This was a sad game for me, even sadder than the semi-final where the US lost. And as a die-hard American fan, that's saying something. Brazil, despite their abundant talent, just couldn't put it together today. They dominated for long stretches and looked dangerous, but just never found that killer touch in front of goal. Germany, on the other hand, played the boring game that their men's side is known for, but put away their chances and killed off the game with time wasting and some good old-fashioned luck.
Prinz's finish wasn't brilliant, but it was enough. The frightening Angerer was excellent in goal for the Germans, saving a poorly taken penalty from Marta and making an amazing save on a free kick moments later. The Germans stayed organized and, in typical form, were deadly when given a glimpse in front of goal.
I'm left to rue what might have become of the game had Marta managed a decent penalty. I suppose this will give the Brazilians something to ponder until Beijing 2008. I think I found this final most disappointing because it means Brazil may very well remain in the dark-ages, with non-existent team funding. For me the Brazilians were by far the most exciting team to watch in the tournament, and one can only imagine how strong the Brazilians could become given the proper nourishment.
A side note about the third place game: The Americans dominated the sorry Norwegians (who apparently agree with me that the third place game is a waste of time, so they didn't bother to show up...). And good old Scurry actually looked pretty sharp. What a difference a little recent game experience makes.
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