Rock me, Garefrekes!!

Birgit Prinz, celebrating her record breaking 13th World Cup goal.

Scoreline - September 17, 2007
Germany: 2
Prinz 21'; Lingor 87' pen
Japan: 0

Contrary to my expectations, Germany proved that they had saved a low gear for just this kind of game. Japan is a lousy team, and Germany only needed a draw.

That said, even in low gear they still managed to run away with the game. Prinz and company missed numerous opportunities, but thoroughly dominated their tentative opponents. Early in the game, you got the impression that Germany could have defended their net with just a sign reading "Please do not score goals" in Japanese.

Japan was unable to make any kind of meaningful offense. Sure, they had the occasional lone runs toward goal, but nothing approaching anything with real numbers going forward. A goal down in a "win or go home" match - you'd think the coach would throw everybody and the goalkeeper forward. At least you'd die trying.

Instead, Japan inched closer and closer to crossing the German's 18 yard line, before skying a shot, or crossing the ball into empty space. Weak.

Germany let their foot off the gas. Late in the game there were some incredibly sloppy clearances by their back line that Japan's offense (had it existed) could have pounced on.

Smisek missed some easy ones and Wimbersky will be seeing a few missed chances in her sleep tonight - but no hints of future problems. They are Germany, and they'll shake it off and trample whoever comes next.

I'm really hoping the US can top their group, so we don't go up vs Germany right off the bat.

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Not that England would be snack food, either.

Scoreline - September 17, 2007
England: 6
Gonzalez 9'; Scott 10'; Williams 50' pen; Smith 64', 77'; Exley 90' pen
Argentina: 1
Gonzalez 60'

Having watched them wipe the floor with an Argentine side that supposedly was playing for pride, I'm not sure what to think of England's team.

Beating up the Argies would be more impressive if this weren't a team that in 230 minutes had only managed to score goals for the opposition: three times. (Yes, I know - FIFA took pity on the goalkeeper and reassigned those goals to German players, but facts are facts).

Smith is the real deal - managing to either break loose for some solo brilliance, or seemingly omnipresent when there is a loose ball in the box. I don't know that the rest of her team can live up to her - but the fact that they could hold the Germans scoreless is no small thing.

Still, I'm the US, I want to play England. Let North Korea march into the teeth of Germans. They deserve each other.