September 30, 2007	Sunday	Ramazan 17, 1428

SHANGHAI, Sept 29: Germany’s quest to become the first team in women’s soccer history to defend a major title will face its ultimate test against a brilliant Brazil in Sunday’s final of the women’s World Cup.

No team in history has been able to defend a World Cup or Olympic title in the women’s game, but never before has a team had credentials to match those of Germany.

From the time it won their opening match 11-0, Germany was stamped as the team to beat, and they will enter the final not only as the highest scoring team, but having also gone 529 minutes without conceding a World Cup goal.

Nadine Angerer is the custodian of that record as goalkeeper. “It would be absolutely special to be the first team to win two in a row,” Angerer said. “We are aware of that record. We have a whole list of reasons we want to win this World Cup, and that is one of them.”

“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved by not letting in a goal, but if we win the final 3-2 it would be fine with me.”

Germany’s perfect defensive record will face its greatest challenge against Brazil, whose striker Marta and Cristiane have scored 12 goals between them in this tournament, and who destroyed the US 4-0 in a semi-final.

Along with confidence, Brazil’s most valuable commodity is their speed. World player of the year Marta combines pace with superb technique, while Maycon’s speed when breaking from midfield undid the United States on several occasions.

Dropping the defense deeper is the orthodox way to negate speedy forwards, but Angerer will still be urging her defenders to push up the field to crowd the midfield space.

“They are quick, but we’ve played the same system in this tournament as we always play, and you can’t make it different now,” Angerer said.

Germany have never lost to Brazil at senior level, boasting a record of three wins and two draws, with the most important win being in the bronze medal playoff at the 2000 Olympics.

These are the two highest-scoring teams in the tournament, but the only other time the two most potent teams met in the final was in 1999 when China and the US ended up playing a scoreless draw.

Germany too boast a great attacking threat. Forwards Birgit Prinz — who will become the first woman to play in three World Cup finals — Sandra Smisek, Kerstin Garefreckes and attacking midfielder Renate Lingor have scored 13 goals between them in China.—AP