel Buehler for illegally denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Cristiane's spot-kick was saved by Hope Solo but it was ordered to be retaken, with Marta making no mistake to equalise.

With the scores level after 90 minutes, the five-times world player of the year then put the Selecao ahead just two minutes into the extra-time period.

The match seemed over until Abby Wambach headed home deep into stoppage time to level the ledger.

With USA's five penalty takers making no mistake, the unfortunate Daiane had Brazil's third spot-kicked brilliantly denied by Solo as the Americans maintained their record of never failing to reach the final four at the World Cup.

"From an emotional point of view, everyone is really sad which is normal after a defeat like that where you lose in the last minute," Brazil coach Kleiton Lima told AFP afterwards.

"The girls threw everything into trying to win, we have tried to console them, but it will take time to get over this."

Next up for USA is a semi-final meeting with France in Mönchengladbach on Wednesday (Thursday 2am AEST).

:: NOTE - FIFA Women's World Cup semi-finals and final LIVE on SBS ONE and streamed on TWG

Slack defending proved the Matilda's downfall as it conceded two goals in the first 16 minutes with Therese Sjogran (11') and Lisa Dahlkvist each unmarked inside the Australian penalty area to give the Swedes a flying start.

Ellyse Perry revitalised Australia's hopes five minutes prior to half-time with a stunning, curling shot into the top corner of the goal, after receiving a short corner on the edge of the box.

The Matildas started the second half well, but gave themselves a mountain to climb by committing a defensive howler in the 52nd minute.

Sweden striker Lotta Schelin pounced on a loose back pass from centre half Kim Carroll, pushed the ball around Australian goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri and pushed it into an unguarded net.

The Matildas refused to crumble and mounted several attacks and created a number of chances.

Kyah Simon headed just wide, fellow striker Lisa De Vanna also went close and substitute Tameka Butt had a header and shot on target.

Sweden also went in search of more goals in the final half hour, but the Australian defence held.

Matildas coach Tom Sermanni made two changes to his team, bringing in Perry and Emily Van Egmond for Clare Polkinghorne and Samantha Kerr.

It was a chequered night for Australian World Cup cricket representative and Matildas' right back Perry, who was beaten down her side in the lead-up to both of Sweden's first two goals.

In the first instance, Sjogran had time to control the cross and fire in a shot which Barbieri couldn't stop at her near post.

Eight minutes later, Dahlkvist rose unchallenged to head home from close range.

Australia struggled to get a foothold for around 20 minutes after Sweden went 2-0 up, but the Europeans didn't create any other meaningful chances.

The Matildas gradually clawed their way back into the match in the last 10 minutes of the half.

Midfielder Collette McCallum threatened from set pieces. Her 40 metre free kick in the 38th minute almost caught out the Swedish goalkeeper, who watched the audacious attempt just miss the target.

McCallum's short corner to Perry produced the goal that gave Australia hope.

The multi-talented youngster controlled the ball with her right boot and curled the ball in from the extreme right-hand edge of the area with her non-preferred left foot.

Perry and Van Egmond, were replaced by Butt and Polkinghorne just before the hour, while McCallum gave way Sally Shipard with just over ten minutes left.

Australia line-up: Barbieri; Perry (Butt 59'), Carroll, Uzunlar, Kellond-Knight; Foord, McCallum (Shipard 79'), Van Egmond (Polkinghorne 58'), Garriock; Simon, De Vanna.

Sermanni said he was proud of the way his team played during spells of the game, but admitted mistakes proved costly as his side let Sweden off the hook by gifting it the third goal.

"I think we were until we made another mistake and you can't make mistakes at this level.

"When you consider the goals we've given up in this tournament and the way that they've done that, I think we've done extremely well to get where we've got to.

"But you can't be a winning team and defend well for 90 per cent of the time and give opposition easy goals."

Perry, who was part of the winning Australian team at last year's T20 cricket World Cup, downplayed her goal and admitted some responsibility for Sweden's first two goals.

"I think I was just in the right place at the right time," Perry said of her goal.

"It was nice to get a goal there because they obviously scored those first two goals from plays down my side of there field, so I kind of felt like I owed the team a little bit.

"It was lovely to put one in the back of the net, especially being a defender it doesn't happen too often," added Perry, who scored her third goal in 16 internationals.

Sweden will now take on Japan in a semi-final meeting in Frankfurt on Wednesday (Thursday 4.45am AEST).

:: NOTE - FIFA Women's World Cup semi-finals and final LIVE on SBS ONE and streamed on TWG

Penalties again proved to be England's downfall on the big stage, with Powell's side losing to France at the quarter-final stage after a 1-1 draw in normal and extra-time.

Captain Faye White missed the crucial penalty and it could prove to be the last kick of Powell's 13-year tenure.

She is not planning on turning her back on the game, though, and would be open to taking on a more widespread role within the Football Association.

"If the opportunity presented itself, yes, undoubtedly," she said.

"If I'm honest, I think within the FA we're looking at something that will come to fruition.

"We'll have to wait and see. The most important thing is that I want to be in women's football, preferably in England, and the girls in this squad coming through have a lot of talent.

"There's more to come and I think we've proved it. We just want that to continue."

England had taken an early lead in the shoot-out when Karen Bardsley saved Camille Abily's spot-kick, but misses from Claire Rafferty and White sealed an all-too-predictable fate.

"Extra-time, we just hung on for penalties at the end," Powell said.

"And unfortunately, again, England get knocked out on penalties. How boring is that?"

Bruno Bini's side came out best in a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout win over England after the tie had ended 1-1 after extra-time.

Japan's surprise 1-0 victory over two-time defending champion Germany in its quarter-final in Wolfsburg ensured that the French will have one of the two European qualifying spots for the London Games.

"It's not a beautiful day, it's a very beautiful day," said Bini.

"They're going to go to a European championships, a World Cup and the Olympic Games. It's superb for the girls."

Bini said: "I think I aged 10 years when they scored against us, and 10 more when one of our penalties was saved.

"But thankfully winning the match took 22 years off me.

"I do feel for my counterpart, Hope Powell; I was in the same situation as her two years ago at Euro 2009," said Bini whose side were knocked out of that tournament on penalties by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.

"I know that our joy is matched by their pain. We've been staying in the same hotel as the English, and I'll make sure that our players bear their disappointment in mind."

The French had dominated the tie and after missing numerous chances to score were shocked when Jill Scott put England ahead after 59 minutes.

But they pushed forward in search of the equaliser which Elise Bussaglia finally grabbed two minutes from time.

Such was the French delight that striker Marie-Laure Delie pretended to shine the Paris St Germain midfielder's boots.

The extra-time proved difficult for the English with veterans Kelly White and Faye Smith both limping even if striker Ellen White came close to getting one past goalkeeper Celine Deville, standing in for suspended Berangere Sapowicz.

There was a heart-stopping moment for the French when Camille Abily missed her opening penalty despite a sterling performance which saw the midfielder being named player of the match.

But England's final two penalty takers Claire Rafferty and Faye White both missed the target allowing Les Bleus go through and keep their unbeaten record against the English going back to 1974.

It was a double exploit for the French who will meet either Brazil or the United States in the final four in Monchengladbach on Wednesday.

Only the two best European countries, plus host England, will compete in the Olympic Games. As Germany is out of the tournament only Sweden which plays its quarter-final against Australia on Sunday can match the French.

"It was a very, very tough game, certainly in the first half France were the best team," said England coach Hope Powell.

"We didn't hit the ground running which was unfortunate. We managed to hang on but we knew that France were going to hang on to.

"You have to give credit to France they rumbled us. We had a game plan and we didn't stick to it. It just didn't click.

"We had some really tired legs out there today. At the end we were dead on our feet."

At Germany 2011, the USA finished Group C as runner-up after last week's 2-1 defeat to Sweden, while the South Americans won all their games in Group D to set up the quarter-final, except this time Solo will be in goal for the US.

In the semi-final of the 2007 World Cup, she was dropped by coach Greg Ryan when her team met Brazil and with veteran Briana Scurry between the posts, the Stars and Stripes were hammered 4-0.

After the match, Solo let her frustrations get the better of her, criticising Ryan and deriding Scurry's performance.

Her harsh words left her ostracised from the squad and the shot-stopper for Florida-based MagicJack admits she learned a few lessons the hard way.

The squad refused to train with her before its third-place play-off and she flew home alone.

"2007 broke my heart," says the goalkeeper. "My confidence was on the floor. 30 people wouldn't talk to me or even look at me. It was as if I had a contagious disease."

There were mitigating circumstances in Solo's defence: her father Jeffrey, a Vietnam veteran, died shortly before the tournament and she scattered some of his ashes in her goal at every match.

"The only one who really knew me was my father," she said. "He saw every one of my college games, in rain or snow, whatever the weather, he travelled miles, just to see me.

"He did everything for me what he could. From him I learned so much."

After her father's death and her World Cup outburst, Solo struggled emotionally.

"She was in a depressive mood for a long time," recalls her mother Judy. "It took a while before she felt better again."

Ryan left in December 2007 and the arrival of Sweden's Pia Sundhage as coach in 2008 saw Solo brought back into the national squad, but the relationship with her team-mates remained strained.

It took a dramatic save from Solo at the final of the Beijing Olympics against Brazil to help seal a 1-0 victory and bring her back into the team fold.

But then a shoulder injury threatened her career and she went under the knife in 2010.

The rehabilitation took nine months, she still has 11 screws in the shoulder and still gives her pain at night.

"It was one of the worst shoulder injuries I have seen in an athlete," said her physiotherapist Bruce Snell.

But the pain will all be forgotten if the two-time winner USA sees off Brazil to book its place in the last four against France in Monchengladbach.

The only number that matters right now, however, is zero.

As in, the number of World Cups the current team has won.

"I take it personally that I haven't won one," Abby Wambach said, "and I'll be heartbroken if we walk away without one."

The Americans better get into gear then. After losing a group stage match for the first time at the World Cup, they must play old foe Brazil in the quarter-finals, a match-up most had pencilled in for next weekend's final. Lose, and not only will the Americans be going empty-handed again, it will be their earliest exit ever at the World Cup, a tournament they last won in 1999.

The United States is the only team that's made the semi-finals at each of the previous five World Cups.

"We have the confidence and the faith in each other as a team. We believe that if we do this together, we can beat anybody," Wambach said. "We have our hands full. But I still believe, in the end, we have the best chance of winning."

History would seem to back that up. You have to go back more than a decade, to the Algarve Cup in the spring of 2001, to find the last time the United States lost back-to-back games. It's been more than four years just since it failed to win consecutive games.

The U.S. has been uncharacteristically inconsistent of late, however, losing four games since November alone. Granted, goalkeeper Hope Solo started only one of those losses, and not even Iker Casillas would have stood much of a chance against Lisa Dahlkvist's penalty or Nilla Fischer's deflected free-kick in the 2-1 loss to Sweden.

But the Americans don't do losses. They usually go years without a single one - like the two year-plus unbeaten streak they had going before being stunned by Mexico in regional qualifying.

"It doesn't matter if the U.S. has had some bad results in the last six months," said Marta, Brazil's dazzling playmaker. "It's Brazil-U.S., a big game. It's special."

Just like its men's team, Brazil's squad is loaded with spectacular players. Marta, the FIFA player of the year five times running, is so gifted with the ball it looks as if she's got it on a string, creating goals out of thin air. Cristiane has scored twice so far, once from the penalty spot. Brazil's 3-5-2 formation presents all kinds of challenges.

For all its star power, though, Brazil has never won the title at a major tournament. It lost to the Americans in the last two Olympic finals, and was runner-up to Germany at the 2007 World Cup.

