World champions Germany and medal favorites Brazil managed to reach the quarterfinals with seven points each from so-called "Group of Death" in women's soccer tournament.
Germany upset Asian champions DPR Korea with a narrow 1-0 win, while Cristiane's quickest hat-trick in women's Olympic soccer history sent Brazil on trail to eliminate Nigeria 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Brazil lead the Group F on goal difference from Germany. They will face Norway while Germany will take on Sweden in the knockout stage.
The two teams walked into battle in the opener of the group and settled for a goalless draw. The game is a deja-vu of last year's World Cup Final held in China, in which Germany clinched the title with a 2-0 win over the South Americans.
World champions Germany finished group stage without conceding a goal, and, as was the case at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007, their defense in front of goalkeeper Nadine Angerer is looking impregnable.
Earlier the German coach Silvia Neid said last year's clean results will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it seems now that Angerer is setting to rekindle the dream step by step.
Nigeria and DPR Korea unavoidably became the underdogs in the neck-breaking group.
The Super Falcons are the seven-time African champions. However, they have been unable to dominate beyond Africa in such arenas as the FIFA Women's World Cup or the Olympic Games.
The team has been to every World Cup since 1991, but managed just once to finish in the top eight, in Athens.
DPR Korea left the tournament with more regrets as they impressed the watching stand with persistence, good organization and individual skills. But the Asians lacked experience facing more matured teams like Germany and Brazil, and couldn't find a spot as one of the best third-rankers to qualify.
Both Germany and Brazil have come short of the Olympic gold medal. In Athens, Brazil finished as the runners-up while Germany went home with a bronze medal. The two teams have openly declared that they have come for the gold medal this time. It's likely and intriguing to have the two teams compete again in the final stage in China.
(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2008)