Group D starts with two narrow victories.

Brazil were made to fight all the way as they beat Australia 1-0 with a 54th minute goal from player of the match Rosana in Group D of the FIFA Women’s World Cup - on a day when Norway only scraped past Equatorial Guinea by the same scoreline.

It was a case of almost but not quite for the underdogs on a fascinating day of action in Germany.

Australia even edged the possession stats in the first half of their match when Collette McCallum went close to putting them ahead from a free-kick and Kyah Simon also troubled the Brazilian defence.

But Brazil, who also went close through Rosana, eventually made the breakthrough right at the start of the second half when Rosana lashed home after Australia failed to clear a bouncing ball in the area.

Lisa De Vanna wasted a good opportunity to equalise but Brazil hung on despite a nervy last few minutes.

Also in Group D, Norway posted a narrow and nervy victory as they beat battling Equatorial Guinea 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Emilie Haavi.

Norway were expected to win the match comfortably but in fact their African opponents were unfortunate not to earn a surprise point.

The Norwegians were hit by the pre-match withdrawal of influential defender Guro Knutsen Mienna, forcing Eli Landsem to change her formation.

Haavi did hit the post in the opening ten minutes but eventually Equatorial Guinea, playing their first ever World Cup Finals clash, grew in stature.

Their captain Anonman was the player of the match, lighting up the game with a series of clever passes, flicks and tricks.

She almost put her side ahead just before half-time but was denied by keeper Ingrid Hjelmseth and also came close in the second half.

But it was Norway who snatched victory in the closing moments, sidefooting home Leni Larsen Kaurin’s cross.