Unprecedented enthusiasm, full stadiums, high-quality football and a new champion: the fifth edition of the World Cup, held in Germany -home of the current champions-, raised women’s football to another level with Japan as new champion.
For many, Japan’s victory over the United States in a penalty shootout was the perfect ending to the tournament., especially taking into account the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Japanese country that year and which ended with almost 16,000 fatalities. The ‘Nadeshiko’ -as the Japanese team is called-, inspired by the star Nomare Sawa -Golden Ball and Boot of the edition-, showed that women’s football had finally reached every corner of the planet.
China 2007: the culmination of the best of Germany
Following in the footsteps of the United States (1991, 1999), Norway (1995) and Germany (2003, 2007), Japan became one of the five world champions and one of the great powers of women’s football. “We wanted a medal, for sure, but I never even dared to imagine that we could win the World Cup,” said Sawa.
The Japanese team qualified as second in the group after losing to England and beat Germany in the quarterfinals with a goal in extra time. The semifinals for Japan were more pleasant (3-1 victory against Sweden) but the final was once again a heart attack. After drawing twice against the United States (2-2), the title was decided on penalties (3-1).
United States 2003: the last golden goal gave the title to Germany
Fischer revealed the darkest face of the World Cup
In May 2023, one of the darkest episodes – hitherto unknown – of that 2011 World Cup in Germany came to light. FIFA, as denounced by former Swedish international Nilla Fischer in her recently published biography of her, ordered the players of all teams to undergo a genital examination to prove that they were women. A “humiliating” experience that was never repeated.
Sweden 1995: Double prize for Norway
2023-07-04 09:23:04
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