Japan claim maiden title

Japan become the fourth nation to win the Women's World Cup

The Nadeshiko see off USA in Final in Germany

Inspired by Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner Homare Sawa

Unprecedented enthusiasm, packed stadiums, top-quality football and a brand new champion: The FIFA Women's World Cup 2011™ in Germany took the feminine side of the world’s most popular sport to a whole new level and will remain forever in the memory.

For many, Japan's penalty shoot-out victory over USA in the Final was a fitting conclusion to the tournament, especially in light of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami which devastated the country earlier in the year. The Nadeshiko, inspired by star player Homare Sawa, combined slick passing with technical finesse to prove that women's football has truly arrived in every corner of the globe.

Following in the footsteps of Norway (1995), USA (1991, 1999) and Germany (2003, 2007), Japan became only the fourth women’s world champions and one of the true greats of the sport. "We definitely wanted a medal, but I never would have dared to dream that we'd win it or that I would win the adidas Golden Boot," said midfield maestro Sawa, who also received the adidas Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.