Reports on recent football matches and an archive of some major tournaments are kept here in Score.
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Latest Football News
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France 1 England 0 (Paris friendly 26 March 2008 )
Fabio Capello tasted defeat in his first away match as England boss. In an interview after the match, the Italian said that he was quite happy with the improvements he had seen. England had been enjoying more possession without threatening Coupet's goal when Nicolas Anelka burst into the box and was upended by David James. Franck Ribery stepped up to send James the wrong way in the 32nd minute of a match which produced very few moments of excitement. David Beckham made his 100th appearance for England who were captained by Rio Ferdinand.
In other matches ........
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Defending champions Egypt beat Cameroon 1-0 to win the Africa Cup of Nations for a record 6th time. Hosni brought a save out of Kameni from a free-kick early in the match and Al Hadari made a save from a Geremi free-kick in the 18th minute, but less than a minute later Egypt were on the attack again and Moteab's powerful 15-yard angled shot was brilliantly parried by Kameni only for the rebound to be lofted over the bar by Aboutrika. Nine minutes before half-time a through ball found Moteab inside the box, but once again Kameni proved unbeatable. The Pharaohs continued to push forward in the 2nd half and hit the post with an Abd-Rabou header in the 61st minute, before finally getting heir reward with 13 minutes left when Zidane's persistence got the better of Rigobert Song and the ball was laid on to Aboutrika who slotted the ball past Kameni to spark off huge scenes of celebration among the Egypt fans. (Egypt 1 Cameroon 0)
Link to Women's 2007 World Cup Reports
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Germany 2 Brazil 0 ( Women's World Cup Final )
China September 30
Germany successfully defended their title beating the flamboyant Brazil 2-0 in the final. Brazil who failed to capitalize on their first half territorial supremacy, were punished in the second half when the deadly Birgit Prinz struck in the 52nd minute. Brazil were handed a lifeline but Marta saw her spot kick saved by the invincible Angerer. Simone Lauder put the cup beyond the reach of Brazil with a header in the 86th minute. Germany win the World Cup without conceding a goal in the entire tournament.
USA 4 Norway 1 ( Third place play-off ) - USA claimed 3rd place in the world with a convincing 4-1 win over Norway. Abby Wambach deflected a Chalupny shot to wrong-foot the Norwegian keeper in the 30th minute and forced the ball over the line after it had come off the post at the start of the second half. Lori Chalupny (58) and Heather O'Reilly (59) put the match to bed before Ragnhild Gulbrandsen scored a consolation goal with a looping header in the 63rd minute.
Asian Cup 2007 (Final)
Iraq Conquer Asia
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War-stricken Iraq showed unity and determination to win the 2007 Asian Cup, beating Saudi Arabia in the final.
Iraq were worthy winners of this match allowing Saudi Arabia very few chances. Taiseer Al Jassam came closest for Saudi Arabia on the hour-mark forcing Noor Sabri into a flying save, but 2 minutes later Al Mosailem in the Saudi goal had to make 2 saves in quick succession to deny Younes Mahmoud and Nashat Akram. Younes Mahmoud scored the winner for Iraq beating the Saudi Keeper with a header at the far post from a well delivered corner in the 71st minute and could have netted another 5 minutes later, but failed to run the ball past the advancing Al Mosailem. In the remaining minutes Saudi Arabia could not pose any serious threats and the final whistle sealed a fairytale triumph for Iraq who lifted their first ever major trophy by winning the 2007 Asian Cup.
Link to Asian Cup Reports
Copa America 2007 (Final)
Brazil lift the cup
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Brazil retained the Copa America by beating Argentina in the final as they did 3 years ago.
Baptista stunned Argentina in the 4th minute when he curled the ball into the top corner of the net. Four minutes later Veron set up Riquelme with a cushioned header, but he smashed the ball against the post. In the 35th minute Doni made a superb save diving to his left to deny Riquelme. With 5 minutes of the first half remaining, Ayala slid in to block a low cross and inadvertently turned the ball into his own net giving Brazil a two-goal lead at half time. Argentina failed to threaten Brazil's hold on the cup in the second half, and when Vagner Love slipped the ball into the path of Alvez he secured the result with a clinical finish in the 69th minute.
Copa America 2007 (third place)
Mexico win bronze
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Mexico - the team that won silver in the Gold Cup - came from behind to beat 10 man Uruguay and win bronze in the 2007 Copa America.
Uruguay went ahead in the 21st minute when the ball was crossed from the byline for Abrue to head in at the far post. In the 36th minute, as the ball came off the crossbar from a Mexican free kick, the referee awarded a penalty and dismissed Lugano for an off-the-ball incident. Blanco ran up and converted the penalty with aplomb. Omar Bravo took advantage of a mistake by Forlan in the 68th minute to fire the ball into the top corner of the goal from outside the area, and 8 minutes later Guardado smashed the ball in off the crossbar with a magnificent shot with his left foot to give Mexico a deserved win.
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The Dutch outclassed Serbia to win the European under 21 championships on home soil for the second year running.
Daniel de Ridder lifted the ball into the box for Bakkal to coolly chest down and pick his spot in the 17th minute. A low cross on the hour-mark fell to Babel who tucked away the second for the hosts, and a minute later Serbia found themselves a man short when Kolarov (who had been lucky not to see red for a deliberate handball at the end of the first half) finally got his marching orders for a second yellow card. In the 67th minute Babel beat the offside trap and rounded the keeper to bury Serbian hopes. The Netherlands could have gone future ahead 4 minutes later, but Kahriman saved a Ryan Babel penalty. With 11 minutes remaining Mrdja headed down a Zoran Tosic cross past Waterman for Serbia's only bright spot of the night. Two minutes later Babel lifted the ball over the keeper, but had his effort cleared off the line. De Ridder set up Bruins in the 84th minute for a tap-in which confirmed Dutch superiority and their second title in a row.
 Africa 2008
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