Crowds thrilled by home triumph

Two years ago, the Germany U-20 women made it a truly fairytale summer on home soil, as the team coached by Maren Meinert swept all before them to claim the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2010 with six wins in six matches, scoring 20 goals and conceding just five. Unsurprisingly, Germany centre-forward Alexandra Popp won the adidas Golden Ball as best player of the tournament, and also took home the adidas Golden Boot after finishing top scorer on ten goals. The next edition of the U-20 women’s global showdown kicks off on Sunday 19 August in Japan. Sixteen teams and 336 players are determined to reach the final on 8 September and lift the prestigious trophy. A top-class starting field includes defending champions Germany, perennial contenders USA, and strong host nation Japan. In the build-up to the opening match between Japan and Mexico in Miyagi, FIFA.com is devoting our regular Video of the Week slot to the 2010 final, in which Germany were pushed all the way by courageous Nigeria. A 24,633 crowd in Bielefeld saw a tense and dramatic match, which began well for the home team thanks to Popp’s eighth-minute opener, but remained a knife-edge contest until Osinachi Ohale’s unlucky stoppage-time own goal, sealing Germany’s second FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup triumph to go with their maiden success in 2004. So join us now and relive the exciting 2010 final, before the focus switches to the home of the reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup™ holders and the contest between a new generation of tomorrow’s stars! FIFA