Germany's Annike Krahn (R) vies with a player of Norway during a semifinal at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in Tianjin, a coastal city in North China, yesterday. -Xinhua

Defending champions Germany won a 1995 final rematch against Norway in Tianjin yesterday, beating the then-winners 3-0 to reach the final of the 2007 World Cup.

The Germans now have a chance of breaking the World Cup jinx that no team could win the title for a second straight time, when they face the winners of Thursday's semifinal match between the United States and Brazil, in Shanghai on Sunday.

Germany also keeps a clean sheet after five games in the tournament without conceding a goal.

"I'm very proud of the team," German coach Silvia Neid told a post-match press conference.

"In the beginning, we didn't let Norway have chance to score and that gave us some confidence. After the break, the own goal gave us more confidence. Team effort took us to 2-0, which assured us that we'd win the game," she added.

Norway's coach Berntsen rued the own goal but refused to blame Ronning.

"The own goal was just a usual reaction. That's very unlucky. Ronning is the best player as a defender," he said.

Substitute Fatmire Bajramaj set up Germany’s opening goal one minute after she came off the bench to stand in for underperformed Melanie Behringer.

The 19-year-old midfielder, dubbed by head coach Silvia Neid as "the player belongs to the future", set apiece from the mid to find skipper Birgit Prinz on the left wing, and the latter brought the ball deep to force an own goal from Norway defender Trine Ronning in the 42nd minute.

Defender Kerstin Stegemann made it 2-0 on 72 minutes after Prinz dribbled into the penalty box and surrounded by two Norwegian defenders, she tapped it back to allow Stegemann to angle in a shot.

Just three minutes later, forward Martina Mueller, also a substitute, seized the ball on a mistake by Norway defenders before she easily beat goalkeeper Bente Nordby to tap it into the far corner.

Before the surprising change on scoring board (in the 42 minute), the game had gone into deadlock as both the European powers played physically and fluently, coupled with their speed and straightforward tactics.

Germany came out the side with better building-ups, with the former European champions' all-time leading world cup scorer Prinz and the on-pitch soul Renate Lingor each making a successful breakthrough down to the baseline in opening stages and setting a nice ball in front of Norway's goalmouth before being cleared.

The world No. 2 side, one of the only three teams having lifted the UEFA European Championships trophy alongside Norway and Sweden, also earned a free-kick in the 15th minute after Simone Laudehr was tackled down near the penalty box, but Sandra Smisek headed Lingor's cross wide.

Norway, however, were the better team in terms of statistics, having nine shots to six by Germany, and earning six corners against none, though committing eight fouls against one in the first half.

Only physical strength seemed to be enough for the Norwegians, as for most of the time Norway midfielder Solveig Gulbrandsen could make breakthrough only by pushing her shoulder on her rivals'.

The Nordic side's best chance came in the 22nd minute when Ingvild Stensland swung in their second corner in two minutes, but Solveig Gulbrandsen's powerful volley was denied by German keeper Nadine Angerer.

Berntsen said his players lack rest and were not fit enough for the match.

"It was a disappointment to lose the semifinal, but we still get a chance to win a medal at least," he said.

"We only got two days rest before and after the quarterfinal against China. Maybe I should play some more physically fit players on the pitch. It's a mistake."