Winning ways: Women beat China to start Olympic year

The German women’s team continuous their winning ways, beating China 2-0 to start-off the Olympics’ year. As during the 2007 FIFA World Cup, when the team won the title without giving up a single goal, the German team showed a solid defensive performance in front of a crowd of 18,346 fans in Freiburg. German coach Joachim Löw was among the crowd supporting the reigning World Champions in their first game of the year.

Coach Silvia Neid had nominated 15 players from the World Cup team, one of them being Simone Laudehr, who had scored the last goal in the World Cup final. Laudehr now had the first chance of the game, missing wide on her shot in the third minute. At the end of the first half, Babett Peter hit the crossbar from 25 metres out. Neid had to replace some of her banged-up veterans, such as Kerstin Garefrekes, Linda Bresonik and Lira Bajramaj, who all had to cancel due to injuries.

Germany - China, Freiburg, February 28, 2008

The DFB-team picked up the pace in the second half. Record-scoring Birgit Prinz’ shot was blocked by the Chinese goalkeeper (50.). Petra Wimbersky’s header then just went by the goalpost (61.). It was Prinz, whose converted penalty-shot gave Germany the lead in the 80th minute. With just seconds to play, Wimbersky scored to make it a 2-0 final.

Neid and her team will now compete at the prestigious Algarve Cup in Portugal (March 5-129 to prepare for this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing.

Further information on the German Women national team as well as the complete squad can be found here.

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The German women’s team continuous their winning ways, beating China 2-0 to start-off the Olympics’ year. As during the 2007 FIFA World Cup, when the team won the title without giving up a single goal, the German team showed a solid defensive performance in front of a crowd of 18,346 fans in Freiburg. German coach Joachim Löw was among the crowd supporting the reigning World Champions in their first game of the year.

Coach Silvia Neid had nominated 15 players from the World Cup team, one of them being Simone Laudehr, who had scored the last goal in the World Cup final. Laudehr now had the first chance of the game, missing wide on her shot in the third minute. At the end of the first half, Babett Peter hit the crossbar from 25 metres out. Neid had to replace some of her banged-up veterans, such as Kerstin Garefrekes, Linda Bresonik and Lira Bajramaj, who all had to cancel due to injuries.

Germany - China, Freiburg, February 28, 2008
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The DFB-team picked up the pace in the second half. Record-scoring Birgit Prinz’ shot was blocked by the Chinese goalkeeper (50.). Petra Wimbersky’s header then just went by the goalpost (61.). It was Prinz, whose converted penalty-shot gave Germany the lead in the 80th minute. With just seconds to play, Wimbersky scored to make it a 2-0 final.

Neid and her team will now compete at the prestigious Algarve Cup in Portugal (March 5-129 to prepare for this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing.

Further information on the German Women national team as well as the complete squad can be found here.