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Nicole Selmer is author of the book "Watching the Boys Play -- Women as Soccer Fans" (AGON-Sportverlag, 2004). When not following the World Cup, she faithfully roots for Borussia Dortmund -- through thick and thin.

DW-WORLD.DE: It's predominantly men who attend soccer games during the regular season, but now we're suddenly seeing tons of women in the stands. What's different?

Nicole Selmer: Unfortunately I have to contradict that statement. I've been in the World Cup stadiums and I have to say that there are fewer women there than during the regular Bundesliga season. I would say that women make up about a quarter of the spectators at Bundesliga games, but less than that now during the World Cup. There are a whole lot of women at the fan fests, public viewings, in the pubs and definitely in front of the TV at home. A good half of the viewers there are women.

Why are women suddenly so interested in soccer?

It's not the case that women are interested in soccer now all of a sudden. The discovery that women sit in front of the TV and watch soccer games has been made during every World Cup for the past 16 years. That was the case in Italy in 1990 as well. Half of the people watching the semi-final Germany-England game were women. That was true in '94 in the US and in '98 in France. In South Korea the crowd was totally female -- you could even hear it in the fans' high-pitched screeching -- and the same thing is being discovered again in Germany right now. Actually, it's really not a new phenomenon. Certainly, a lot more women are interested in national games than in the Bundesliga, but that's true about the men, too. 

The cliche goes that women want to check out the players' well-toned legs and backsides and hope to catch a glimpse of naked torsos when they trade jerseys at the end of the game. Is there truth to the stereotype?

It really is a stereotype. But it's true that women can talk about other things at a soccer game than men. When the men get up and go to the concession stand for a beer -- then maybe the women will talk about how the players look or who they like. Those are probably things the men don't talk about, because it doesn't fit with the classic cliche of how a fan is supposed to act.

Do men and women watch soccer in the same way?

I know from my interviews with female fans that there are quite a lot of similarities, which tend to outweigh the differences. But the major difference is that going to a stadium doesn't have the same meaning for men and women. When men go alone, they don't get stared at and they don't have to explain the offsides rule when they become chancellor. [German Chancellor Angela Merkel was asked by journalists to explain the offsides rule.]   

Men always like to pretend that they are real soccer experts and would have led their team to victory a long time ago had someone given them the chance. Are women like that, too?

Yes, sometimes. I think for women there is a wide spectrum of behavioral styles as far as soccer is concerned. Take the classic situation of a large group of people sitting in front of the television. There are women who make an extra effort to say things like, "Oh, that's so cute!" Maybe just to bother their husbands a little bit. And then there are other women who try to make a lot of clever statements and enjoy the attention they get.

Women often have to put up with the accusation that they don't even know what an offsides trap is. Is that different now during the World Cup, where women are attending public viewings with big screens and following the games on their TV at home?

I don't think so. The fan fests and public viewings aren't really about soccer. No one talks about offsides or tactics there. It's just about having fun -- it's not even only about winning. You can see that in the fans of the teams that have lost. They're not as sad as the fans in the Bundesliga. It's a bit less existential, I think.  

Since the World Cup started, you can see people kicking soccer balls around at all the parks. With this general increase in soccer enthusiasm, do you think that more women will also begin playing?

I definitely think so. But I also think that has to do with the women's soccer boom that's been going on since the German team won the World Cup title in 2003. That has certainly had an influence as well. More and more girls are playing soccer as children, so it's something they start to see as normal, something they know about.

How did you first become interested in soccer?

I became interested in soccer by watching the 1982 World Cup when I was 12. Actually, it wasn't a particularly good World Cup and the German games were especially unimpressive, but that made the excitement get to me all the more. Besides, I thought Kalle Rummenigge was really great. And since then the enthusiasm hasn't left me.

Portugal's 21-year-old star Cristiano Ronaldo scored the decisive spot-kick to hand Portugal a 3-1 shoot-out victory and shatter England's dream of a first World Cup for 40 years.

Even before the 120 minutes were up and Ricardo saved Portugal with a heroic shoot-out performance between the posts, not much went right for England coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

He watched star striker Wayne Rooney sent off dramatically and replaced a tearful David Beckham in the second half, a combination that left the rest of the England players shell-shocked after a closely fought first half.

Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all saw penalties saved by Portugal keeper Ricardo while Simao and substitute Helder Postiga netted Portugal's other penalties.

English history repeats itself

Portugal, who beat England in a shoot-out at Euro 2004, will now face either France or Brazil in Wednesday's semi-final while England were left to contemplate their fifth exit on penalties in eight tournaments since 1990.

It was also the third time in three tournaments that England coach Eriksson had seen his side beaten by a team coached by Brazilian World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari.

England had a good case for a penalty turned down by Argentinean referee Horacio Elizondo on 50 minutes when Beckham fired a cross into Nuno Valente's arm. Shortly after, Beckham, who seemed to be nursing a sore ankle, was taken out of the game for Aaron Lennon.

Lennon didn't take long to make an impact on the game and just when it looked as if Lennon's introduction might have turned the game England's way, Rooney saw red in a decision that is bound to be the subject of furious debate.

