If ever there was one, this was a victory to be savoured.

After a year that will go down in history as one of Japan's hardest, a period scarred by the horrors of a deadly earthquake and tsunami and t

Japan twice came from behind to win the women's World Cup for the first time on Sunday, beating the United States 3-1 on a penalty shoot-out after the final had finished 2-2 in extra-time.

Japan capt

Sweden finished third at the women's World Cup after beating France 2-1 in Saturday's play-off despite the Scandinavians finishing the game with 10 players.

Sweden striker Lotta Schelin put her side

Sweden and the United States booked the final two tickets to the Women's World Cup semi-finals on Sunday as the Brazil of FIFA's five-time World Player of the Year Marta were eliminated.

The United S

Hosts and defending champions Germany were knocked out of the women's World Cup on Saturday as they were beaten 1-0 by Japan after extra-time in the quarter-finals.

The winning goal came in the 108th