Germany denied in exciting exhibition

A European-inspired FIFA Women All Stars XI gained a thrilling victory against world champions Germany at the Stade de France in a match marking the centenary of world football's governing body.

Swedish representatives
In curtain-raiser for the men's game between France and Brazil, the world XI, coached by coached by Sweden's Marika Domanski-Lyfors and France's Elisabeth Loisel, contained Caroline Jönsson in goal, Malin Moström in midfield and Victoria Svensson up front all eager to avenge Sweden's defeat in the final of last year's FIFA Women's World Cup.

Duo return
France's Stéphanie Mugneret-Beghe also started, and was joined at half-time by compatriots Marinette Pichon and Corinne Diacre, and later by Switzerland's Prisca Steinegger, who replaced Umeå IK's Brazilian star, Marta. Bettina Wiegmann and Maren Meinert both came out of retirement to play the full 90 minutes for Germany.

Early saves
Jönsson had to be alert to deny Kerstin Garefrekes in the fourth minute. However, Jönsson was to depart the game in the 12th minute through injury after a collision with Birgit Prinz. At the other end Silke Rottenberg kept out a chance for All Stars captain, American Shannon Boxx.

Prinz levels
Moström put the All Stars ahead on 16 minutes after being set up by the United States' Abby Wambach. Three minutes late Mugneret-Béghé cleared off the line after a Prinz header, but in the 27th minute the German forward equaliser after fine build-up play from captain Wiegmann.

Exciting finish
Just before the break Kerstin Garefrekes turned in Meinert's pass to put Germany ahead. But within three minutes of half-time Pichon found Svensson, curled the ball in with precision. In an exciting game the All Stars were beginning to look the better side, and clinched victory 19 minutes from time when Pichon found Nigeria's Mercy Akide, who make no mistake.

Loisel's delight
A delighted Loisel said: "I do not have the words to describe the happiness I felt in managing a world selection such as this. Our biggest aim was to prove that women's football has made great strides in recent years, and I think we did that brilliantly."

German disappointment
German coach Tina Theune-Meyer admitted: "Of course we wanted to win the match but we were up against a very strong team." Prinz added: "I had a lot of chances to score and I am angry with myself for having wasted them. But women's football was the real winner tonight.