And its track record against the Americans is less than impressive. The U.S. is 23-2-2 all-time against Brazil, with only one loss since January 1998. All but four of those matches since 1998 ended without the U.S. conceding, while Brazil managed a grand total of eight goals.

"Those defeats don't matter," Brazil coach Kleiton Lima said through a translator. "They rise up with this experience. They are much better in this moment."

Much has been made about the teams' last meeting at the World Cup. Brazil's 4-0 rout in the semi-finals was the worst defeat in U.S. history and led to a meltdown worthy of a soap opera.

Solo blasted then-coach Greg Ryan's decision to bench her, even though she'd had three clean sheets in a row. Ryan responded by kicking Solo off the team. Less than a month later, Ryan was essentially fired.

Since then, however, the Americans have won the teams' last four meetings without conceding. Solo's save on Marta's point-blank shot in the 72nd minute of the 2008 Olympic final was stunning, and should be a must-see for every goalkeeper.

"Brazil, they have so much to prove. They have best player in world but have yet to win a major championship," Solo said. "Do I think Marta's time will come? Certainly. She deserves that. With that said, I do think we overall have the team to win it. Our structure, our defense, our midfield, the fact that we have now implemented an ability to be creative on the attack, I think we're the better team. But it's all about executing it on game day."

The Americans' biggest weakness in this tournament has been finishing. They had a whopping 20-9 advantage in shots against Sweden, including a 6-5 edge in shots on goal, and still couldn't get the equaliser. They missed numerous other chances in the first two games, as well.

Brazil is the only team that has yet to concede a goal, and the Americans know they can't afford to squander chances against the stingy Erika, Rosana and the like. They are convinced, as they have been all tournament, that this next game is when things turn around.

"We're fit, we're strong and we don't give up," Carli Lloyd said. "That's one of greatest things we have about this team. We've been doing some really good things, creating a lot of chances, and I think the goals are going to come."

If not, the Americans know they'll have let a golden opportunity pass - and not just to win a title.

The World Cup in Germany has been an overwhelming success. Several games, including the quarterfinal, have been sold out, and the Americans are all over TV back home. But that interest is likely to drop off in a hurry if the Americans go home early.

"We want to prove to the pioneers of the game in our country ... that their efforts were worth it," Wambach said. "We're participating in something that's huge. Very few times does the spotlight shine so bright on women's soccer, and we want to prove to everybody around the world that we have a product and that product is worth watching."

The winning goal came in the 108th minute when Japan captain Homare Sawa put in a superb long-range pass and substitute Karina Maruyama drilled her shot past Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.

Having won both the 2003 and 2007 editions, this is the first time Germany has lost at a Women's World Cup since it was beaten 3-2 by host the USA in the quarter-finals of the 1999 tournament.

Japan has now got beyond the quarter-finals for the first time as its previous best performance was a last-eight appearance in 1995 in Sweden.

Japan will now face either Australia or Sweden, who meet on Sunday, in the semi-final in Frankfurt.

Having won Group A with three victories, Germany was bidding for a third consecutive title, while Japan came in as Group B runner-up after losing its final pool game to England.

Germany suffered an early setback when key midfielder Kim Kulig headed over the bar and limped off with a knee injury after an awkward landing on three minutes.

Coach Silvia Neid was forced into bringing on defender Bianca Schmidt and left-back Linda Bresonik pushed up into midfield.

It was predominantly German one-way traffic in the opening stages in front of a sold-out crowd of 26,067.

Powerful midfielder Celia Okoyino da Mbabi, who ran herself ragged over the course of the night, had a shot parried away by Japan's goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori on 13 minutes.

Captain Kerstin Garefrekes saw her effort fly across the face of the goal on 22 minutes.

Japan finally came into the match and its clearest chance was when forward Yuki Nagasato fired wide with half-an-hour gone as the Germans dropped off their early pace.

Mexico referee Quetzalli Alvarado finally showed the first of three second-half yellow cards in the 55th minute as the Japanese produced some loose tackles.

Japan midfielder Aya Miyama fired over twice with two long-range efforts as normal time faded and Germany forward Inka Grings had an appeal for a penalty turned down in the final five minutes after she was shouldered off the ball.

After 10 minutes of extra-time, Grings found the ball at her feet in the area but fired wide to make way for attacking dynamo Alexandra Popp.

The game was finally decided in the second period of extra-time when Japan stunned the home crowd with the crucial goal to reach the last four.

Hope Powell's women almost overcame France at the BayArena thanks to another moment of brilliance from Jill Scott, who followed her great effort against Japan by netting a superb lofted goal in the 58th minute.

However, France fought back and finally got just reward for its incessant pressure through Elise Bussaglia's fantastic first-time curled effort three minutes from time.

Extra-time failed to separate the sides but penalty misses from Claire Rafferty and Faye White ended England's hopes of a first semi-final appearance.

Heading into the clash Powell recalled captain Faye White, Fara Williams and Rachel Yankey to the starting line-up, while France started reserve goalkeeper Celine Deville due to Berangere Sapowicz's suspension.

Deville's nerves were evident from the offset and England came close to scoring within the opening 20 seconds.

Kelly Smith met Karen Carney's superb throughball and rounded Deville only to see her goalbound effort blocked by Sabrina Viguier.

After failing to net from the resulting corner, England's blazing start was subdued somewhat by a long-range Camille Abily effort and then an early yellow card to Williams for catching Goetane Thiney.

The exchanges that followed were relatively equal, with England pressing well and France impressing with a fast tempo.

However, France soon unleashed barrage upon barrage of attacks and Thiney forced England keeper Karen Bardsley to save well with a fierce 20-yard drive in the 25th minute.

Four minutes later Faye White was forced to block a Marie-Laure Delie effort, before Louisa Necib hit the back stanchion with a curling right-footed shot from the resulting corner.

Bardsley was forced to tip over a floating free-kick from Necib as half-time approached and skipper Sandrine Soubeyrand soon hit a hopeful effort that snuck just wide as the French upped the ante.

The second half started in much the same vein, with Necib, Thiney and Delie all coming close for France.

Despite the pressure, England broke the deadlock against the run of play through Scott after she hit a lofted effort over the hapless Deville.

French heads seemed to drop after conceding, although they continued to pepper the England goal as Necib almost struck a 35-yard free-kick past Bardsley and Elodie Thomis came close.

The substitute again went close five minutes from time only for Bardsley to save at the near post, before Ellen White got down to head a Laure Lepailleur effort off the line.

However, France was not to be denied as Bussaglia curled home a left-footed shot off the inside of the post with just minutes remaining.

The equaliser took the match into extra-time, which Smith was forced to spend as a passenger due to injury and with England having already used its full compliment of substitutions.

Ellen White's blasted shot into the side netting was the only moment of note in the first period, while the second period was punctuated by further knocks to England players rather than clear-cut chances.

With nothing able to separate the teams, the match went to penalties where England slipped up once again.

Despite Bardsley saving Abily's penalty, Rafferty dragged a penalty wide and Faye White smashed the crossbar.

Brazil claimed three wins over Australia, Norway and Equatorial Guinea to win Group D, while the USA was shocked 2-1 by Sweden in Wolfsburg to finish as Group C runner-up after two earlier victories.

Having never won a women's World Cup, Brazil can be forgiven for feeling Germany 2011 is its tournament and it has some unfinished business against the USA.

In the women's final at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Brazil star Marta had the goal at her mercy in the 72nd minute, but somehow managed to miss as the USA went on to win 1-0 in extra-time.

"I can't let myself be irritated by the opponent, I just have to concentrate on my own game, because I really want to be a world champion," said the 25-year-old, five-time winner of the world player of the year award.

Marta scored twice in the 2007 World Cup semi-final when the South Americans blasted the USA 4-0 in Hangzhou, China, before losing 2-0 to Germany in the final.

Having scored twice in Brazil's 3-0 win over 1995 champion Norway in last weekend's Group game, the pint-sized playmaker is on form, but her team has to step up against the USA, says coach Kleiton Lima.

"We have to make a lot of improvements, especially from a technical point of view," he said.

"I know my team and I know we are not using our full capabilities and we also have to improve our skills.

"The players are improving and I think that gradually we'll get back on track and achieve our targets."

Brazil has yet to concede a goal at Germany 2011 and starts as favourite, but the USA is already eyeing a third World Cup after its triumphs in 1991 and 1999.

"We want to become world champions and from now on we are only talking about the final," said coach Pia Sundhage. "We need to get sharper and step up, starting against Brazil."

USA striker Abby Wambach, who opened her World Cup account in the defeat to Sweden, pointed out that facing Brazil means France or England loom in the semi-finals.

"If we want to reach the final, we have to beat everyone anyway - even Brazil," said the 31-year-old.

"We just have to use our chances better than last time, then we can make it."

The Matildas are expected to make two changes to the starting side with Emily van Egmond and Ellyse Perry coming in for Clare Polkinghorne and Sam Kerr, the changes also freeing up teenager Caitlin Foord to be pushed further forward.

After toppling another Scandinavian side Norway to advance to the quarter-finals for the second consecutive edition, the Matildas head for the former Roman fortress town of Augsburg in southwestern Bavaria.

But despite boasting just one win in the eight previous matches with Sweden, Sermanni said that confidence is riding high in the Australia camp.

"This is probably the least pressurised game," Sermanni said.

"The further you go the less pressure you're under.

"We've achieved what we wanted and beaten a team who are high in the world and had ambitions to win the tournament.

"The pressure is far more on Sweden."

Australia finished second in Group D behind Brazil after beating Norway 2-1 and Equatorial Guinea 3-2 and losing 1-0 to the South Americans.

"After the win the team was ecstatic and upbeat. That win will hopefully have a significant impact on the team," said the Scot.

"It's very new that we knock a team like Norway out of a tournament.

"I tried to stress to the players just how significant it is. I don't think the young ones got it, they just want to go out and play football.

"But what it has done is given us a lot of confidence for Sunday."

Morale is also high among the unbeaten Swedes who stunned world number one team the United States 2-1 to finish top of Group C after also achieving 1-0 wins over both Korea DPR and Colombia.

Fifth-ranked Sweden has competed in all editions of the World Cup since the inaugural edition in 1991 when it finished third and was a finalist in 2003.

The Matildas, who are ranked 11th, are not the same side however that reached the last eight in 2007 with half the team aged under 20 years.

And Australia will need all its fighting skills against a side that has five wins to Australia's one, with the two other games drawn.

"We haven't played them for a long time so it's difficult to make comparisons," said Sermanni.

"They're a bit like Norway. They're probably not quite a direct as Norway but have strong physical characteristics like them.

"We're going to take the same approach against Sweden. We're going all out for a win not to sit back and defend. I hope the team gives a good account of themselves again on Sunday, win or lose."

The pair's only previous clash in the World Cup was in 1999 when the Scandinavians won 3-1.

They last met at the 2004 Olympics with the Swedes winning 2-1 and current team member Lisa De Vanna scoring for the Matildas.

The only doubt for Australia is Tameka Butt who has a hamstring injury.

Despite beating the USA, Sweden striker Lotta Schelin said it was taking nothing for granted against Australia.

"They can play really well too, you can compare them to Brazil, so they are all we are worrying about now," she said.

Striker Simon scored the two goals that fired Australia into the last eight as her side came from behind in Leverkusen to inflict a 2-1 defeat on Norway in their final Group D game, which sent the 1995 world champion home.

The 20-year-old Sydney FC forward scored a minute after Norway had taken the lead and then sealed victory with a header three minutes from time.

"A goal was my big dream, the second was a bonus," she said.

"I hope that we will still go far now."

Born in Blacktown, a suburb to the west of Sydney, Simon says Aborigine sprinter Cathy Freeman, who took 400m gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, was her role model while she was growing up.

