England

0-0

Germany

 

 


World Cup Finals 2007
Group A
1pm (8pm local time), Friday 14 September 2007
Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai

Having battled back from a second cruciate ligament injury in three years, Faye White admitted that the joy of competing at a World Cup has made all the hard work worthwhile.

Making only her third appearance for the Three Lions since suffering the injury in pre-season, White captained England to a famous result against Silvia Neid's Germany and earned the player of the match in the process.

"Obviously we were pleased with the result, it was a hardfought match and I think everyone played their part today," White revealed after entering the FIFA press conference to a round of applause from the world's media.

"To compete with the World Champions, obviously they are a very good team, but we proved we can compete with the top nations."

White was on crutches in France when England qualified for the tournament, and pledged that night to do everything in her power to make it back in time - and she has not only made it back, but she's making an impact on the biggest stage of all.

"It was a hard year, getting over a second cruciate ligament injury was tough, but when you have the World Cup as your goal then that's a massive motivation.

"I can only say thank you to my coach and my teammates for believing in me, and for welcoming me back into the team after such a long layout.

"And that they trust in me that I could be part of the team and I could fit back in there. It was always going to be a tough challenge to get back but this is the reward for all the hours I have put in, a lot of time on my own training - this is what it's all about and why you do it.

"We've done well tonight, but our aim is still to get out of this group and for that to happen we need that result in our next match."

Teams:

England: 1 Rachel Brown, 2 Alex Scott, 3 Casey Stoney, 4 Katie Chapman, 5 Faye White (c), 6 Mary Phillip, 7 Karen Carney (11 Rachel Yankey 56), 8 Fara Williams, 10 Kelly Smith, 12 Anita Asante, 16 Jill Scott

Substitutes: 9 Eniola Aluko, 13 Siobhan Chamberlain, 14 Rachel Unitt, 15 Sue Smith, 17 Jody Handley, 18 Lianne Sanderson, 19 Vicky Exley, 20 Lindsay Johnson, 21 Carly Telford

Coach: Hope Powell

Germany: 1 Nadine Angerer, 2 Kerstin Stegemann, 5 Annike Krahn, 6 Linda  Bresonik, 7 Melanie Behringer (19 Fatmire Bajramaj 63), 8 Sandra Smisek, 9 Birgit Prinz (c), 10 Renate Lingor, 14 Simone Laugehr, 17 Ariane Hingst, 18 Kerstin Garefrekes

Substitutes: 3 Saskia Bartusiak, 4 Babett Peter, 11 Anja Mittag, 12 Ursula Holl, 13 Sandra Minnert, 15 Sonja Fuss, 16 Martina Mueller, 20 Petra Wimbersky, 21 Silke Rottenberg

Coach: Silvia Neid

Attendance: 27,730