Opening day win for hosts

SINSHEIM, Germany (AP):

On a great day for women's football, it was a good day for Europe's teams.

The World Cup started yesterday with two stadia overflowing with goodwill, colour and the cheer of nearly 100,000 fans. There were also four goals, including one stunner.

Germany, the two-time defending champions, survived opening-game jitters to beat Canada 2-1 in Berlin and showed that the hosts will be the team to beat.

"It is fantastic," said Germany's No. 1 fan in the stands, Chancellor Angela Merkel.

France won the opener against Nigeria 1-0 in Sinsheim to leave the continental neighbours in charge of Group A. The United States begin play in the 16-team tournament tomorrow facing North Korea in Group C in Dresden

Beyond the games themselves, the upbeat spirit of the women's game stood out yesterday. Riding the spirit of the crowds, the atmosphere approached that of the men's 2006 World Cup - also in Germany - even if the action rarely did.

clear exception

One clear exception came at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. Canada's Christine Sinclair, playing with a broken nose for most of the second half, highlighted the day with a stunning, perfectly curled free kick late in the game. That briefly gave Canada hope, but Germany survived on grit.

"The doctors told me her nose was broken, but she asked me to let her play," Canada coach Carolina Morace said. "I asked if it would be dangerous, but Christine is a smart player - she knows what she can do and what she can't do."

It was the first goal Germany had conceded in the World Cup since 2003.

At the site of the men's final five years ago, hundreds of German flags came out as Kerstin Garefrekes scored Germany's first goal in the 10th minute and the home team support continued the rest of the evening.

"The fans were great," Neid said. "People had the feeling it could be getting close and they really got behind us. I thought it was a brilliant reaction."