"My idol was always Cathy Freeman. I think it's great what she has achieved as an athlete with indigenous roots," says Simon.

Simon says she was a precocious talent - at the age of eight she was telling neighbours she would one day play for Australia.

At 16, she played her first international match for the senior Australia team, before she had even made her professional club debut.

One year later, she scored her first goal for the Matildas and at 18 she was part of the team that was crowned Asian champion, before finding herself on the cover of football magazine FourFourTwo.

At 19, she was top-scorer in Australia's W-league and voted footballer of the year.

And now she will be playing for a World Cup semi-final place and is the first player with Aboriginal roots to score a World Cup goal for Australia, all before her 20th birthday.

Simon is proud of her ancestry and has been an ambassador at a festival of indigenous football.

"It was really good to see so many Aboriginal children play soccer," she said. "It was a nice experience for me, to be considered as a role-model.

"That has really lit a spark in me. There were so many children there who had natural talent."

Of the eight teams left at the tournament in Germany, the Matildas are rated 40-1 long shots ahead of England and Japan (18-1).

That lowly status clearly doesn't worry the fearless young team, which has already equalled Australia's best World Cup effort, achieved four years ago.

At No.11, Australia is the lowest-ranked of the quarter-finalists and has won just one of eight games against fifth-ranked Sweden, which upset world No.1 United States in their group C clash.

The Swedes are clear favourites to win their quarter-final clash in Augsburg, but there's no hint of negativity or fear emanating from the Australia camp.

"I think when you look at the make-up of this team, to get where we've got to I think is a great achievement. But they are a pretty ambitious group," Matildas' coach Tom Sermanni said.

"Now that we've got here, the players will want to win the game on Sunday and, if we don't win the game, they will be disappointed.

"I think there's a degree of sort of saying 'we think we can go further' and there's another bit as a coach, you have to say 'it's going to be tough'."

Sermanni also steered the 2007 team to the last eight, but believes this is a bigger achievement with a much younger squad, which includes several teenagers and just one player, captain Melissa Barbieri, over 30.

"When you look at the number of debutantes in the World Cup, the lack of real experience playing at this level and under this pressure, I think this result is more significant," Sermanni said.

"I think four years ago, it was significant in another way. It kind of got the team over a hurdle and it was a team that deserved to get to the quarter-finals.

"This achievement, I think, probably surpasses that."

Sermanni acknowledges for his team to progress, it must eliminate the dodgy mistakes which have blighted its campaign to date.

All four goals conceded came from defensive lapses, not from good attacking play by the opposition.

"We want to try and eradicate them, but you don't want to make too big a deal out of it, so it becomes an issue, and players go out there scared to death of playing in case they make a mistake," Sermanni said.

Schelin was the player-of-the-match in Wolfsburg during the last start 2-1 Group C win as her darting runs proved to be a constant menace to the US defence, but Sweden now focuses on its last eight clash with the Matildas in Augsburg this weekend.

Victory over the Americans was sealed after Sweden raced into a 2-0 lead as midfielder Lisa Dahlkvist netted a penalty on 15 minutes and captain Nilla Fischer fired in a free-kick on 35 minutes.

Veteran striker Abby Wambach scored a second-half consolation for the United States, but Sweden's victory spares it a quarter-final show-down with Brazil, who have swept into the last eight with three victories to win Group D.

"I haven't really thought about it," said Schelin when asked if she was relieved to avoid Brazil.

"We are just focused on playing Australia. They can play really well too, you can compare them to Brazil, so they are all we are worrying about now."

The Matildas are into the last eight at the expense of Norway as the Australians came from behind to claim a 2-1 win over the 1995 champion in Group D.

Germany, which are bidding for a third title, plays Japan in Wolfsburg in its quarter-final and is a potential semi-final opponent for either Australia or Sweden.

But Schelin says her team has no fear of the host side.

"I have the greatest of respect for the German team," said Schelin after Germany trounced France 4-2 in the final Group A game in Monchengladbach despite several changes.

"Just look at their bench, they played against France with a lot of players who have not played before and they still did a really good job.

"They are a really good team, but so are we and we are not afraid."

Jong Sun Song and Sim Pok Jong were provisionally suspended before their team's match against Colombia in Bochum yesterday.

The whole of the North Korea squad were then target-tested as a result of the positive findings. FIFA has not revealed what banned substance the players tested positive for.

Colombia's Yineth Varon has also been suspended after an out-of-competition doping test.

Colombia was the first to threaten with Yulieht Dominguez seeing her shot well saved by Hong Myong Hui, but North Korea should have opened the scoring before half-time only for captain Jo Yun Mi to shoot wide.

Jo missed two good chances late on, seeing one effort stopped by Sandra Sepulveda before heading wide from Ri Ye Gyong's cross.

The result means North Korea finishes third, above Colombia on goal difference. Sweden and the USA advance from the group.

Defeat means the USA finishes second in the group and it now faces a clash with Brazil for a place in the semi-finals.

Sweden opened the scoring after 16 minutes thanks to a Lisa Dahlkvist penalty. Lotta Schelin was brought down by Amy LePeilbet in the area and Dahlkvist made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Amy Rodriguez came close to making it 1-1 only to see her effort hit the crossbar, but on 35 minutes it was 2-0 with Nilla Fischer's free-kick taking a huge deflection to leave USA goalkeeper Hope Solo with no chance.

The USA got one back with 23 minutes remaining thanks to Abby Wambach, but Sweden held on for a memorable win to ensure top spot and a crack at the Matildas on Sunday night (AEST) in Augsburg.

After a slow start to the tournament, Hope Powell's side finally hit form in its final Group B encounter with Japan, securing an impressive 2-0 triumph.

It allowed it to finish top of the group and confirm a last-eight meeting with France in Leverkusen, rather than face the Germans, who would have had the backing of a partisan support.

The disadvantage would have been obvious.

However, considering France is ranked eighth in the world, two places higher than England, and scored 53 goals in its 12 qualifying matches, Asante does not feel England has any reason to be pleased with itself.

"Germany and France are two top sides anyway, so it is not as if one would be substantially easier than the other," the 26-year-old said.

"The main objective was to get out of the group but the goal was always to finish top. After that, there was little we could do about who we were going to play.

"We have to perform to beat anyone at this stage of the tournament."

When England trailed to unfancied New Zealand at half-time in its second game, it appeared its stay in Germany would be brief.

However, in a tournament that has far exceeded expectations, England has now made its mark thanks to a couple of outstanding goals from Ellen White and Rachel Yankey.

"Anyone who understands tournament football knows you do not want to peak too early," said Asante.

"We have been looking to build up gradually. We are still not where we want to be but we are moving in the right direction.

"The thing is, we have had to fight in games. But we are experienced at doing that from some of the qualifying matches.

"It helped us build trust and confidence. We know we are capable of pulling results out."

Trailing to first-half goals to Stephany Mayor and Maribel Dominguez and heading to injury-time, Rebecca Smith nodded home a 90th-minute corner from substitute Kirsty Yallop before 18-year-old substitute Hannah Wilkinson, who was briefly knocked out from a head clash moments earlier, slammed home an Ali Riley cross with the final kick of the game.

The draw saw the Football Ferns claim their first World Cup point in their ninth match over three tournaments since 1991.

The pre-match talk of Mexico's lethal counter-attacking ability was on the money and from the first turnover in midfield barely a minute into the game Moica Ocampo played in Mayor to clinically finish through goalkeeper Jenny Bindon for the opening goal.

Mexico was chasing a large victory as part of its equation to qualify for the quarter-finals and its cause was helped when captain Dominguez got a jump on the New Zealand defence in the 29th minute and was left to beat Bindon one-on-one.

But New Zealand, which had split possession evenly throughout the game, started to get more of a foothold after half-time as Mexico sat deeper and, although the Football Ferns had already enjoyed more chances than their opposition, they became more threatening in the final 15 minutes.

Substitute Ria Percival flashed two shots over the bar before Smith went just wide with a header in the dying minutes.

She made no mistake with her next chance, towering over the Mexican defence and directing her header low inside the far post.

With time running out and Wilkinson back on the field after 'seeing stars' from a clash of heads and heavy fall, the teenager drifted off her marker, chested Riley's cross down and finished high into the top left corner to seal a dramatic fight back.

Earlier losses to England and Japan had already consigned the New Zealanders to a group stage exit from the tournament, and Herdman was hugely impressed with the fortitude and determination shown to achieve the draw.

"These girls could've got on the aeroplane at half-time and gone home. That was the reality," Herdman said.

"They had nothing to play for other than their pride and their own identity as footballers and boy, did they go out there and show Mexico. It was magic.

"We've got some really experienced players in the team, including our captain Rebecca Smith. She's right at the spine of it. But we've got a very young team. That was an 18-year-old who scored the equaliser."

England topped the group with a 2-0 win over Japan, earning a quarter-final against France, which lost 4-2 to Germany to finish behind the host in Group A.

The Football Ferns are now eyeing international matches against top tier nations in September as part of their build-up for the 2012 Olympics.

As Oceania champion, via last year's eight team World Cup qualifying tournament, New Zealand will play off in early 2012 against the winner of a preliminary Oceania qualifying tournament to qualify for the London Games.

After a goalless first half, Erika broke the deadlock on 49 minutes.

Cristiane then netted a brace with a strike on 54 minutes and a penalty three minutes in to time added on.

Next up for Brazil in the knockout stage is the USA on Monday morning (AEST) in Dresden.

Match Highlights: Matildas v Norway

Striker Kyah Simon was the two-goal hero for the Matildas with goals on 57 and 87 minutes, in front of 18,474 fans in Leverkusen.

Norway had gone ahead on 56 minutes through Elise Thorsnes.

Australia finished second in the section and its next opponent will be Group C winner Sweden on Sunday night (AEST) in Augsburg.

The victory is Australia's first over 1995 world champion Norway and sees the Asian Cup winner through to a second consecutive last eight appearance at the World Cup.

"There was a lot of courage and commitment out there, we knew it was going to be a very difficult game," Matildas' coach Tom Sermanni said.

"Norway obviously have a very robust style of play and it's very effective and it upsets the rhythm that we normally have, so for us to go in there and really tough out a game, it makes me very proud of the players."

After a goalless first half in which Norway just edged it, creating more clear-cut chances, a defensive error from the Australian defence gifted its opponent the lead.

A mix-up between goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, Servet Uzunlar and Caitlin Foord on the edge of the box allowed Thorsnes to nip and pounce on a through ball before finishing into an empty net.

The Matildas equalised immediately with some good lead-up work from Lisa De Vanna setting up Simon, who neatly finished low into the right hand corner.

Despite some nervy moments in defence, Australia rode its luck. Trine Ronning hit the woodwork form a free-kick on 84 minutes as Norway looked for the goal it needed.

"I've been waiting a while since the tournament started and it was great to get two in one game," Simon said.

"It's great for my confidence to finally get one, and two is a bonus."

Matildas XI v Norway: Barbieri; Foord (Perry 89'), Uzunlar, Carroll, Kellond-Knight; Kerr (Alleway 80'), Polkinghorne, McCallum, Garriock; Simon, De Vanna.

Kyah Simon and Lisa De Vanna will return to the starting side, while Sermanni indicated Clare Polkinghorne's physical prowess will see her reinstated to the midfield along with Tameka Butt.

Sermanni also confirmed that Caitlin Foord will come back into the side, with Emily van Egmond to be rested, while captain Melissa Barbieri will start in goal.

Watch the pre-match interview with Tom Sermanni.

He has every intention of sticking with central defender Servet Uzunlar, despite two of her errors directly leading to goals for Equatorial Guinea.

