WUHAN, China -- Defending champion Germany was too strong

for North Korea, winning 3-0 Saturday to reach the semifinals of

the Women's World Cup.

Germany hasn't allowed a goal in this World Cup, recording its

fourth straight shutout.

Kerstin Garefrekes, Renate Lingor and Annike Krahn scored as

Germany wore down North Korea and booked a match with the winner of

Sunday's Norway-China quarterfinal.

In the first half, the North Koreans broke up German attacks,

preventing the Europeans from establishing a rhythm. At the other

end of the field, stout German defense held off repeated

challenges.

"We worked in defense quite well," German coach Silvia Neid

said. "It started in midfield where we didn't let them have a lot

of space to move the ball and they couldn't create a lot of

chances, so that was key to the game."

Garefrekes put Germany ahead in the 44th minute, outmaneuvering

three defenders to launch a left-foot shot from 15 yardsthat

swerved past the fingertips of goalie Jon Myong Hui and inside the

left post.

North Korea missed back-to-back tying opportunities in the

middle of the second half. Three Koreans got a foot on a ball in

front of the German goal in the 64th minute, but couldn't finish. A

minute later, goalie Nadine Angerer made a spectacular dive to save

a hard shot.

Renate Lingor then widened the margin in the 67th minute with a

goal from 12 yards out, after a nifty one-two exchange with Sandra

Smisek. Krahn added another five minutes later, knocking in a

corner kick with her right hip.

North Korea was playing in the World Cup quarterfinals for the

first time.

"Because there were certain fitness and physical differences

between the two teams, it was a hard day for us," coach Kim Kwang

Min said, referring to Germany's height advantage.

Garefrekes is nearly 5-foot-11, while North Korea's tallest

field player is 5-7.

Statistically, the two teams were close. Germany had the edge in

shots, 7-5, but North Korea had possession for a greater part of

the game.

"We are just simply not as strong as the German team," Kim

said.

The Koreans held World Cup all-time leading scorer Birgit Prinz

to a quiet game. She was not able to increase her tally of 13 World

Cup goals, and missed her best opportunity at the end of the first

half when her leaping header went wide.

"Honestly it doesn't matter if I don't score a goal. We scored

three goals and that's the important thing, and we won the game,"

she said. "I think we played well today and they had problems with

us."

Neid likes the momentum her team has heading into the

semifinals.

"It was important to play such a good game," Neid said.

"North Korea was one of the favorites for winning the title in the

tournament, so winning against such a team makes me a little more

optimistic that we can move forward."

The final of the 16-team tournament is Sept. 30 in Shanghai.