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Sports / Soccer
Germany crush Argentina 11-0 at Cup opener
(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-10 23:23
Germany began its defence of its title in record fashion by hammering
Argentina 11-0 Monday in Shanghai in the opening game of the FIFA Women's
World Cup.
The Germans, who won the 2003 tournament in the United States, jumped to
a commanding 4-0 lead inside half an hour and never looked back as they
crushed the hapless Argentines in the Group A contest.
Germany broke the previous record for the largest victory in tournament
history - Norway registered an 8-0 win over Nigeria in 1995, four years
after Sweden beat Japan by the same score.
Birgit Prinz, a three-time winner of the FIFA women's player of the year
award, and Sandra Smisek each scored a hat trick for the world champions,
while Melanie Behringer pulled the creative strings in midfield, scoring
one goal and setting up three others.
Germany looked slow and lethargic for the opening 10 minutes, but quickly
overcame its malaise, running the Argentines ragged and bullying them
around the field with their size advantage.
Argentina struggled to contain the skilful Germans, as the world
champions poured forward in numbers and pinned the South Americans inside
their half of the field for long stretches.
Argentina goalkeeper Vanina Correa bobbled a German corner kick into her
net in the 12th minute to give Germany a 1-0 lead.
Germany made it 2-0 just five minutes later when Kerstin Garefrekes
volleyed a long pass from midfield past Correa. Behringer put Germany up
3-0 after 24 minutes, scoring on a great solo effort after effortlessly
skipping past an Argentine defender inside the box.
Prinz scored her first goal of the tournament on a header at the
29-minute mark and added a second just before the end of the half to give
the Germans a commanding 5-0 advantage.
Renate Lingor capitalized on some poor defending by Argentina, chipping a
shot from 25 yards out past Correa after 51 minutes. Smisek made it 7-0
after 57 minutes, pouncing on a rebound after Correa made a fingertip
save on a German free kick.
Prinz completed her hat trick two minutes later, scoring on a header off
a cross from Behringer from the wing. The German now has 12 career World
Cup goals, tying her with American Michelle Akers for the all-time lead.
Smisek added her second goal of the game, collecting a gorgeous pass and
sneaking behind the Argentine defence before slamming the ball into the
roof of the net in the 70th minute, and then netted her third nine
minutes later on an easy tap in.
Goal in injury time
Correa let another corner kick slip through her hands and into her net in
injury time to complete the rout.
Germany thrashed Argentina 6-1 in their only previous meeting, at the
2003 World Cup.
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