Only three of his squad of 21, including Australian cricket representative Ellyse Perry, have yet to appear in the tournament.

Probable Matildas XI v Norway: Barbieri; Foord, Uzunlar, Carroll, Kellond-Knight; Butt, Polkinghorne, McCallum, Garriock; Simon, De Vanna.

Australia is anticipating a difficult night as it prepares to deal with Norway's direct style.

The Matildas have never beaten Norway in four previous internationals, recording three losses and a draw.

Australia enters the final set of group games three points behind unbeaten leader Brazil and second on goal difference from Norway.

While a draw against Norway in the game in Leverkusen early on Thursday (AEST) will be sufficient for Australia to advance to the last eight, Matildas' coach Tom Sermanni said it would be folly for his attack-minded side to play for a point.

Should Australia clinch second place, they will play either United States or Sweden in a quarter-final on Sunday in Augsburg.

Norway is one of the traditional superpowers of women's football.

The nation won the the 1995 tournament, finished runner-up in 1991 and fourth in 1999 and 2007.

A quarter-final defeat in 2003 represents its worst effort, although a loss or draw against Australia will prevent it reaching the last eight for the first time in six World Cups.

Norway is ranked ninth, just two places above Australia.

Sermanni has left no one in any doubt about what he expects from Norway.

At the Matildas' pre-departure media conference in Sydney, he described the nation as "the tough European, roll your sleeves up, Stoke City kind of team," referring to the no-nonsense direct style of play employed by that English Premier League club.

Sermanni's thinking hasn't shifted after Norway's first two group matches in Germany, a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea and a 3-0 loss to Brazil.

"They play a particular brand of football which can be difficult to play against," Sermanni said from Germany.

"They are very direct. They are very kind of one-dimensional. They get it, they pump it long, they play a very straight forward, what we term British-style of play.

"It's a question of us being able to combat that and trying to impose our style of play on the game."

Sermanni suggested Australia's forwards will push up on the Norwegian defenders and not allow them to pump long balls into the Matildas' area, unlike Brazil, who was content to drop back to the halfway line and rely on defenders to defuse the high balls.

"I don't think that style of game suits us. I don't think us sitting back and defending is our best attribute at this stage," Sermanni said.

But the man charged with getting the most out of his prolific forward also stressed the importance of turning that energy into a positive for the team.

"In a sense, Lisa's a bit like a pressure cooker and puts herself under enormous pressure," Sermanni said.

"She doesn't go out to be deliberately different. It's just that she puts herself under so much pressure and that pressure then gets to the extent like a volcano, it sort of explodes at times and that's how she is.

"It's keeping that sort of explosion under control and using that energy in a positive way."

De Vanna, who was named in the FIFA all-star team following her four-goal haul at the 2007 World Cup, is already making her presence felt at the 2011 edition in Germany.

After missing a couple of good chances in Australia's opening 1-0 loss to Brazil, De Vanna came off the bench at halftime and scored in a player-of-the-match performance in the 3-2 win over Equatorial Guinea.

Her goal was her fourth off the bench in World Cup finals matches, following three in 2007, making her the highest-scoring substitute in tournament history.

With 25 goals in 69 games, she is the most prolific striker in the Matildas' squad and a proven match-winner with her pace, skill and determination.

At 156 cms, De Vanna is also the smallest player in the Australian squad, but arguably the most influential.

"She's pretty good. She gets angry and then she calms down again," Sermanni said.

"With some players, you give them a good whack early ... and they might disappear. She never gets intimidated."

She was booted out of a pre-tournament camp for disciplinary reasons and management has wrestled with the best way to handle their star striker.

"Lisa is an important player for the team and the team is important for Lisa. I think it's a two-way kind of thing," Sermanni said.

"She's a player who finds it more difficult to deal with the pressures of stuff in the same way that most of the rest of us deal with it.

Kerstin Garefrekes and Inka Grings gave the host a 2-0 first-half lead with Grings converting a penalty after 68 minutes awarded after Sapowicz was given her marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Fatmire Bajramaj.

Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi scored the fourth for Germany a minute from time after Marie-Laure Delie and Laura Georges pegged two back for France.

Two-time defending champion Germany sets up a quarter-final clash with Japan, which finished second in Group B after losing 2-0 to England in Augsburg.

Second-placed France next plays Group B winner England.

Both Germany and France were already through to the last eight with maximum points after their first two ties.

But it was the Germans who made most of the early running in a tense first half in front of a sell-out crowd of 50,000.

Midfielder Bajramaj had an early effort on goal after 15 minutes but France goalie Sapowicz held firm.

But skipper Garefrekes broke the deadlock after 25 minutes when the Frankfurt midfielder rose highest to pick up a free-kick and head in her second goal of the tournament.

Six minutes later the host was 2-0 up after Duisburg striker Grings latched onto a Simone Laudehr cross to head into goal.

France was transformed in the second half with substitute Delie pulling one back after 56 minutes heading in a corner just a minute after her earlier effort had been held by goalie Nadine Angerer.

A Grings free-kick on 60 minutes was held by Sapowicz, but minutes later the Paris St Germain goalie was sent off for a dangerous tackle as Bajramaj raced towards goal which saw the Turbine Potsdam midfielder stretchered off.

Sapowicz was replaced by Celine Deville and Grings stepped up to convert the penalty on 68 minutes.

Four minutes later Georges got one back for France but Okoyino Da Mbabi put the result beyond any doubt a minute from time.

Nigeria defeated Canada 1-0 in the group's other game but both teams bow out.

Perpetua Nkwocha struck what would prove to be the winner in the 73rd minute to ensure her side would finish third in the group, with pointless Canada bottom.

The game had earlier been delayed for around 10 minutes when the stadium lights went out.

Japan had impressed in its opening two matches but was outclassed by England, which scored a second through substitute Rachel Yankey midway through the second half to secure the points.

Captain Faye White and midfielder Fara Williams were both rested by England manager Hope Powell, whose side started well. Ellen White had a good chance to open the scoring inside 10 minutes but her close-range effort was blocked.

England went ahead after 15 minutes when Karen Carney picked out Ellen White with an inch-perfect throughball and the Arsenal striker made no mistake in lobbing Ayumi Kaihori in the Japan goal from just outside the box.

Japan struggled to get a stranglehold on the match as England knocked the ball around with confidence, although a quickly-taken free-kick 10 minutes before half-time caught the England back-line napping and Sophie Bradley needed to produce a dramatic goalmouth clearance.

England nearly doubled the lead when Jess Clarke's cross was met acrobatically by Ellen White but this time Kaihori tipped her effort over the bar.

The Japanese began to impose themselves on the game after the interval but still failed to create any clear-cut openings although Yuki Nagasato got on the end of a long free-kick only to prod wide from six yards.

England then punished its opponent's inability to score in the 66th minute when half-time substitute Yankey, the most experienced international player in the current squad, was played in by Rachel Unitt and scored with a smart finish from a narrow angle.

Nahomi Kawasumi then worked a good chance for herself in stoppage-time before thrashing her effort high and wide.

Despite its defeat, Japan joined England in the quarter-finals as group runner-up.

The identity of England's opponents in the quarter-final was of no concern to manager Powell, who praised her players for sticking to their game-plan.

"I don't care (who the opposition is)," she told BBC Sport. "We are in the quarters and whatever gets put in front of us we have to deal with. We are still in the competition and we are not going home.

"We were very, very good today. You have got to respect Japan and the way they play but we had a game-plan and we implemented it. We haven't conceded, we have scored goals and won the group - it can only improve confidence."

Powell felt the changes she made to the team proved England has strength in depth, but admitted there was still room for improvement.

She said: "We always said at the beginning the squad would get us out of the group. Sophie Bradley was enormous today and we changed a few things and the girls did really well.

"We are getting closer but we are not there yet - the ambition was to get out of the group, to top the group and now we prepare for the next game."

In the group's other game New Zealand struck twice at the death to secure a remarkable 2-2 draw against Mexico.

While both teams failed to qualify it was Mexico which started well with Stephany Mayor netting after just two minutes.

Maribel Dominguez made it 2-0 on 29 minutes, and it looked like Rebecca Smith's 90th-minute goal was a mere consolation.

But four minutes into injury-time Hannah Wilkinson netted to snatch a draw and New Zealand's first Women's World Cup point.

Herdman's Football Ferns led the Three Lions for more than an hour in Dresden and had one foot in the quarter-finals before their dreams were crushed as England scored two late goals to seal a 2-1 victory.

Having already lost to Japan, two defeats now means New Zealand is going home after the group stages, but it has the chance to sign off with a win over Mexico which was battered 4-0 by Japan in Leverkusen.

Mexico needs at least a heavy win over New Zealand, while hoping England loses to Japan in Augsburg and has no more than a mathematical chance of going through to the quarter-finals as Group B runner-up.

"We have a massive game against Mexico now and it is back to business as we try and get our first win at a World Cup," said Englishman Herdman.

"I am proud of my team: they led one of the powerhouses of football for a hour and nearly sneaked a win.

"But it's not good enough to be leading games, we want to win football matches."

Since his arrival in New Zealand in 2003 to work with the elite women's team, Herdman has led his team to become Oceania champion with a squad which predominantly plays its football in New Zealand.

A win over Mexico would be a just reward for the Football Ferns who went down fighting against England and could easily have forced a draw had substitute Rosie White converted her second-half chance late on.

But while New Zealand can take some confidence from its performance, Mexico is reeling after it was blitzed by Japan whose hat-trick by skipper Homare Sawa blew the central Americans off the park.

"This was a very painful defeat. Psychologically, mentally and physically we will have to recover before the next game, said Mexican coach Leonardo Cuellar.

New Zealand captain, 30-year-old Rebecca Smith, who plays her club football for Wolfsburg in the German women's league, says she is desperate to sign off with three points.

"We watched Mexico's draw with England, and then saw them lose 4-0 to Japan," she said.

"It looks as though anything can happen at this World Cup.

"Every game is different from every other, so we're utterly determined to take all three points and make the nation proud."

Superstar Marta fired Brazil into the knockout round with a double and set Rosana up for the third as it demolished former winner Norway 3-0 in Wolfsburg.

For veteran Formiga, playing her fifth World Cup, it is finally time for the South Americans to lift the title.

The 33-year-old was on the team that finished runner-up to Germany four years ago and lost the past two Olympic titles to the United States.

"It's been a long road, we can't rest and can't let up, we have to continue working hard, like we came here to do, and trusting that we can continue eliminating our rivals," said Formiga.

"We're a close team, we have spent a long time working hard and our objective is to be world champions for the first time."

But despite having one group game left against Equatorial Guinea the Samba Girls' eyes are already on the final eight where they will face either the United States, the world's top team, or fifth-ranked Sweden.

Captain Aline, 29, said: "The United States are very strong and physically very good. Sweden are also very strong, they have extraordinary technical qualities and very fast players.

"But we're a team who are very strong, disciplined, focused and who worked well marking (Sunday). It's all the fruit of hard work paying off," she added.

The heartbreak of four years, notably a painful 2-0 final defeat to Germany, remains raw.

"We often talk about going so close four years ago," said midfielder Maurine, who plays with Marta at Western New York Flash.

"Now we are looking for this to be our time and are working hard towards our goal."

Marta said: "Our quarter-final rivals, Sweden or the United States, will have a lot of problems even if they're strong teams because we're ready and we've come here to be world champions."

Despite praising Marta's 'genius' Brazil coach Kleiton Lima said that only a team effort would suffice.

"Brazil play with eleven, all the players strive. She (Marta) plays in the final line of attack and for that reason she is the one in charge to finishing off, but the momentum comes from elsewhere."

