Germany has a decided edge in goal. Nadine Angerer has yet to concede a goal after 450 minutes of play and her superb save in the closely contested quarter-final against North Korea came at a key moment in the game. Her opposite number Andreia is also a good shot stopper but is more vulnerable to crosses and does not have the presence of Angerer who is still keeping the experienced Silke Rottenberg off the team.

Both defences match up well and rely on the contributions of two experienced defenders Kerstin Stegemann for Germany and Brazil’s captain, Aline. One factor that might help the current World Champions is that Brazil has a tendency to concede free kicks around the penalty area. Birgit Prinz and company could exploit these set plays. Brazilian coach Jorge Barcellos is of the opinion that the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win the game.

A stunning performance by Marta and her Brazilian teammates ... and a rare event in women's soccer when a team from the USA is totally outplayed in all aspects of the game. The worst defeat ever for a U.S. National Team and a dramatic end to a remarkable 51-game unbeaten run in the 2 1/2 year period that Greg Ryan has been in charge of the team.

Ryan will obviously come under the microscope for replacing starting goalkeeper Hope Solo with Briana Scurry, but don't blame the experienced Scurry for the defeat. She was at fault for the second Brazilian goal, but was blameless on the opening own goal and the two fine second-half goals by "Las Canarinhas."

What about that fourth goal by Marta! It ranks - along with a goal by another remarkable Brazilian #10 in the 1958 World Cup Final in Sweden - as one of the most spectacular in any World Cup competition.

An exciting game that featured 38 shots on goal, 16 saves (including several magnificent efforts by Canada's woman of the match Erin McLeod) and four goals. It certainly looked as though Christine Sinclair's fine header late in the game was going to be enough, but credit the Matildas for their dramatic comeback.

Just like a good book it had a great opening with the superb strike by Melissa Tancredi in the opening minute, a great ending (for Australians!) with the dramatic equalizer by the Australian captain Cheryl Salisbury in injury time ... and a lot of quality content in between.

Silvia Neid had a distinguished playing career in German football before taking over the coaching reigns from the experienced Tina Theune-Meyer. Hope Powell, her English counterpart, also experienced success as a national team player and even boasts a coaching resume that includes the prestigious UEFA Pro Licence.

It will probably be no different this time around with USA, Germany and Norway all expected to do well in China. Brazil are also one of the pre-tournament favourites and have no problems scoring goals courtesy of FIFA Player of the Year Marta and her talented teammates. Their achilles heel could well be the goalkeeping … but then, there could be shades of the 1970 World Cup when Pele and his Brazilian teammates entranced the world with their performances despite the erratic displays of Felix between the posts.