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/ 23 September 2007
Ruthless defending champions Germany and the top-ranked United States stormed into the Women’s Soccer World Cup semifinals on Saturday, leaving North Korea and England to rue missed chances. The Germans beat the Koreans 3-0 in Wuhan with Kerstin Garefrekes pouncing in the 44th minute.
When Germany’s women played their first international soccer game 25 years ago, school kids were bussed in to fill the stands and the public was at best bemused by the sight. Nobody is laughing now. Germany are the reigning world champions, the games are broadcast live on national television, the stadiums are full and the women command as much respect as their male colleagues.