Lima added it was hoping to deliver a footballing double whammy for Brazil this month - the Women's World Cup and the Copa America.

"It would be great to have a double of the women's World Cup and the Copa America. We're going to try our best."

The incident occurred in the 16th minute of Sunday's group game in Bochum, Germany, which Australia won 3-2.

Australia was leading 1-0 at the time through a Leena Khamis goal and another attempt from the lively striker hit the post.

Equatorial Guinea defender Bruna picked up the ball on the rebound and held it in both hands for several seconds.

Astonishingly neither Hungarian referee Gyoengyi Gaal or her assistants apparently witnessed the incident and Australia's pleas for a penalty were rejected.

"Everyone on the (Australian) bench was up, I must have been distracted with something else because I actually missed it live," Sermanni told AAP.

"People were describing it to me, I thought 'no you're kidding.'

"Then I saw it on the replay at the end of the game.

"It was surreal, I think that would be the best way to describe it.

"She must have thought it had gone out of play, because it bounced off the post.

"One of their players reckoned that the girl thought she heard the whistle and that would make sense.

"It was amazing."

Sermanni chuckled at the recollection of the incident, but it would have been no laughing matter if Australia hadn't won the game.

Indeed Equatorial Guinea equalised just a few minutes after the incident but second-half goals to Emily Van Egmond and Lisa De Vanna secured the win and moved Australia up to second spot.

FIFA match official Karen Espelund admitted the referee's error after the game.

"We have spoken to the referee. She said that she's very sorry for not seeing such a clear handball," the ESPN Soccernet website reported Espelund as saying in Germany's kicker magazine.

Australia seized control of its destiny with a 3-2 win over Equatorial Guinea in Bochum, Germany on Sunday.

The Matildas moved into second spot on goal difference above Norway, who lost 3-0 to Brazil in Wolfsburg a few hours later.

A brace of goals in three minutes to teenage midfielder Emily van Egmond and half-time substitute Lisa De Vanna just after the break, ensured Australia was rewarded on the scoreboard for dominating the possession and scoring opportunity statistics.

The Matildas have a goal difference of zero compared to Norway's minus two, meaning a draw with the European nation in Leverkusen on Thursday morning (AEST) will be sufficient for them to retain second spot.

"It's a potential danger, because we don't have a team that can play for a draw," Sermanni told AAP.

"We don't have a team that we can set up to play a 4-5-1 and is going to hold off the pressure.

"It would be folly for us to do that. We've got to go into this game as if we've got to win it; we can't think anything else, because it would be a disaster."

Equatorial Guinea defended deep and relied on counter-attacks and the flair of talismanic captain Anonman.

She capitalised on two errors from central defender Servet Uzunlar to score once in each half.

Anonman's first goal cancelled out an eighth-minute Australian lead earned by lively striker Leena Khamis, who pounced after the goalkeeper couldn't hold a shot from midfielder Heather Garriock.

The equaliser came just a few minutes after one of the most bizarre incidents seen in a major international football tournament.

Equatorial Guinea defender Bruna brazenly picked up the ball in both hands after a Khamis shot hit the post.

Inexplicably the Hungarian referee and her fellow officials didn't see the incident and the Matildas were denied a penalty.

"It was surreal, I think that would be the best way to describe it," Sermanni said.

Trying to keep his players fresh and involve as many of the squad as possible, Sermanni made five changes to the side that started the 1-0 loss to Brazil.

Khamis added zip up front and acting captain Collette McCallum and 17-year-old van Egmond bossed the midfield area.

De Vanna was named Player of the Match after repeating her super sub efforts from the last World Cup.

She converted a sublime through ball from McCallum to make it 3-1, after van Egmond rifled home an unstoppable drive to put Australia ahead.

Anonman made Australia sweat by scoring her second seven minutes from the end, but Sermanni said Uzunlar's errors were uncharacteristic and he intended sticking with her for the Norway game.

The only injury worry for Sermanni was Sally Shipard, who suffered a corked leg.

Emily van Egmond chats to TWG's Vitor Sobral

The 17-year-old Canberra United player, who made her senior debut against North Korea last year, scored her first international goal on Sunday (AEST) in the Matildas' 3-2 win over Equatorial Guinea.

Van Egmond revealed she had received useful tips from her dad, a former championship-winning A-League coach with Newcastle Jets, now with the Australian Institute of Sport Football Program and an under-17 men's coach.

"He obviously does share tips and advice with me since he is a coach now and has a lot of knowledge," Van Egmond said.

"We sometimes have individual training sessions where he helps me with things that I need to improve like technique, shooting and fitness. When we are at home, we often watch football together on TV.

"We like to watch Barcelona play especially and he would tell me about players to watch during a game, then ask me afterwards what I think, and tell me about the things that they do which I can do better.

"So it is definitely great to have someone help me and share with me the knowledge that he has."

Despite her inexperience, Van Egmond showed few signs of nerves as she put Australia 2-1 ahead after 48 minutes in her seventh international game. Lisa De Vanna sealed victory three minutes later with another Australian goal.

Leena Khamis' eighth-minute goal had been matched by Equatorial Guinea's captain Anonman who scored the first of her two goals after 21 minutes.

"I am very nervous at times but I am really enjoying the opportunity that the coach Tom Sermanni has given me to come out on the field and play, and it has been a really great experience for me so far," Van Egmond said.

"I have never played in any tournament like this so, for me, it really is an out of this world experience!"

Sermanni praised the teenager after her historic goal.

"I thought she was outstanding today. She has great skill, good vision. We have high hopes for her being an exceptional player in the years to come," Sermanni said.

For Van Egmond, her next goal is to beat her dad's record.

"I always actually tease him that he has never been to a World Cup while I have, so I just need to participate in an Olympic tournament and I would beat him," she added.

The first header was misdirected, going a few feet wide. The next soared over the goal. A shot from close-range smacked into a defender, and another easy chance banged off the post.

By the end of the game, all Abby Wambach could do was laugh at the miscues.

"It's a joke at that point," she said.

Finishing has been an issue all year for the United States, and it's more of the same at the Women's World Cup. Though the Americans have five goals from their first two matches, they easily could have double that. Wambach and fellow forward Amy Rodriguez have been missing - badly - and others are squandering chances, too.

The missed opportunities haven't cost the Americans - yet. But chances are sure to dwindle the deeper they go in the tournament, and the Americans can't afford to keep leaving goals on the field.

"We didn't finish our chances," coach Pia Sundhage acknowledged after the US routed Colombia 3-0. "But as long as we create chances, I'm happy. We'll put away the chances eventually."

Already through to the quarter-finals, the United States plays Sweden on Wednesday to determine the Group C winner. The Americans have the advantage in goal differential, meaning they'll finish atop the group with a win or draw.

Goals have been hard to come by for almost everybody in the tournament. Only Japan (six) has scored more than the US, with France also having five. Germany, the two-time defending champion and pre-tournament favourite, has scored just three times.

But unlike most teams, the Americans aren't trying to scratch out opportunities. They've had them. Loads of them. In the first two games, the US had 21 shots on goal.

Compare that with Japan, which had 13. Or Germany, which had 15.

So what's the problem? It starts up front, with Wambach and Rodriguez.

Few defenders can keep pace with Rodriguez, and that speed helps her get plenty of good looks around the goal. But her shots have been just a touch off. Take her rebound of a Wambach miss early against Colombia. She had a straight-on shot from close range, only to put too much power behind it and send it flying over the goal.

"I have the greatest team-mates," Rodriguez said. "Every shot I took, they were like, 'You're going to get the next one, you're going to get the next one."'

That's Wambach's mindset, too.

Wambach is the third-leading scorer in US history with 117 goals, and is second only to Michelle Akers with nine World Cup goals. But she has scored just once this season, and her shortcomings have been glaring. She is the world's best player in the air, yet her headers have clearly been off-target.

"I could sit here and analyse and reanalyse every shot I took today and why it didn't go in," Wambach said after the Colombia game. "But that would be selfish on my part. It's not about me, it's about the team."

Wambach has yet to win a World Cup - the last US title came in 1999 - and has said repeatedly that the title means more to her than adding to her goal tally.

"I'd rather win it and not score than score six goals and us lose," said Wambach, whose textbook perfect pass set up Lauren Cheney's goal against Korea DPR, the Americans' first of the tournament.

While Wambach seemed to be pressing at times against Colombia, neither Sundhage nor her team-mates are all that concerned. They're not going to tell her to stop shooting, either.

"She didn't put her chances away today, but she will before the tournament ends," Sundhage said of Wambach. "She will score a goal, sooner or later."

Besides, the Americans would rather look at the positive side. Their five goals have come from five different players, including Rachel Buehler, a defender. Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Cheney all got their first goals in the World Cup - and Rapinoe almost scored two more, banging a shot off the crossbar against Colombia and having one waved off against North Korea in a debatable call.

And the Americans are getting - creating - chances. As long as they keep doing that, they're confident the ball will go in at some point.

"We've had five different goal scorers, which is a great thing. It's a huge positive," Heather O'Reilly said. "The goals will come."

The five-time FIFA world player of the year struck either side of Rosana's goal in the 46th minute, scoring the opener in the 22nd before putting the game beyond doubt in the 48th.

On a wet and windy evening at the sold-out 26,000 capacity ground, Norway started best before Marta swung the game in the South Americans' favour with the opening goal.

She might have had a hat-trick but for a good save from Ingrid Hjelmseth in the 69th.

Norway will play Australia - which beat Equatorial Guinea 3-2 in Group D's earlier game - next Wednesday, to decide which team progresses along with Brazil.

Both sides found it difficult to create chances with the slippery surface making the wet ball hard to control and Norway's pressing game not allowing Brazil any time to settle early on.

Rosana's shot failed to trouble Hjelmseth in the first minute before Trine Ronning went wide at the other end minutes later.

Fabiana worked herself into a good position but her attempt to play Cristiane through was intercepted by Norway defender Guro Knutsen Mienna in the seventh.

With strong challenges coming from both sides, the Brazilians made a number of uncharacteristic errors.

Ester was unable to control a long pass from Marta that bounced over her head out of play.

Norway's best chances of the first half fell to Madeleine Giske in the 18th, when the 23-year-old's first goalbound effort was blocked by Aline's face and her next was straight at Brazil goalkeeper Andreia.

A chorus of boos greeted Marta's opening goal, but referee Kari Seitz saw nothing wrong with her challenge when Nora Holstad Berge fell to the ground as the two jostled for the ball.

The Brazilian carried on and eluded the challenge of Maren Mjelde with a series of stepovers before shooting low to the right of Hjelmseth.

Norway - the better side up to then - appeared deflated, and Marta almost scored directly from a corner six minutes later.

There were no complaints regarding Brazil's second immediately after the interval. Marta ran at four defenders before spotting Rosana's run and playing the perfect ball for her team-mate's second goal of the tournament.

Cristiane capitalised on a bad mistake from Mjelde to help create Marta's second two minutes later. Once the player of the game had the ball, she simply picked her spot past Hjelmseth.

Norway pushed hard for a consolation, but Giske's effort was over the bar late in the game.

Juvisy forward Gaetine Thiney, 25, plus Olympique Lyon's Elodie Thomis, 24, and Corine Franco, 27, said they posed provocatively for the pictures which appear in Sunday's edition of Bild to spark controversy and generate publicity.

The trio posed for the pictures under the motto: "Is this how we should show up before you come to our games?"

Fresh from a 4-0 hammering of Canada last week, in which Thiney scored twice and Thomis also netted, the trio said they want to draw attention to their sport and create some debate of the women's game.

"The pictures have come out really nice and I really like them," Thiney told Bild.

"We wanted to provoke and to generate some discussion."

