Germany survived a stern examination of their FIFA Women's World Cup Finals credentials at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes on June 12, edging Spain 1-0 before a 20,761-strong crowd who witnessed one of the most eagerly anticipated clashes of the group phase of the competition. Straight from the kick-off, Spain launched an attack, Almuth Schult being forced to hurtle out of her penalty area to clear the danger posed by Mariona Caldentey's pursuit of Jennifer Hermoso's ball forward. Five minutes later, Silvia Meseguer played a through ball which exposed the sluggish nature of Germany's central defenders and allowed Nahikari Garcia to get in behind them and bear down on goal. Only a brave challenge by Sara Doorsoun prevented her from opening the scoring. Spain pressed again on the quarter hour, Hermoso again threading the needle with a pass which invited Garcia to outpace the defence. This time, when one on one with Schult, she steered the sphere past the post - a glorious chance, and one which should have been taken. The Germans were clearly rattled by the Spanish inquisition to which they were being subjected, the evidence of this being Kathrin Hendrich's sixteenth minute clearance which went straight to Alexia Putellas. Her cross was dummied by Caldentey, the winger knowing full well that Meseguer was darting in behind her to unleash a shot from the edge of the area which flashed past the post. The Germans launched their first attack in response to this, with Lena Goessling releasing Svenja Huth through the inside right channel. Her cross was blocked, but the rebound fell to Giulia Gwinn, who stung the gloves of Sandra Panos with a fierce drive. Moments later, Gwinn's bid to exploit a raking Schult clearance foundered on a superbly timed tackle from Maria Leon, but the two-time winners were getting up a head of steam, and were in the ascendancy long before the half-time whistle. In the 26th minute, Huth led a raid which culminated in Huth dummying her cross for Lena Oberdorf, coming in behind. Her shot was blocked, with the rebound finding its way to Verena Schweers, whose cross, intended for Huth, was pawed away by Panos. Six minutes later, Schult's clearance was flicked on by Popp for Huth. Having seen another shot blocked by Irene Paredes moments earlier, she was a tad frustrated to see this effort saved by Panos. But the next German attack would produce dividends, three minutes before half-time. Goessling - what a fine servant she has been in the German engine room over the years - picked out Huth's well-timed run on the right with a made-to-measure pass. Cue a low cross for Popp, whose shot was well parried by Panos. But she wasn't able to hold onto the ball, then hesitated as the fast-retreating figure of Paredes appeared on the scene. Hard on her shoulder was Sara Daebritz, who sized up this "Yours. No, yours"  scene inside the six-yard box in an instant and said to her  Spanish rivals, "Mine, thanks!", and gleefully slid the ball home from close range - 1-0 Germany.

The Spaniards produced the first chance of the second half, with Putellas' header being grabbed by Schult, but Germany swiftly regained the ascendancy, Daebritz and half-time substitute Klara Buehl featuring prominently in their raids. They first combined in the 49th minute, with the newcomer delivering a cross onto the head of Popp. Panos grabbed this attempt, and was little troubled by another Popp header eight minutes later, Daebritz this time the source of supply. Huth and Popp then combined just after the hour mark to send Buehl storming through the inside right channel, but she shot straight at Panos, whose clearance sparked a counter-attack which left Schweers very grateful to Ukrainian referee Kateryna Monzul. The official could very easily have deemed the fullback's crude challenge on Spanish substitute Lucia Garcia, which took place just outside the area, as being the denial of a goalsoring opportunity - she certainly looked to be the last defender (other than Schult) standing between the striker and the target. Cue a German riposte, Goessling releasing Buehl down the right, from where she scythed inside defenders before sending a shot blazing over the bar with Daebritz in acres of space near the penalty spot. Back came Spain, probing and prodding for an opening which just wouldn't come for them. Sara Doorsoun stepped in to prevent Nahikari Garcia from making the most of a break by her namesake Lucia, while a Hermoso shot kept going straight when she had intended it to fade towards the top far corner, after the Garcias had combined with Virginia Torrecilla to prise open the German rearguard. After Daebritz had drawn a smothering save from Panos following a Goessling corner, Spain spurned a great chance to equalise seven minutes from time. Lucia Garcia burst past Schweers onto a Hermoso pass, then rode a challenge from Doorsoun before delivering a no-look cross into the goalmouth, where the solidly-performed Schult saved at the feet of Nahikari Garcia. That was Spain's last chance, while Germany had two more to double their advantage before the final whistle. Substitute Lina Magull drove a free-kick right into the danger zone which found Panos wanting under the aerial challenge of Popp. The 'keeper was relieved to see the ball go out of play, while she grabbed a header from Buehl soon afterwards, her defenders having failed to clear a corner from Huth. Germany's victory puts them in charge of the group, and they'll be favoured to maintain their perfect start to the tournament when taking on South Africa in five days' time, just as Spain face China in a match which could well decide the second place-getters from this section of the draw. Germany:     Schult; Hendrich (Buehl, 46), Hegering, Doorsoun, Gwinn; Goessling (Leupolz, 80), Daebritz, Oberdorf (Magull, 65); Huth, Popp, Schweers (booked, 63) Spain:          Panos; Torrejon, Paredes, Leon, Corredera; Meseguer (Guijarro, 66), Hermoso, Torrecilla; Caldentey (L. Garcia, 59), N. Garcia, Putellas (Bonmatti, 77) Referee:     Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)