The outcome of qualifying for the 2007 Women’s World Cup went down to the final day in four of Europe’s five groups.
Norway, the 1995 world champion, qualified with a game to spare, but the other four qualifiers — defending champion Germany, England, Sweden and Denmark — all clinched with victories in their final games.
Germany beat Russia, 3-2, to finish with eight victories in eight games in Group 8 and extend its winning streak in European Championship and World Cup games to 41. The Germans raced out to a 3-0 lead at halftime on goals by Sandra Smisek, Kerstin Garefrekes and Birgit Prinz (the 99th of her international career).
The most-anticipated match took place in Rennes, where host France could only manage a 1-1 tie with England, sending the visitors through to the finals for the first time since 1995. After the game, which drew 19,215 spectators, former WUSA star Marinette Pichon announced her retirement from the Bleues.
Star Hanna Ljungberg scored twice to give 2003 Women’s World Cup runner-up Sweden a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic that clinched the Group 2 title. Denmark edged Finland for first place in Group 3 with a 1-0 win in Viborg.
HALFTIME RESIGNATION. Argentine Nestor Clausen quit as coach of Swiss club Sion, telling his players at halftime of their Swiss Cup game at Second Division Chaux-de-Fonds on Sunday, then driving off after the game without letting anyone else know.
Sion was trailing at the half, 1-0, but recovered to win, 3-1, thanks to Sanel Kuljic‘s hat trick. On Monday, Sion, which is tied for first place in the Swiss Super League but was ousted from the UEFA Cup last week, announced that Christophe Moulin, whom Clausen succeeded over the summer, would return as interim coach.
MEXICAN SHUFFLE. Pachuca fans delighted in the Tuzos’ 5-0 victory over Tigres on Sunday that resulted in the resignation of Jose Luis Trejo, the Tigres coach.
Trejo was branded as a traitor after leading Pachuca to the 2005 Torneo Clausura title and then bolting 48 hours later to join Tigres. Trejo was unable to duplicate the success he had at Pachuca with the wealthier Monterrey-based club.
- MEXICO COACHING CASUALTIES
COACH (CLUB) GAMES
Victor Manuel Vucetich (Veracruz) 6
Carlos Reynoso (UAG) 7
Wilson Graneolati (Santos) 7
Hugo Hernandez (Morelia) 9
Enrique Lopez Zarza (Necaxa) 9
Jose Luis Trejo (Tigres) 11
(Games coached in the 2006 Torneo Apertura before being replaced.)