The French star also praised host Germany, which has won the last two World Cups, where she says the women's game is far more advanced than in her country.

"Women's football here has developed well and already taken a step further than in France."

But Thiney said it was important the French players now back up the attention-seeking pictures off the pitch with success on the field.

"We will try to get more attention through our success," she said with an eye on the match against Germany in Monchengladbach.

The host also got in on the act last month when players from Germany's women's league posed for Playboy.

Players from Bayern Munich, Guetersloh and Wolfsburg left little to the imagination in their football-themed pictures.

The deserved victory lifted Australia to three points from two games, alongside Brazil and Norway, who were scheduled to play early Monday morning (AEST).

Watch highlights of the Australia v Equatorial Guinea World Cup match.

The Matildas play Norway in their final group game on Thursday morning (AEST).

Two goals in three minutes early in the second half from teenager Emily Van Egmond and substitute Lisa De Vanna ensured Australia's domination of possession and glut of chances were reflected on the scoreboard.

However, Equatorial Guinea's skipper and star player Anonman scored twice, each time after robbing Australian central defender Servet Unzular of possession.

Acting captain and chief playmaker Collette McCallum and Van Egmond excelled in midfield and Leena Khamis added zip up front to an Australian team featuring five changes to the side that started the opening game against Brazil.

Goalkeeper Lydia Williams replaced captain Melissa Barbieri while Khamis and Samantha Kerr replaced De Vanna and Kyah Simon up front and Tameka Butt and Caitlin Foord gave way to Sally Shipard and Lauren Colthorpe.

The Matildas made the perfect start, with Khamis scoring from close range in the eighth minute after veteran midfielder Heather Garriock had a shot parried by the goalkeeper.

Australia had a cast iron penalty claim inexplicably denied by the Hungarian referee after Equatorial Guinea defender Bruna blatantly grabbed a ball coming off her post in the first half.

Equatorial Guinea were content to sit deep and concede territory and rely on the attacking skills of their talisman Anonman.

She shot wide twice before equalising in the 21st minute, after she stripped Unzular and rounded keeper Williams.

Australia dominated possession and created several more first-half chances, with McCallum hitting the bar with a free-kick.

Khamis produced a great run and cross down the left in the 48th minute to set up 17-year-old Van Egmond, who rifled home an unstoppable shot.

De Vanna, who went on at halftime for injured Shipard, put Australia further ahead when she chested down a wonderful through ball from McCallum and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper.

Anonman set up a nervous finish for the Matildas with her second goal, but the Australians hung on to record a vital victory.

Matildas coach Tom Sermanni was happy with the result but not all aspects of his team's performance.

"There was some very very poor passages of play that we need to tighten up on, if we want to go further in this tournament," Sermanni said post match.

"For 90 per cent of the second half in particular I thought we played very very well but there are some aspects of the game that we need to sort out before Norway."

He was diplomatic and philosophical about the refereeing.

"I'll take the referee out of the game, it's not just about he referees, we've got to look at how we perform and how we play."

Sermanni said his team now knew a win over Norway would most likely see it through to the next round, a sentiment shared by Khamis.

"Our destiny is in our hands now, it comes down to the last game and we're really pumped for that game now," Khamis said.

Matildas line-up: 18. Lydia Williams; 3. Kim CARROLL, 7. Heather GARRIOCK, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 10. Servet UZUNLAR, 12. Emily VAN EGMOND, 14. Collette McCALLUM (c) (4. Clare Polkinghorne 78'), 15. Sally SHIPARD (11. Lisa De Vanna 46'), 16. Lauren COLTHORPE, 19. Leena KHAMIS, 20. Samantha KERR (2. Teigan Allen 69').

Skipper Homare Sawa's hat-trick and a first-half Shinobu Ohno goal ensured the team nicknamed 'the Nadeshiko' - a pink flower symbolising grace and beauty - remains unbeaten after two games.

It has a maximum six points to top Group B after beating New Zealand 2-1 in its opener, with its next opponent England having one foot in the last eight as it sits second on four points.

"In recent months our players have been very aggressive in all matches, even in friendlies," said Sawa.

"Our improvement will not stop and I'm confident our game can get even better. The Japanese players were consistent throughout the match and this was good."

"We are improving step by step," said Sasaki, whose side is through to just its second quarter-finals after 1995.

"The team were much, much better against Mexico than New Zealand and we will be even stronger against England."

Sasaki particularly appreciated the teamwork shown against Mexico with Saha teaming up with Aya Miyama to score.

"Individual players didn't try to show off her individual skills but played as a team and that was good."

Sasaki described it as 'an honour to be now counted among the contenders' but admitted there were a few things to be sorted out against England now that it is assured of a place in the last eight.

"They (the team) are not 100 percent. It was positive today but there are mistakes in the passing and co-ordination."

Japan plays England in Augsburg looking to finish top of the group, which will decide whether it plays France or Germany, who have already booked their places in the knockout rounds from Group A.

"The next match will be a very fine tool to see whether we will be able to express our own style of football. The match against England will be very important for us."

And he heaped praise on inspirational midfielder Sawa, the country's record 168-capped player, who has now achieved a Japanese record of three World Cup goals for 78 international goals.

"She's an excellent performer in terms of technique and skills and I have high expectations for her in the future."

Australia lost its first game 1-0 to Brazil, as debutant Equatorial Guinea fought hard before falling to Norway by the same scoreline.

Both are three points behind the South Americans and Norway, who meet in Sunday's other Group D match.

"Like most people I haven't seen them play only what I saw against Norway," said Sermanni.

"We're focusing our plan on that game.

"They were a degree unpredictable which you sometimes expect from African teams.

"They've got a basic structure but it's pretty fluid at times and in that way they can cause you problems.

"The idea is to try and exploit the areas where there have no structures without revealing our tactics beforehand."

The Scottish coach admitted his young side was under a certain amount of pressure to match the historic quarter-final reached four years ago.

"I think there's pressure to get a result, but there's pressure in every game," he said.

"When you're in a position of group games where you're not fortunate to win two games and qualify like Japan.

"It's critical for us to win this match so that during the Norway game we'll have control over our own destiny."

Sermanni's only injury worry is 16-year-old striker Caitlin Foord who is doubtful after a strong performance during a bruising Brazil game.

"She's a bit stiff after the Brazil game. It was just her second international and we probably won't risk her on Sunday," Sermanni said.

"We err on the side of caution with the younger players, we don't want them breaking down."

One of the more controversial teams, 61st-ranked Equatorial Guinea - 50 places below the Australians in the FIFA rankings - has been getting more attention for its off-pitch activities.

Forward Jade Boho was suspended by FIFA before the competition began after it was discovered she had represented Spain within the last five years.

Controversy surrounded some of the players with captain Genoveva Anonma caught up in a gender row but remained in the squad but sisters Salimata and Bilguisa Simpore, accused of being men, were kept off the team.

Goals from Heather O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd ensured the two-time winner remain unbeaten ahead of its game against Sweden, which also advances with a maximum six points after earlier beating Korea DPR 1-0.

Midfielder Lisa Dahlkvist scored the goal in the 64th minute at Augsburg.

Colombia and North Korea crashed out of the tournament after losing both their games and play each other in their final group game with nothing but pride at stake.

Vitor Sobral and Ann O'Dong preview the Matildas v Equatorial Guinea match.

The Matildas lost their first game 1-0 to Brazil to fall three points behind the South American powerhouse and Norway, who meet in Sunday's other group D clash.

Norway needed a late goal to eke out a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea, which Australia will play in Bochum.

The African nation ranked 61st, 50 spots below Australia, has probably generated more publicity through off-field issues than for its on-field exploits.

Last week, Jade Boho was suspended after it was discovered she had represented Spain within the last five years.

There has also been plenty of talk about the fact the squad contains several players with Brazilian roots.

The gender of some players has also been a topic, especially since Ghana accused some of Equatorial Guinea's squad at the 2010 African Championship of being men.

Controversy engulfed the World Cup minnow the week before the World Cup, when sisters Salimata and Bilgusia Simpore, among those whose gender Ghana questioned, were dropped from the squad.

In a Twitter discussion, Matildas' skipper and goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri likened Equatorial Guinea's style to Brazil, describing the team as skilful and unpredictable.

Australia was happy to avoid the African side first up, as there was little information about it circulating prior to their game against Norway.

Matildas' assistant coach Robbie Hooker scouted the African team's game against Norway.

"They are a lot like the Nigeria and Ghana teams, they are going to be very tough and they are quick," Matildas' defender Clare Polkinghorne told AAP from Germany.

"Norway managed only one goal against them, so we know that we are up for a tough game and it's must-win for us.

"We'll just go into this game like any other game despite knowing that we have to win, but it won't add any pressure or we won't change the way we play, just because it's a must-win game."

Polkinghorne stressed the Matildas needed to be more creative on Sunday and score the goals that were missing against Brazil.

"I think what everyone got out of the game is no matter how much quality possession you have against a quality side, if you don't take your chances you're not going to win," Polkinghorne said.

Taking chances is also a focus for Equatorial Guinea.

"I think we will have our chances in the attack against Australia, this time we need to use them," Equatorial Guinea coach Marcello Frigerio said.

German-born Socceroos coach Holger Osieck, who is attending all of Australia's games, was among those watching the Matildas train on Friday.

Australia reported no major injury worries after the Brazil game and coach Tom Sermanni wasn't expected to make major changes to his starting side.

It was a magnificent performance from Sawa, competing in her fifth World Cup, which stole the show as she lifted the Japanese to just their second quarter-finals after 1995.

The 32-year-old combined perfectly with fellow midfielder Aya Miyama to score two early goals after 13 and 39 minutes, adding her third on 80 minutes for a Japanese World Cup record. Ohno netted after 15 minutes.

"Even for myself it was a bit of a surprise," said Sawa.

"I didn't dare imagine I could score so many as three goals.

"The first and second were in combination with Miyama and she really gave me a nice ball. You could also say they're Aya's goals too."

Mexican coach Leonardo Cuellar admitted his side was shell-shocked.

"To take two goals so soon shook the team. They didn't allow us to settle. It's difficult to catch up against a team that is very technical and skillful," said a tearful Cuellar.

"This was a very painful defeat. Psychologically, mentally and physically we will have to recover before the next game.

The Japanese demolished Cuellar's young side to achieve a second win in as many games after a 2-1 opening success against New Zealand.

With a maximum six points the nation is assured of one of the two group qualifying spots to advance to the final eight with one group game to go.

Nicknamed 'the Nadeshiko' - a pink flower symbolising grace and beauty - the Japanese showed their mettle as they overwhelmed Mexico from the outset.

Sawa, the country's record 168-capped player, headed in after 13 minutes from a perfectly delivered Miyama freekick and two minutes later her INAC Leonessa teammate Ohno doubled the account from a Yuki Nagasto cross.

The Mexicans could find no answer to the attacking Japanese as Sawa continued the rout six minutes before the break when she rose above the melee in front of goal to head in a Miyama corner.

Japan thought it had a fourth just before the break but Yuki Nagasto's effort was ruled offside.

After the break, Stephany Mayor's long-range effort offered some hope to Mexico but it was saved with one hand by a diving Ayumi Kaihori.

Key striker Maribel Dominguez, who had been struggling with a calf injury, was replaced by defender Kenti Robles after 62 minutes as Cuellar tried to plug Mexico's leaky defence.

But Sawa slammed home Japan's superiority with her third when she fired in past diving 16-year-old keeper Cecilia Santiago after a Yukari Kinga cross on 80 minutes.

Three minutes later Norio Sasaki substituted the midfielder for Rumi Utsugi and a celebrating Sawa ran off the pitch to an ovation from the crowd 22,291 crowd.

