Valentina Mercolli "playing" a little footbal as a FIFA Women's World Cup Volunteer: Photo: courtesy of V. Mercolli

One of the most frequent questions people ask me is, “Why did you apply to become a volunteer for the FIFA WWC 2011?” The customary answer for each of us is simple, “Because football is my passion”. From this then, we’re all in agreement with several more phrases that could also be added: “Because I love being part of a team and meeting a lot of new people” and “Because I would like to live an unforgettable experience”.

Australia's Tameka Butt vies for the ball with Brazil's Fabiana (L) during the preliminary round of the FIFA Women's soccer world cup match between Brazil and Australia in Moenchengladbach, Germany, 29 June 2011. Photo: Revierfoto, picture alliance / (c) dpa

Just over five years ago, a brave Australian men’s team played a red-hot Brazilian side in Munich, and should have come away with a result if it wasn’t for some poor finishing. Fast forward the tape to 2011, and on Tuesday night in Moenchengladbach, the Matildas had every opportunity to cause an upset against the South American heavyweights but failed to make the most of their chances.

Soccer game at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1985, Public domain photo of the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center, UW-Madison Libraries

We’re now one game into the World Cup for the United States and already the conversation has drifted from the team’s play on the field to how they look while playing on the field.  Specifically I’m speaking of the uniforms team U.S.A. is sporting and how they look a lot like nurse’s uniforms.

I think that the United States has done wonders in setting an example for woman’s rights throughout our history. In 1972, there was the enactment of the landmark legislation Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 . The federal law essentially granted girls and women in high schools and universities the right to equal opportunity in sports by banning sex discrimination in either academics or athletics.

The Matildas' captain and goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, here in action during the Australia vs. Germany match in Wolfsburg October 28, 2010, Photo: (c) picture-alliance / Annegret Hilse

Australia goes into the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup full of confidence, following their victory at last year’s AFC Asian Cup in China. As continental champions, there is now an expectation on the Matildas to not only reach the knockout stage, but to progress further in the tournament.

Australia coach Tom Sermanni leads the team to its fifth consecutive World Cup finals appearance, his third in charge, after achieving their best ever result in the 2007 tournament in China. On that occasion, the Matildas progressed to the knockout stage following draws against Canada and Norway, and a victory over Ghana, but were eventually beaten by Brazil in the quarter final stage.

So there you go: the last match day of the 2010-2011 season has been played, and the 18 Bundesliga teams is divided into two camps – the winners and the losers. Nevertheless, deciding which teams belong to which category is a matter of personal interpretation – and here’s mine.

For my money, the biggest disappointment is Eintracht Frankfurt. You name it, they’ve done it wrong, and so they deserve what is looking likely to be the fourth relegation in club history. I mean, just look at them: the worst second leg to a season ever and a disastrous attempt at something approaching football against Cologne this weekend – which, needless to say, ended with them losing 0:2.

So Borussia Dortmund is now the Bundesliga champion 2010-2011. Despite there being another two match days this season, BVB’s 2:0 win against Nuremberg on the weekend put them beyond the reach of their closest rivals, Leverkusen, who lost 0:2 to Cologne. Even if the Leverkusen boys had won, though, their chances of claiming this title this season would have stayed slim.

Dortmund’s statistics speak for themselves: they have the most wins, the least defeats, and the lowest number of goals conceded – they’ve been at the top of the league table since the tenth match day without even the shortest interruption. They are a young, dynamic team, headed by great players like Götze, Großkreuz, Hummels, Sahin, Schmelzer and Barrios – and I think they really deserve their victory. Well done Dortmund!