Rooney appeared to have been fouled by Portugal centre-half Ricardo Carvalho but as he battled to break clear he rashly sunk his studs into the defender's groin, sparking a short melee.

Eriksson switched up his line-up while Rooney was taking an early shower by bringing on Peter Crouch for Joe Cole.

The man advantage signaled the beginning of a Portuguese onslaught, and England had keeper Paul Robinson to thank for a superb save from Luis Figo on 78 minutes that kept them in the match.

Both teams had dangerous chances on goal in the second half, but the two keepers proved up to what the strikers could deliver and neither team was able to make a break-through, forcing the penalty shoot-out

A Thierry Henry goal handed France a deserved 1-0 win over lackluster defending champions Brazil in a World Cup quarter-final in Frankfurt on Saturday.

France, whose dominant midfield display was fired by the imperious Zinedine Zidane, will meet Portugal in Wednesday's semi-final in Munich.

Henry scored in the 57th minute, drifting in late and unopposed at the far post to meet a Zidane free-kick with a right footed side-foot volley past a diving Dida.

The goal was just rewards for a French team often dubbed as too old and uninspiring which had controlled midfield thanks to the sterling efforts of man-of-the-match "Zizou", who just as in the 3-0 victory in the 1998 World Cup final proved Brazil's nemesis.

The veteran captain showed some at-times sensational footwork in his golden boots and was the catalyst for a buoyant French team, even if his final balls tended to be over hit.

After a tight first-half with few chances and where Dida and counterpart Fabien Barthez were not tested, the game came alight in the second half.

Henry's goal spurred France into waves of counter-attacks against a Brazil side lacking any real creative purpose up front despite early glimpses of playmaker Ronaldinho's silky skills.

With their back four in disarray, Brazilian defender Juan almost deflected a cross into his own goal four minutes after Henry's goal -- his second in this World Cup.

France closed ranks to deny a Brazilian comeback

France's tough midfield holding duo of Patrick Vieira and Claude Makelele were quick to retreat and fill in as Brazil sought an equalizer, the most potent threat posed by Bayern Munich midfielder Ze Roberto down the left wing.

But it was France who should have scored a second, Franck Ribery sprinting past the covering defense in the 70th minute, but only snatching a shot from a Henry pass which was well parried by Dida.

With French tails well and truly up, Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira threw on Adriano to help out Ronaldo up front and the South Americans kept pushing.

Ronaldinho had a late chance with a free-kick two minutes from time, after Lilian Thuram brought down Ronaldo on the edge of area, but his swerving shot drifted high of its target.

Brazil throw everything at Les Bleus in search of parity

And Ronaldo forced Barthez into an acrobatic save with a powerful 25-yard shot on the stroke of full-time. Ze Roberto went close with a diving nudge on the resulting corner but the French held out.

Brazil had opened the game brightly, Juninho having a free-kick headed behind by Patrick Vieira in the fourth minute, and Roberto Carlos blasting an ambitious shot high and wide of Barthez' goal five minutes later.

Ronaldo had the match's first real sight on goal minutes later, doing well to connect to a Ronaldinho free-kick above Willy Sagnol, but sending his header over the crossbar.

Florent Malouda headed just wide from a free-kick with seven minutes of the first-half to play.

The half ended in controversy when Juan received only a yellow card for bringing Vieira down after the Juventus midfielder had sprinted through on to a superb Zidane through ball.

Ronaldo was then harshly yellow-carded when the resulting Henry free-kick hit his hand but Zidane's second effort on the edge of the area was driven into the wall.

Luca Toni scored twice as Italy beat Ukraine 3-0 in the World Cup quarter-finals in Hamburg on Friday to set up a mouth-watering last four clash against hosts Germany.

Gianluca Zambrotta, who earlier this week flew back to Italy to visit his stricken former Juventus team-mate Gianluca Pessotto after an apparent suicide attempt, gave the three-time champions an early lead with a left-footed shot.

Toni's close range header near the hour mark put the Azzurri firmly in the driving seat after a spell of heavy Ukraine pressure, and the giant Fiorentina marksman doubled his tally by tapping in Zambrotta's cross.

Italy's second goal came shortly after Gianluigi Buffon pulled off a superb save to deny Oleg Gusev, with Zambrotta blocking Anatoliy Tymoschuk's follow-up on the goal line.

Ukraine's Andriy Gusin's header hit the bar shortly after Toni had made it 2-0.

Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko, who spent seven years playing in Italy for AC Milan before signing for English champions Chelsea last month, was superbly snuffed out by a well-drilled Azzurri defence.

The match between Germany and Italy, which will be played in Dortmund on Tuesday, is a repeat of the 1982 final which the Italians won 3-1.

Midfielder Mauro Camoranesi, recalled to Italy's starting line-up to provide extra width on the right, threatened first, firing wide after a robust run through the middle in the fourth minute.

Defender Zambrotta's strike settles Italy's nerves

Italy went ahead through an unlikely source in the sixth minute.

Zambrotta played a one-two with Francesco Totti before firing a low drive past Oleksandr Shovkovskyi.

Ukraine came out fighting at the start of the second half and they might have levelled the score had it not been for Buffon's quick reflexes.