The Japanese didn't give up their search for a fifth goal, with Nagasto and Miyama missing two last-gasp efforts.

It was a triumphant start to the tournament for Sasaki's fourth-ranked Japanese who did now even know if they could compete in Germany after the earthquake and tsumani that devastated Japan in March.

England, who drew 1-1 with Mexico in their Group B opener, looks set to take the second group qualifying spot after coming from behind to beat New Zealand 2-1 in Dresden to sit second in the table on four points.

The Mexicans, still with a slim mathematical chance of going through, play New Zealand, who have no points from two games, in Sinsheim on Tuesday.

Japan next play England in Augsburg.

In was the sixth victory for the Japan in eight meetings with the Mexico, who fare badly against the Asians in the world tournament having lost the play-offs for the World Cup in 2003 and 2007 to Japan.

A first-half goal by Football Ferns' forward Sarah Gregorius had put the New Zealanders into a shock lead and England needed more than an hour to equalise thanks to a header from Everton midfielder Jill Scott.

Super sub Jessica Clarke then scored the winner on 81 minutes after Scott drilled a ball into the box and the 22-year-old saved the Three Lions' blushes by sweeping her shot into the roof of the net.

"We needed the win which was fantastic," Clarke said.

"To be honest, I can't say why we haven't clicked so far.

"Getting the win has given the team a lot more confidence."

With four points, England is almost assured of a place in the quarter-finals, but still faces unbeaten group leader Japan in Augsburg next Tuesday.

Japan secured its passage into the last eight with a 4-0 win over Mexico.

New Zealand is now going home after its second defeat of the competition and is playing for pride against Mexico in Sinsheim on Tuesday, who still has a mathematical chance of going through, but needs a goal-packed win.

"It was a bit of a nail-biter," New Zealand's English coach John Herdman said.

"That was a really solid performance, I am proud of the team, they led one of the powerhouses of football for a hour and nearly sneaked a result.

"We have a massive game now against Mexico and it is back to business as we try and get our first win at this World Cup."

England made a bright start in front of a crowd of 19,110, but there were a few nervous looks on its bench when experienced striker Kelly Smith injured her ankle in an early clash with New Zealand goalkeeper Jenny Bindon.

Despite limping off with barely eight minutes played, she recovered enough to re-take her place on the pitch, but her team was floored by the opening goal.

New Zealand forward Amber Hearn beat England captain Faye White on the far left and played the ball into the six-yard box as Gregorius squeezed between two defenders and stabbed the ball past Karen Bardsley after 18 minutes.

The 23-year-old could have made it 2-0 towards the end of the first half when she managed to get behind two England defenders with the ball at her feet, but failed to make her shot count.

England started the second half camped in the New Zealander half and the sustained pressure paid off when defender Alex Scott curled in a cross which Scott headed over the out-stretched arms of Kiwi goalkeeper Bindon.

The 63rd minute goal spurned the Football Ferns into action and coach John Herdman threw on forward Rosie White, one of New Zealand's rising stars, who squandered a great chance in front of goal with her first touch of the game.

But the Football Ferns' brief dreams of a historic win were dashed after Lincoln's Jessica Clarke came off the bench to break Kiwi hearts with the winner and there were plenty of tears from the losers at the final whistle.

Germany's 1-0 victory in Frankfurt on Thursday was watched by an average television audience of 16.39 million people, 51.7 per cent of the German market, which rose to 19.13 million, 64 per cent, at its peak.

The average figure is a new record for a women's football match in Germany, beating the previous best of 15.37 million viewers who tuned into Sunday's opening game in Berlin, when Germany defeated Canada 2-1 in Group A.

The figures compare favourably with the average figure of 21.9 million who tuned in to watch Germany's games at the men's 2006 FIFA World Cup.

"It's unbelievable that the viewing figures have been improved again," Theo Zwanziger, the president of the German Football Federation (DFB), told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

"The numbers show how much interest there is in women's football."

While Germans tuned in by the millions as midfielder Simone Laudehr's second-half strike put the host in the quarter-finals, the interest was not as strong at the public viewing sites around the country.

A quiet night was reported at fan sites in other host cities in Bochum, Moenchengladbach and Leverkusen.

But at the fan mile in Frankfurt am Main - a huge success during the 2006 men's World Cup - some 10,000 ignored the damp weather to cheer on their team.

However the event has not gone down so well with Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, who says there is little interest in the women's domestic German league.

"The current marketing campaign is good; the women are playing well and the national team is incredibly popular, but in the (women's) Bundesliga, there is still only 2000 spectators per game," he said.

France and Germany have qualified for the last eight and play each other in Moenchengladbach on Tuesday to decide who will win Group A.

A double from Gaetane Thiney and second half goals from Camille Abily and Elodie Thomis put France on the way to its first quarter-final appearance at the Women's World Cup with just one group game to play.

The French are assured of a place in the last eight after Germany beat Nigeria 1-0 in Frankfurt.

Simone Laudehr’s 64th-minute goal proved to be the match-winner for the host in a bruising encounter.

France won its opener against Nigeria 1-0 on Sunday and as the Canadians lost 2-1 to defending champion Germany it needed at least a draw to keep alive its hopes of being one of the two group teams to advance.

But the French outplayed their rival, with 25-year-old Thiney claiming her first World Cup goals in either half before Abily and substitute Thomis continued the slaughter.

France, who achieved just its second win in seven meetings against Canada, plays its third and final group game against Germany in Moenchengladbach on Tuesday.

With a football pedigree as insignificant as its size and population of 670,000, the West African nation is playing its first tournament outside its own continent.

Yet no team has attracted so much controversy.

On Tuesday, FIFA forced Equatorial Guinea to remove a player with Spanish ancestry from its squad due to doubts about her citizenship.

There have also been concerns about the addition of several players with Brazilian roots to improve the squad's quality.

Further compounding the problems, the gender of some players has been the subject of unfounded rumours in the media. None of the 21 players in Germany have been barred for medical reasons by FIFA, which dismisses the accusations.

But it still ensured coach Marcello Frigerio had a tall task in keeping his players focused for Wednesday's narrow loss to Norway and for their next Group D clash with Australia in Bochum on Sunday.

"I had to do a lot to ensure that they can forget about all these things," the Brazilian said.

"But of course, the players also surf the internet. They read things, they look at things. We tried to screen these things out, eliminate them and focus on the Cup."

Amazingly, they did a pretty good job.

The 61st-ranked Africans kept top-10 nation Norway scoreless for 84 minutes with a mixture of flair and perseverance before ultimately losing by a single goal in the biggest game of their history.

"Winning against Norway would have been a huge success," Frigerio added.

Mystery breeds suspicion. In that sense, some problems were almost invited. Frigerio said he sought to provide as little information as possible about his squad.

"We are a small country and we have to make sure it becomes an advantage for our team that our rivals don't have anything on us," Frigerio said, before adding with pride: "Even on Google, you won't find a lot."

His players used that anonymity to the best of their advantage against Norway, although they survived a second-minute scare when Emile Haavi hit the inside of the post.

It proved the beginning of a charmed run, as the tournament's biggest outsider gave the 1995 world champion a real fright.

Among Equatorial Guinea's half dozen players with Brazilian ancestry are standout goalkeeper Miriam and defender Carolina. Frigerio said buying players from other nations reflects the realities of a small country in a big world, and money is not a problem in a land rich in oil and gas.

"The players all have roots in Equatorial Guinea," he said. "Either their parents or grandparents come from there."

Frigerio said his task is to blend the Brazilian talents of positioning and ball skills with the physical stamina and willpower of the African players.

As evident in many national teams, Equatorial Guinea is also a reflection of an increasingly global melting pot. Take striker Jade Boho, who was sent home.

"She lives in Spain and she has a Spanish father but her mother is Guinean," Frigerio said.

"So where is the problem?"

Watch match highlights of Brazil v Matildas, plus post match interviews with selected players and Tom Sermanni

Ranked 11th in the world, eight places below Brazil, a young Australia side including 16-year-old Caitlin Foord and midfielder Emily Van Egmond, 17, competed well in the game.

Australia enjoyed more possession in the first half and Brazil imposed more pressure after the break.

Rosana lashed the ball home with her left foot in the 54th minute, after the Matildas failed to clear on the edge of their area.

"I think we had three chances to clear it," Sermanni said with a rueful chuckle.

"If you look overall at the 90 minutes, I thought we defended exceptionally well and we were punished for a bit of sloppiness.

"I was really pleased with the way we played and the opportunities that we created and the fact that they more than held their own against Brazil.

"Obviously, it was a little bit disappointing with the result but, outside of that, I'm really proud of the performance."

The Matildas had a few late chances, the best of which striker Lisa De Vanna hoisted over the bar after she was put clear in the 87th minute, while Heather Garriock and Tameka Butt each had a shot saved.

It wasn't De Vanna's night as she also also squandered Australia's best first half opportunity. She miscued a shot wide after Brazil captain and defender Aline lost control of the ball on the edge of her penalty area.

"I think that was the story of our game. We probably just lacked a little bit of composure," Sermanni said.

"We created some good passages of play going into the final third and just didn't quite finish off the way we would have liked."

Early on, midfielder Collette McCallum curled a free kick over the bar and Kyah Simon had an effort acrobatically saved at the near post, as Australia started well.

For the most part, the Australian defence contained Brazil's celebrated striking star, Marta and Cristiane, although each had a chance late in the first half and Rosana also went close twice before the break.

"It was a tough, really difficult match," said Brazilian coach Kleiton Lima.

Brazil's midfield took control after the goal.

"I think when Brazil scored, it knocked the wind out of our sails for that 15 or 20 minutes, but the important thing then is we still held on," Sermanni said.

"I thought we finished the game really strongly. We didn't throw in the towel, but we kept going 'til the end."

Sermanni reports no major injury problems and said Australia will definitely look for a win in their second game on Sunday against Equatorial Guinea, who lost 1-0 to Norway in the other Group D fixture.

"FIFA is against all forms of discrimination," Tatjana Haenni, FIFA's head of women's competitions, told German television channel ARD.

Haenni said FIFA will be talking to Uche about her comments and reminding the coach of the governing bodies statutes.

In a mission statement, FIFA says it wants to use the sport in 'overcoming social and cultural obstacles for women with the ultimate aim of improving women's standing in society'.

"We are here at a FIFA event and will point out that it would be best to express oneself neutrally," said Haenni.

Uche sparked controversy in a New York Times interview ahead of the Women's World Cup, in which she called homosexuality 'dirty' and insisted it was 'spiritually and morally very wrong'.

After Nigeria lost its opening Group A game 1-0 to France, Uche said she has acted to remove any lesbians from the Super Eagles.

"Yes, the lesbians in our team were really a big problem," she said having taken over as Nigeria's coach in 2009.

"But since I'm coach of the Super Falcons, that has been cleared up.

"There are no more lesbian players on my team.

"I can not tolerate this dirty life."

Defending champion and host Germany plays Nigeria on Thursday in Frankfurt and has declined to comment in Uche's remarks.

Germany reserve goalkeeper Ursula Holl is married to a woman and first-choice shot-stopper Nadine Angerer is openly bisexual.

Watch match highlights of the Matildas v Brazil

Brazil striker Rosana lashed the ball home with her left foot in the 54th minute after the Matildas failed to clear the ball on the edge of the area.

Australia had earlier been unable to capitalise on a strong start and a possession advantage in the first half.

The Matildas had a few late chances, the best of which striker Lisa De Vanna hoisted over the bar after she was put clear in the 87th minute.

The loss leaves Australia desperately needing to pick up at least a point from its second match on Sunday against African nation Equatorial Guinea, which lost 1-0 to Norway in the other Group D game.

