Germany team page
Squad
Coach: Silvia Neid
Roster
Goalkeepers: Nadine Angerer, Ursula Holl, Silke Rottenberg
Defenders: Saskia Bartusiak, Sonja Fuss, Ariane Hingst, Annike Krahn, Sandra Minnert, Babett Peter, Kerstin Stegemann
Midfielders: Fatmire Bajramaj, Melanie Behringer, Linda Bresonik, Kerstin Garefrekes, Simone Laudehr, Renate Lingor, Petra Wimbersky
Forwards: Anja Mittag, Martina Muller, Birgit Prinz, Sandra Smisek
Scouting report
Current world ranking: 2nd (first in UEFA)
Strengths: Can Germany become the first women's team to repeat as World Cup champions? They certainly have the tools to do it. Half of the 2003 championship team are back and Silvia Neid has injected some youth as well with the addition of rising star Anja Mittag and U-20 graduates Fatmire Bajramaj and Simone Laudehr. Experience runs thick in this squad. Ariane Hingst, Sandra Minnert and Kerstin Stegemann, the defensive threesome, have more caps between them (over 430) than the entire New Zealand team. Neid told FIFA.com that there are at least two players for every position on the field because she chose versatile players. All eyes will be on Germany's dangerous striker Birgit Prinz and her Frankfurt club teammates Renate Lingor and Kerstin Garefrekes. The trio always knows where each other is on the field, which results in highlight-reel goals and set pieces.
Weaknesses: Like the United States, it's hard to find any faults on the German side. Longtime starting goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg suffered both knee and calf injuries this year that threatened to keep her off the roster for China. She recovered in time to be included on the World Cup roster, but Neid has chosen to go with Nadine Angerer as the squad's No. 1 goalie. Although equally as capable, Angerer lacks the big-game experience of Rottenberg, who has 123 caps in her career compared to Angerer's 48. This could be a weakness once Germany faces tougher teams during the course of the tournament.
Player to watch: Take a look inside Prinz's trophy case and you'll know why she's one of the most respected players in the game. She's a three-time FIFA Women's World Player of the Year (2003-05) and took home the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe awards as top player and leading goal scorer at the 2003 World Cup, which Germany won. Not only is she a great finisher, but she's constantly moving, making runs, trying to be in the right place at the right time for her teammates. Her physical strength is hard to manage and she is often double teamed or fouled to stop her from progressing. Prinz, 30, has 110 goals in 165 appearances for her country.
Prognosis: The Germans should cruise through this group with ease. England is the only team in the group who has come close to the Germans with a draw (to go along with 15 losses). Japan has lost five times to Germany, while Argentina was trounced 6-0 by defending champs at the last World Cup. Should Germany finish first, next up will be the second-place team in the Group of Death. Not such an inviting reward for finishing atop your group, is it?
ROAD TO THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
2007 qualification route: Germany booked its ticket to China 2007 by placing first in Group 4 of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 qualification (UEFA).
Qualification record: 8 matches played, 8 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses
Goals for: 31 Goals against: 3
Top goal scorer in qualifying: Birgit Prinz (8)
Qualifying results:
Round robin (Group 4): in Europe
Sept. 25, 2005: Germany 5, Russia 1 in Siegen, Germany
Oct. 20, 2005: Germany 4, Scotland 0 in Bayreuth, Germany
Nov. 12, 2005: Germany 4, Switzerland 0 in Ulm, Germany
May 10, 2006: Germany 1, Republic of Ireland 0 in Cottbus, Germany
Aug. 26, 2006: Republic of Ireland 0, Germany 3 in Dublin, Ireland
Aug. 30, 2006: Switzerland 0, Germany 6 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Sept. 23, 2006: Scotland 0, Germany 5 in Perth, Scotland
Sept. 27, 2006: Russia 2, Germany 3 in Moscow, Russia
Women's World Cup 1st round matches (all times local)
Sept. 10: Germany vs. Argentina in Shanghai (Hongkou Football Stadium) at 2000
Sept. 14: England vs. Germany in Shanghai (Hangkou Football Stadium) at 2000
Sept. 18: Germany vs. Japan in Hangzhou (Hangzhou Dragon Stadium) at 1700
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP HISTORY
Germany is entering its fifth World Cup tournament and has always enjoyed success. They came fourth in China 1991, were runners-up in Sweden 1995 and were quarter-finalists in 1999 before finally winning the world title in the United States four years later. Current head coach Silvia Neid was a member of the 1995 runner-up squad. Should the Germans claim the title in 2007, they would become the first women's team to repeat as World Cup champions.
Number of previous Women's World Cup appearances: 4
Hosted the Women's World Cup: never; bidding to host in 2011
1991: Fourth
1995: Runner-up
1999: Quarter-finals
2003: Champion