Gusin's downward header looked goal bound, but the Italy keeper managed to claw the ball away and picked up a bump on the head in the process after falling back onto the post.

Hot-shot Toni settles tie with double strike

Buffon came to Italy's rescue again when he palmed away Gusev's angled shot, and although Tymoschuk was first to the loose ball, Zambrotta was on hand to keep out the rebound.

Toni eased Italy's jangling nerves in the 59th minute, meeting Totti's left-wing cross with a meaty header.  And Toni had the final word 10 minutes later when he nudged Zambrotta's cut-back over the line from a yard out.

The last time Italy reached the semi-finals of the World Cup was in 1994 when they went on to the final only to lose to Brazil on penalties.

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was the toast of Germany as the hosts progressed into the semi-finals of the World Cup with a sensational 4-2 penalty shootout win over Argentina in Berlin on Friday.

With the game unsettled at 1-1 after extra-time Arsenal goalkeeper Lehmann stepped up to save spot-kicks from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso to ensure celebration parties across Germany.

A rare goal from 33-year-old defender Ayala four minutes after the interval put Argentina ahead and they held the lead until the 80th minute.

But with the majority of the 72,000 fans driving them on Germany equalized with Miroslav Klose heading in his fifth goal of the finals.

Extra-time failed to separate the teams and penalties were needed to decide the tie.

Germany had won all three of their previous World Cup shoot-outs and converted all of their four penalties to march into the last four.

Germany will now face Italy, which cruised past Ukraine 3-0 in Friday's other quarter-final.

For two-time winners Argentina it was heartbreak and their emotions boiled over after the final whistle with several players involved in scuffles as tempers frayed.

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman made three changes to the team that beat Mexico in extra-time with the biggest surprise seeing Javier Saviola dropped to the substitute's bench for Carlos Tevez.

Germany manager Jürgen Klinsmann, part of the West Germany side that beat Argentina 1-0 in the 1990 World Cup final, stuck by the same team that beat Sweden in the second round.

Germany's flying start stifled by Argentina's midfield

The hosts had scored after four minutes in each of their last two matches - although they did not manage an early breakthrough this time - and started off at a frantic pace to unsettle the Argentines.

Argentina playmaker Riquelme created the first real danger in the game with his in-swinging corner forcing a clearance at the near post.

In the 16th minute Germany had their first opening with Ballack latching onto a cross but he could only divert his header wide.

With the game scoreless at half-time both managers had their players fired up for the second half and Argentina had Juan Sorin booked meaning he would miss the semi-final.

Ayala scores rare goal to test German character

But Argentina stomached that blow and four minutes after the interval they took the lead through an unlikely source. Riquelme curled in a corner from the right and veteran Ayala, winning his 105th cap, powered in a header.

It was the first time Germany, who had kept three consecutive clean sheets, had gone behind in the tournament and they responded by piling forward.

Ballack had a chance to equalize on the hour mark but Ayala was on hand to block the Germany captain's shot.

Maxi Rodriguez had a chance to wrap up the game on 66 minutes for Argentina but shot into the side netting.

It was a costly mistake as Germany leveled in the 80th minute with substitute Tim Borowski flicking on a cross and Klose heading in.

Extra-time was needed and Fabricio Coloccini hit the crossbar with what looked like a misdirected cross.

Come the hour, come the man as Lehmann delivers

The lottery of penalties was to decide the match. With home support and good past experiences Germany seemed the inevitable winner.

Germany's nerve held out once again. The Germans kept up their incredible spot kick record as keeper Jens Lehmann twice guessed right to save from Ayala and Cambiasso.

Lehmann lay on the ground to contemplate the possibility of being cast as hero -- or villain --before rival and 2002 first choice German keeper Oliver Kahn came over to wish him luck.

It seemed to do the trick for Lehmann, whereas the unfortunate Leonardo Franco, a 28-year-old from Atletico Madrid who had to seize his chance in the limelight after replacing the injured Roberto Abbondanzieri 20 minutes from the end of normal time, was unable to stop any German strikes.

German penalty heroes keep Mannschaft record going

Oliver Neuville smashed the Germans ahead but Julio Cruz leveled. Skipper Michael Ballack then sent Franco the wrong way and then Lehmann guessed right, going to his left to smother a poor Ayala kick whereas Lukas Podolski showed nerves of steel to make it 3-1 for the hosts.

Maxi Rodriguez saw his shot squeeze low past Lehmann for 3-2 but Tim Borowski took Die Mannschaft to the brink with Franco going the wrong way.

Inter Milan's Cambiasso then hit his effort straight at Lehmann, who was promptly smothered by the whole squad and coaching staff before some of the Argentine players engaged in a brief bout of frustrated fisticuffs with Gabriel Heinze and German team manager Oliver Bierhoff having to be pulled apart.

Germany thus maintained their perfect World Cup penalty shoot-out record, having beaten France (1982), Mexico (1986) and England (1990) - with Uli Stielike being the only German to have missed one, against the French.

In contrast, Argentina spoilt their record after beating Yugoslavia (1990), Italy (1990) and England (1998).