For the most part, the Australian defence contained Brazil's celebrated striking duo of Marta and Cristiane.

Australia enjoyed more possession in the first half as Brazil surprisingly opted not to pressure the Matildas in their own half.

It was a different story after the break, though, with Brazil showing greater purpose and applying more pressure, especially after it took the lead.

"I think for long periods of the game we more than held our own," Matildas coach Tom Sermanni said afterwards.

"Very proud of the effort, very proud of the performance and a little bit disappointed we didn't get anything out of the game."

The Matildas looked the more consistently dangerous team in the early stages.

Midfielder Collette McCallum curled a free-kick over the bar and Kyah Simon had a chip acrobatically saved at the near post.

Rosana put a couple of attempts over the bar from close range, but De Vanna squandered a good chance on the half-hour.

She took possession after Brazilian skipper and defender Aline lost control on the edge of her area, but the Australian forward miscued her shot wide.

Brazil almost capitalised on a couple of Australian defensive lapses in the last 15 minutes of the half.

Marta's first-time shot flew just wide after 16-year-old right back Caitlin Foord lost control on the edge of the area and Cristiane blazed over from close range.

Sermanni's side started the second half well but Simon miscued a close-range header from a corner, just a minute before Rosana scored.

Brazil's midfield then took control and the Matildas struggled to create anything for the next 20 minutes until De Vanna blasted a shot well over the bar.

Veteran midfielder Heather Garriock and Tameka Butt had attempts comfortably saved by Brazilian goalkeeper Andreia as the Matildas pressed for an equaliser.

Butt got behind the defence but couldn't find a team-mate with her cross, while a corner in the closing seconds caused concern for the Brazil defence.

Norway, world champion on 1995, had already hit the post three times in Augsburg and looked like having to settle for a 0-0 draw against the World Cup debutant.

But substitute Leni Larsen Kaurin broke free on the right, and sent the ball low into the box from where Haavi slotted home.

The west African nation, with a population of some 670,000, played with skill and willpower, far belying its FIFA ranking of 61 and if it were not for some spurned chances that fell to captain Anonman, it could have caused a boilover.

Equatorial Guinea next faces Australia on Sunday in Bochum while Norway comes up against Brazil

Brazil is among the World Cup favourites along with Germany and the United States but the South American coach wants his side to focus all its efforts on closing down the Matildas in their first Group D clash.

"People only think about playing against Germany or the United States but before that we have to win (in the group)," said Lima.

Brazil is ranked third by FIFA and Australia 11th, in a group which also includes 1995 champion Norway and debutant Equatorial Guinea.

"Now our most difficult rival is Australia because it is our first match," said Lima. "Before thinking about the others we have to get through the group stages first."

Despite boasting star players such as Marta and Cristiane, Brazil's women's team have consistently failed to live up to its potential.

The five-time South American champion's best result has been a runner-up spot in China four years ago behind Germany, and it also settled for second on the podium behind the United States at the past two Olympics.

Five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta believes it is Brazil's time to finally lift the title.

"It's time for us to add our name to the list of winners in this competition," said Marta.

Asian champion Australia is 1-1 in its last two meetings with Brazil.

It fell 3-2 in the 2007 World Cup quarter-finals to the Brazilians but a year later scored a memorable 1-0 victory in the Peace Cup in Korea.

Matildas coach Tom Sermanni ranks two-time defending champion Germany 'obvious favourites. Brazil and US are strong', but he predicted 'any team ranked in the top 12 are potential dark horses'.

And the Australians are high on confidence after a 2-0 warm-up victory over England last week in Wolfsburg.

"Winning against a team like England, who by the way are highly fancied for this World Cup, is a boost," said Sermanni.

"There's a real sense of confidence around the team at the moment - a real self belief and buzz in the playing group."

Much has changed in the Australia set-up since its career best run to the quarter-finals four years ago. This year's squad has 13 World Cup debutantes, with an average age of almost 22 and nearly half the squad is 20 or under.

Sermanni described the squad as 'different' from four years ago.

"Less experienced but great depth, greater mobility," he said.

Only striker Lisa De Vanna, most-capped current player Heather Garriock, fellow midfielders Collette McCallum, Lauren Colthorpe, Sally Shipard, defender Clare Polkinghorne along with captain and goalkeepers Melissa Barbieri and Lydia Williams remain from the 2007 squad.

"Frankly speaking, when we were having training and test matches before we left for this tournament, five of the players were hit by lightning and were in hospital," said Kim, through an interpreter in the post-game press conference.

"We had an accident in Pyongyang before we left for this tournament.

"Some of the players were left behind. Some were in hospital and came later. Until now they were not fully treated for the match."

Kim said the incident occurred on 8 June.

Kim added that the players most affected were the goalkeeper, four defenders and some midfield players - without naming them.

The coach said doctors had originally decided that they were not in a fit state to play but that they played anyway.

Kim also praised his players' performance under these circumstances.

"The fact that they played in this match is abnormal. It is the result of their very powerful and strong will."

The news hit FIFA media officials like a lightning bolt as well.

"It was news to us all," said FIFA media officer Julie Brown at the US press conference when journalists asked for the Americans' opinions of the North Korean revelation.

FIFA says the match achieved an average audience of 15.4 million with a peak of 18 million toward the end, which represents one quarter of the German population.

That is a new record for a women's football match in Germany, and beat the average audience of the group match between the men's team and Serbia at the 2010 World Cup match by nearly 10 percent.

Lauren Cheney opened the scoring for the Americans in the 54th minute and Rachel Buehler doubled the lead after 76th minutes for Pia Sundhage's team.

The Americans top Group C with three points along with Sweden while Korea DPR and Colombia have zero points.

The Americans next play Colombia on 2 July in Sinsheim while the Koreans face Sweden the same day in Augsburg.

In front of 21,859 at the Rudolf Harbig Stadium in Dresden, American Carli Lloyd had the first chance after 10 minutes with a header off a free-kick but Korean keeper Hong Myong Hui was well-placed.

Hong made a better save a minute later from Cheney's long shot as the United States began building up pressure.

North Korea finally had a good chance a minute later but US keeper Hope Solo was well placed at the right post to turn round Kim Su Gyong's attempt for a corner.

The Asians had the most dangerous attack thus far after 38 minutes as Kim passed to Song Jong Sun, who worked free on the right side and got to the goal line before passing across the mouth of the goal.

It beat Solo but there was no Korean there to put the ball away.

North Korea coach Kim Kwang Min made one substitution at half-time, bringing Paek Sol Hui on for Yun Hyon Hi - with Paek moving into the back four and left-back Ho Un Byol taking a forward position.

The Americans came out after the break showing much more ambition, with Cheney being denied by Hong in the 47th minute.

Shannon Boxx then put a shot just past the far post two minutes later and Abby Wambach finally had a chance, but missed woefully from six yards out after 51 minutes.

North Korea finally succumbed to the pressure when Cheney finally beat Hong to make it 1-0 for the Americans in the 54th minute.

Wambach chipped a ball from the left side over the defence to Cheney, who headed home for her 14th goal in her 40th international.

North Korea went close to levelling just two minutes later but Ri Ye Gyong's 16-metre blast struck the crossbar.

The Americans missed a chance to double their advantage after 65 minutes as Wambach's header was deflected by Hong onto the crossbar.

The US finished off its opponent in the 76th minute as Alex Krieger sent a cross from the right which struck the crossbar, the ball rebounded to Buehler, who struck the ball just inside the near post for her second career goal.

Host and defending champion Germany plays Nigeria in its second Group A match in Frankfurt after beating Canada 2-1 in Berlin.

But Germany defender Saskia Bartusiak is far from happy about Rosberg's comments, made during a Formula One press conference in Valencia, when he drew a comparison between women's football and disabled sport.

"I think what he said is embarrassing. This shows that he hasn't got much of a clue what he is talking about," said Bartusiak, who played against Canada.

Rosberg has fallen offside with his compatriot for comments he made when asked about women's football.

During a conversation with journalists about the World Cup, he remarked: "Then you have the Paralympics, which people also watch on TV.

"In the Paralympics, you have athletes whose performance falls short of the very best but who are all competing on the same level, so it's still makes exciting viewing."

But he later insisted his comments were taken out of context.

"I would like to set the record straight: I am a fan of the German women's football team and will be cheering them on during the World Cup," he said on his website.

"Equally, I also follow some of the events in the Paralympics."

The three week-long tournament finishes with the final in Frankfurt on Sunday 17 July.

Colombia, playing its first World Cup game, had a player suspended before the match when reserve goalkeeper Yineth Varon failed a drugs test taken on Saturday.

Landstrom scored from close range in the 57th minute, set up by Lotta Schelin.

Neither side was at its best before 21,106 fans at Bay Arena, with the humidity and 32-degree heat draining the players' efforts.

Colombia's star 17-year-old Yoreli Rincon was kept in check.

She will miss Colombia's opening Group C game against Sweden in Leverkusen after the 29-year-old failed an out-of-competition test last Saturday.

Having won two caps for her country, the shot-stopper, who plays for Colombia side Generaciones Palmiranas, is now suspended from all football pending an inquiry but has the right to ask for her 'B' sample to be analysed.

The 1995 world champion Norway has never failed to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, and the Scandinavians know they can ill afford a defeat by the 2008 African champion with the likes of Brazil and Australia still to come.

"We know that Equatorial Guinea are physically strong, but we need to begin the tournament with a win," said Norwegian captain Ingvild Stensland.

Eli Landsem's side come into the World Cup in form, having held two-time reigning champion Germany scoreless for 79 minutes before giving up three goals in three minutes in a 3-0 friendly loss in mid-June.

"We showed for long periods against Germany that we could match them. Admittedly they were a class above for the final 20 minutes, but the first 70 were very positive and we can go into the tournament with every confidence," added Stensland.

Norway then last week upset title contender the United States 3-1 in a friendly in Austria.

Besides four semi-final showings in five tournaments, the Norwegians also have two proven winners in the ranks as both Stensland and Isabell Lehn Herlovsen won the UEFA Women's Champions League title with Lyon.

"We have a proud history. I think we have a decent chance at the World Cup. Anything can happen, and I hope we're within a shout of a medal. We could win gold, but everything would have to go our way for that to happen," said midfielder Leni Larsen Kaurin.

Equatorial Guinea, for its part, has nothing to lose as the African nation plays its first ever World Cup match.

Coach Marcelo Frigerio's team, which finished second in the 2010 African Championship to qualify for Germany, is still trying to get past the controversy of sisters Salimata and Bilguisa Simpore being kept off the team, because they have been accused of being men.

Striker Salimata was also accused of having played for both Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire before.

Complaints for the African confederation to investigate the gender of the sisters were made by Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa and even Group D opponent Australia had also raised concerns about the Equatorial Guinea squad.

Forward Genoveva Anonma, who was also caught up in a gender row but remained in the squad as captain, said the team are nervous going into its first Cup and hopes to use the experience to improve their careers.

"It's very emotional because most players want to be in the position we're in right now," said Anonma, who was top scorer at German club FF USV Jena last season and secured a move to Champions League finalist Turbine Potsdam.

"I came here to improve my game a bit because playing in Africa isn't the same as playing in Europe," said Anonma.

Six players on Frigerio's team have no current club affiliation - behind only Canada's tally of 11 players. But there is talent from the nation of 650,000 people.

Forward Jade Boho scored three goals in five games in the qualifying tournament and six in nine caps for the National Nzalang.

Midfielders Dorine Chuigoue and Gloria Chinasa are also scoring threats for the Africans.

Forward Jade Boho has been suspended by FIFA's disciplinary committee for two months over eligibility matters, however, and has been replaced in the squad by Emiliana.