FRANKFURT, GERMANY: Scarily ridiculous costumes and drunken fans aside, last night's final game of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup left me shaking - literally. 

Between the flashing lights of cameras, and non-stop cheering, drums, and singing, the atmosphere was charged with adrenaline. The intensity of the game shot up in the opening moments, as each team stepped up to sing their national anthem. 
Read more »

Tactically sound. Technically brilliant. Dogged and determined.

All of these aptly describe the Japanese team following its stunning and dramatic penalty shootout victory over the United States in Sunday's Women's World Cup final from Frankfurt, Germany.

Read more »

It is now part of history. The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup is over for winners, losers and spectators alike. There was incredible drama, great goals, embarrassing mistakes and some wonderful memories.

Read more »

We've talked plenty during the course of this FIFA Women's World Cup about parity, about the overall improvement in the women's game, and about the overall quality of the goals.

Read more »

During every Women's World Cup game over the last three weeks, the stadiums have been painted with German patriotism: leis, bunny ears, capes, face paint, noisemakers and oh, yes - cowboy hats - everything in black, red and gold.

Read more »

With the FIFA Women's World Cup coming to a close, it is time to look ahead to Sunday's final between the United States and Japan.

Read more »

Today I stepped into the car for my last drive across Germany, to Frankfurt for Sunday's final game - the United States versus Japan. My odometer now reads nearly 2500 kilometres, the footprint of three weeks of World Cupping.

Read more »

Japan and the United States are more than worthy finalists for the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Read more »

In a way you could argue it's more surprising that the United States is through to the FIFA Women's World Cup final than Japan.

The Americans could easily have gone down to defeat against Brazil at the quarter-final stage, and they were definitely the second best team despite beating France in their semifinal match-up.

Make no mistake about it - France dominated a lethargic American team while outshooting them 25-11. Read more »

I couldn't help but laugh when I first saw Expert electronics' new television commercial. I was pulled in at first by the strobe lights, sweat and soccer moves. It was reminiscent of last year's "Write the Future" Nike campaign, and I anticipated "three minutes of awesome."

But in this commercial, when the play paused, it wasn't for cheeky tangential plotlines or social commentary, but rather so that Germany's loveliest - Fatmire Bajramaj, Kim Kulig, Simone Laudehr und Celia Okoyino da Mbabi - could fix their makeup Read more »

If it is possible to dislike and admire a characteristic at the same time, that is how I feel about the Americans' confidence. Their cockiness and swagger, best exhibited by their goalkeeper Solo, can at times be very off-putting. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and at times it can disappear altogether when it comes to the Americans.
But that is also something I admire about them.

Both their male and female players go into games determined to prove that they are the best in the world, even if they are up against superior opposition. That confidence is infectious, and it has seen them pull off some amazing results over the years, including Sunday's comeback against Brazil. Read more »

Somehow they survived the big scare. Just when they thought they were out, Abby Wambach pulled them back in. The rest should be plain sailing for the United States.


Read more »

Much like the group stage, the quarter-final round of the FIFA Women's World Cup was not short on drama, offering plenty of highs and lows.
Read more »

If you thought interest in the World Cup would fade in Germany after the hosts bowed out of the tournament, you didn't watch the Brazil vs. USA game.

With over 25,000 people in the stands (yet another sold-out game), there was never a dull moment. The stadium was swathed in American and Brazilian flags and the clapping - slow at first - soon accelerated into a frenetic blur. I haven't heard such intense static since my 1980s ghetto blaster.

Then there was the jeering and whistling at every wasted opportunity, foul ball, dubious call, or of course - whenever Marta got near the play. Read more »

What we were becoming convinced of at this Women's World Cup we are absolutely sure of now.

Read more »

I met Shahenaz Kureshi as she was limping away from the field at the Willy-Kressmann stadium in Berlin. In one hand, she had an ice pack for her injuries, and in the other a ladoo (an Indian sweet) for sustenance. Read more »

When the camera is turned off I can relax and put my feet up. I can go get a coffee and a muffin, go back to my desk and watch the drama unfold. There's actually a little bit more to my job than that, but I will attempt not to bore you with the minutiae.

Read more »

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen," everyone pronounced last year during the World Cup in South Africa, as favourites France and Italy both finished bottom of their groups, losing to Mexico, South Africa and Slovakia.

Read more »